One of the fundamental responsibilities of NBIA is to ensure to the public the proficiency and competence of agrologists.

The Agrologists Act of 1960 established requirements for entrance to the Institute. The basic criteria for membership in NBIA is a degree in Agriculture from a recognized university or possession of a degree deemed acceptable by Council. Council can accept or reject an application or may refer an applicant to the Board of Examiners for further evaluation if necessary. When accepted, an applicant can be placed into one of two classes of membership:

• a full member will be a person whose qualifications are acceptable to Council, and has three or more years of training and/or experience in agriculture following the awarding of the acceptable degree.
• an Artlicing Agrologist member will be a person whose qualifications are acceptable to Council, but has less than three years of training and/or experience in agriculture following the awarding of the acceptable degree.

An A.Ag. member will take part in a series of training activities organized and/or accredited by the Institute. A member with A.Ag. status will take part in a minimum of eight training activities during the period that he/she has that status and before being admitted to full membership. All A.Ag.'s must complete training sessions and pass a general exam before being made a Professional Agrologist.

As part of the NBIA Code of Ethics all members agree to avail themselves of the means of keeping themselves thoroughly up-to-date on advances in scientific agriculture. Professional development can take many forms including attending refresher courses, seminars, symposia and reading pertinent bulletins, journals and books. To assist members to keep up-to-date the Professional Development Committee of NBIA organizes or sanctions several training sessions each year. Recent training have included sessions on communications, sustainable agriculture, professionalism and land use planning. Artlicing Agrologist members will keep track of such training and report it for credit prior to becoming a full member.