Membership
Why Become a Member?
Becoming a member of NAP is the first step in the journey toward promoting fair, inclusive, democratic decision-making in organizations’ business meetings. Whether your next step involves becoming a registered parliamentarian, or just expanding your knowledge of parliamentary procedure, the opportunities and benefits are limitless based on your level of activity.
Members receive a complimentary subscription to National Parliamentarian, NAP’s quarterly magazine featuring articles on parliamentary topics.
Members enjoy discounts on the largest collection of parliamentary educational resources and tools, many of which are unique to NAP.
Information regarding national, district, state, and unit seminars and workshops is available online and through local and state newsletters and flyers targeted to NAP members. Visit the NAP Event Calendar for upcoming seminars and workshops.
The NAP provides Registered Parliamentarians and Professional Registered Parliamentarians with access to professional liability insurance.
As one member explained: “NAP is first and foremost an association of people, people looking for new ways to engage the world in parliamentary education.”
Apply to Become a Member
The application process for membership is very straightforward, and we are here to help with any questions or concerns you may have. Follow the steps below to begin the process:
- Click on the “Apply Now” button below. It will take you to the NAP Portal, which is where you go to manage your membership, purchase resources from the Bookstore, register for educational offerings, search the Membership Directory (members only), and much more.
- Login or create an account in the Portal. If you already have an account in the Portal, login and then select “Apply for membership” under the welcome line/profile. This will start the application process. If you do not have an account in the Portal, select “Join” under “Login/Sign up” in the top right corner and set one up. Once you have set up your account, you will be asked if you wish to apply for membership now.
- Select the Regular Member type unless you are a student – full-time, age 25 or younger – or active military. The NAP Educational Foundation offers a variety of scholarships for young professionals and students to fund NAP and Association dues for one year. Learn more on the NAPEF website.
- Select your primary association, typically the state in which you reside. If you are not affiliated with a local unit, you will be a Member-at-Large.
- Fill in an exam date – be sure to allow 15 days for processing.
- Provide the name of your instructor, if applicable, so we can acknowledge them when you become a member!
- Pay your dues for the remainder of the year. NAP national dues are prorated monthly. The membership year is January 1 through December 31.
After submitting your application, you will receive an email detailing the exam process. The membership exam is taken online and virtually monitored by the Examsoft software application, which must be downloaded to take the exam, and requires a separate fee paid directly to Examsoft. The exam is comprised of 44 questions based on Robert’s Rules of Order In Brief, 3rd Edition (see the Membership Exam Study Guide). Pass the exam with a minimum score of 80 percent, and you can begin accessing all the resources and learning opportunities available to NAP members!
Types of Membership
This is the entry level. Everyone starts out as a Regular Member – this includes student memberships. Regular members have demonstrated a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of parliamentary law and its application by successfully completing a short exam based on Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief (RONR In Brief). Regular members typically serve as parliamentarians for organizations to which they belong.
Registered Parliamentarians (or RP) is restricted to members who have earned NAP’s Registered Parliamentarian credential. They have demonstrated a deeper, more advanced understanding of parliamentary procedure and its application by successfully completing the RP Credentialing Exam. RPs are authorized to market themselves as credentialed parliamentarians.
Professional Registered Parliamentarians (or PRPs) are members who have graduated from RP to the highest credential: Professional Registered Parliamentarian. These members have demonstrated advanced parliamentary knowledge and skills that qualify them to serve as paid consultants to organizations of all types and sizes, from professional associations to homeowners’ associations to religious and Panhellenic organizations. These members successfully completed the PRP Credentialing Exam.
Dues Structure
Below are annual dues amounts for different levels of NAP membership. Dues are prorated for new regular members based on the month that they join. Members in states with chartered associations also pay those dues. See a list of state dues here. Many local units also have annual dues, payable directly to the unit.
| Category | Dues Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular Members | $84.00 |
| Registered Members | $113.00 |
| Professional Registered Members | $141.00 |
| Retired Credentialed Parliamentarians | $84.00 |
| Student Members | $42.00 |
| Student Registered Members | $56.00 |
| Student Professional Registered Members | $70.00 |
| Youth Groups | $30.00 |
| Clubs affiliated before 1953 | $113.00 |
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