In order to become part of the National Academy of Design, an artist must be recommended for membership by a current member and voted in by the group at large. Some Associates never become Full Academicians. This information can be of utmost importance for the appraisal and verification of artwork. Throughout the years, National Academy members have included some of America's most prominent painters, sculptors, architects and printers including Paul Cadmus, Winslow Homer, Anna Hyatt Huntington, Jasper Johns, Andrew Wyeth and Robert Rauschenberg. Examples of their work are displayed in the National Academy of Design Museum in New York.
Annual exhibitions are open to non-member artists across the nation and throughout the world.
The Society holds an annual juried show, judged by current members, which regularly attracts applications from 2,000 painters. Approximately 80-120 paintings are chosen for exhibition. If an artist is selected to display work in three annual shows, he or she automatically becomes a member. Currently, there are approximately 900 signature and 700 associate members. The group's 660 full artist members participate in annual juried exhibits and are allowed to use the initials PSA after their names.