NAP incorporated in Missouri in 1933 with nineteen members. NAP publishes a quarterly journal, National Parliamentarian, which consists of both educational articles on parliamentary procedure as well as administrative articles on the activities of NAP and its chapters. There is an examination requirement for membership in NAP based upon the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. The Research portion of the examination is the only open-book portion of the examination and consists of five direct quotations from RONR 1990. The written examination can be taken at any time with the approval of the Registration Examiners Committee.
Applicants can take the examination at any location under the supervision of a proctor.
NAP offers for sale 1200 Study Questions from which the written examination questions are taken. NAP has recently instituted continuing education requirements for all Professional Registered Parliamentarians. PRP's must submit verification of parliamentary activity and services under a point system every six years to maintain PRP status. The American Institute of Parliamentarians was founded in Chicago in 1958. AIP was incorporated in Illinois on October 7, 1958.