National Association of Parliamentarians


The National Association of Parliamentarians is the largest non-profit association of parliamentarians in the world. NAP is dedicated to the study, promotion, and use of parliamentary procedure as the basis of democratic process during meetings worldwide. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised is the parliamentary authority that is used by the NAP.
NAP was organized in 1930 and has approximately 3,400 members from the U.S., Canada, China, and Japan actively studying and using parliamentary procedure in civic, charitable, community, faith-based organizations, business and professional associations, and government entities. NAP also offers a certification program for those who are actively providing professional parliamentary consulting services to others.
NAP holds a biennial convention, a national training conference and offers web-based courses, webinars, and printed educational and reference material through the national office. NAP also partners with the University of Wisconsin with an online introductory course on parliamentary procedure that gives students the opportunity to become regular members.
NAP members can be involved with local units, their state association, and their districts.

Membership

NAP has several levels of membership:
;Regular member: An individual has passed the membership exam covering basic information on parliamentary procedure.
;Registered Parliamentarian : An individual has passed an extensive written test on parliamentary procedure.
;Professional Registered Parliamentarian : An individual has completed a "Professional Qualifying Course". In this course, the member demonstrates a thorough knowledge and proficiency in applying parliamentary procedure to the conduct of meetings of all sizes, in writing and interpreting bylaws, in providing parliamentary opinions, in teaching parliamentary procedure, and in serving organizations in other areas of parliamentary procedure and practice.
To maintain RP and PRP status, members must participate in continuing education.
NAP also offers student and retired membership. Those individuals who wish to begin studying parliamentary procedure can join a local study unit as a provisional unit member.

Publications

NAP has also published a wide variety of educational material, reference materials and meeting aids related to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.