If you join the USCF, you get a membership number. Then when you go to a USCF tournament, they ask for your number. Finished. Then all your games are rated, and you can go to their site and see you rating and a cross-table of the tournament.
USCF
https://secure2.uschess.org/webstore/member.php
That is their membership page...I think for $29 an adult can get a 1 yr membership without the magazine (everything in the magazine is available to the member online)
How much does it cost to join the USCF? I think I'll do it one of these days.
Depends on who you are/how long you want one. Here are there prices:
http://main.uschess.org/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,323/
So i have a question, if you purchase a membership for the uscf what do you do next do you just join a tournament right away or...?