NAST abides by a constitution and bylaws. According to its constitution, NAST strives to establish minimum standards of academic and professional competence with respect to the theater arts. It also aims to foster development of instructors while acknowledging that different approaches exist to teaching theater. NAST works with other organizations, such as the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, to determine criteria. Officers and a board of directors govern NAST.
Membership in NAST is open to two-year programs, undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities, and independent theater schools. New members that meet academic requirements but not those with respect to theater curricula are granted an associate membership for up to five years. After that, they must show that they meet all requirements. Full membership, for those institutions meeting both academic and theater curricula standards, also lasts five years. NAST also offers individual memberships to theater educators and professionals. Unlike institutions, individuals have no vote within NAST.
A school wishing to receive accreditation from NAST undergoes a rigorous review. The school must have adequate facilities, including a library and space for education, or make arrangements for its students to use those at another institution. Degree-granting programs must offer a bachelor of fine arts, a bachelor of arts in theater or the theater studies portion of a joint degree with another institution. Instructors must be professionally or educationally qualified to teach. The curriculum and course offerings must appropriately focus on theater arts. NAST's Commission on Accreditation reviews all applications. NAST does not rank schools, however.
NAST maintains a website that offers information to the public as well as to members (see Resources). Prospective students and their parents can find information on accreditation, preparing for and applying to schools, and the varying programs and degrees. Students can also search to see whether a specific school has NAST accreditation. NAST also conducts surveys and publishes reports on various topics, such as the role of theater in a general education setting.