How to Join the NAR
Complete 2025 Guide

Why Join the NAR?

NAR membership is the gateway to the organized side of the hobby. Without it, you're limited to flying A–G motors solo in your backyard (where legal). With it, you gain access to club launch events under active FAA waivers, the ability to pursue HPR certification for H motors and above, and the liability coverage that lets you fly at organized events without personal exposure.

The NAR is also the organization through which you register your HPR certification level — Levels 1, 2, and 3 are tracked in the NAR database and your certification card is the credential that dealers require to sell you H motors and above. Without a valid NAR (or Tripoli) certification on file, no licensed dealer will sell you high-power motors.

Beyond the practical benefits, NAR membership connects you to a national network of 500+ local sections, competition programs, educational initiatives, and a community that has been passionate about this hobby for nearly 70 years. The Sport Rocketry magazine included with membership has been published continuously since 1957 and is a genuinely useful resource for technique, design, and news from the hobby.

Membership Tiers Explained

How to Join: Step by Step

1. Go to nar.org and select "Join NAR."

   The membership portal is handled through NAR's ClubExpress platform. You'll create an account with your email address. This same account is used to track your certification records and access member-only resources.

2. Select your membership tier.

   Choose Senior (18+), Junior (under 18), or Family. If you're unsure, Senior covers everything you need as an adult hobbyist.

3. Complete the application form.

   Basic personal information — name, address, email, date of birth. The date of birth determines age-based eligibility for Junior membership and is used to verify certification eligibility.

4. Pay your annual dues.

   Credit card or check. Annual dues renew each year on the anniversary of your join date. Set a calendar reminder — lapsed membership means lapsed certification recognition at events.

5. Receive your membership card.

   Physical cards arrive by mail within 4–6 weeks. A digital membership confirmation is available immediately after payment. At most launch events, showing your digital confirmation is acceptable, but carry the physical card once it arrives — some dealers require it for motor purchases.

6. Find and contact your local section.

   Your membership doesn't automatically connect you to a local section — you need to reach out. Use the section finder at nar.org to locate sections in your area. Look for their listed contact email or website. Introduce yourself as a new member and ask about upcoming launch dates. This is the step most new members skip and later regret — the club is where the real hobby happens.

What Your NAR Card Unlocks

Once you have your NAR membership number and card, here's what changes:

• Club launch access: You can fly at any NAR-sanctioned launch event. Show your card at check-in. Most events have a modest launch fee ($5–$20 for the day) that covers field costs separate from your membership.
• HPR certification eligibility: You're now eligible to pursue Level 1 certification. You need to build or buy a certified HPR rocket, fly it at a sanctioned event in front of a Level 2 or higher certifier, and have the flight observed as successful. Read our Level 1 Certification Guide for the full process.
• Motor purchases: Once you achieve a certification level, dealers can verify your status in the NAR database by your membership number. Bring your membership card to any rocketry dealer for motor purchases requiring certification.
• Liability insurance coverage: NAR maintains a liability insurance policy that covers members at NAR-sanctioned events. This doesn't cover you everywhere, but it covers the organized launches where you're most likely to fly the larger motors that carry more risk.
• Sport Rocketry magazine: Published six times per year, this magazine covers technique, design, competition results, and hobby news. Back issues are available digitally through the member portal.

Section Membership vs. National Membership

NAR national membership and local section membership are separate things. Your $85/year goes to NAR nationally. Most local sections also charge their own dues — typically $15–$40/year — which fund the section's operating costs (field rental, equipment, insurance riders, launch materials). You need both: national membership for certification and insurance, section membership for full participation in local events.

Some sections have no separate dues and operate entirely on launch fees. This varies widely by section. When you contact your local section, ask about their membership structure and what the annual participation cost looks like in total.

What Happens If Your Membership Lapses

If you don't renew your NAR membership before its anniversary date, your membership goes inactive. An inactive membership means your certification records are suspended — you can still reference your certification history when you renew, and you don't need to re-certify, but you won't be recognized as a valid certified flyer until your membership is reinstated. Motor dealers and range safety officers cannot verify your certification status against an inactive membership number.

Reinstatement is simple — pay the annual dues for the new year and your certification is reinstated. There's no penalty for letting your membership lapse once, but if it lapses repeatedly you may find that your certification records need administrative reconciliation, which takes time.