Looking for adventure or a challenge related to model railroading? New to the hobby or just want to know more about the National Model Railroader Association's (NMRA) Achievement Program (AP) ? The NMRA AP is all of this and more! And You, yes as YOU, can become a Master Model Railroader (MMR) by completing the requirements for the necessary AP certificates.

Participation in the AP is voluntary and all NMRA members are welcome and encouraged to participate. The AP will help you to learn about railroading by taking you on a journey through a series of AP certificate activities where you will learn and master the knowledge, crafts, and skills necessary to be successful in the model railroading hobby while learning about the operational aspects of a real railroad.

On your AP journey you can receive incentives, in the form of AP certificates awarded, when you meet AP standard for each category. You only need a total of seven AP certificates, distributed across the four areas of the AP (Model Railroad Equipment, Setting, Engineering, and Operation, Service to the Hobby) to achieve becoming a MMR.

The Potomac Division AP Manager is Martin Brechbiel, MMR #629, who is available to answer questions and if he can't he will find someone who can. He can be contacted by email at Achievement-Program@potomac-nmra.org.

Complete information on the NMRA AP and its requirements can be found on the NMRA AP website page. The requirements they may appear difficult but in reality they are very straight forward and direct. If you experience difficulty there is plenty of help available through several AP related websites, groups, fellow AP participants, and the Region's and Division's Master Model Railroaders who have been through the program and hold certificates in the various categories. They can explain how to meet the AP requirements.

The NMRA Achievement Program web page provides an overview of the AP, its objectives, and contains the requirements for each of the AP certificates and instructions on how to prepare the necessary  certificate application package, including the necessary forms, for each of the current eleven certificate categories. Also, there is a link to a website page that contains additional links to a series of articles referred to as "The Master's" articles. This series of articles provides practical guidelines on how to meet the requirements of each of the eleven AP categories.

Also, there is a link to a website page that contains that contains additional links to a series of articles referred to as "The Masters" articles.This series of articles provides practical guidelines on how to meet the requirements of each of thh eleven AP categories. Although the articles were written in the 1991-1993 time frame, much, if not all, of the information presented in them is still relevant.

Some AP certificates require an evaluation of the modeler's efforts by local NMRA members with at lease one oft the them having already earning a certificate in the are being evaluated., e.g. those categories within Model Railroad Equipment. This evaluation can be performed what at NMRA events or you can the conact Division's AP Manager for this to be performed at your home by the evaluators visiting your layout as several of the categories directly pertain to the layout..

A good source of advice for meeting the specific requirements for a specific AP certificate is any NMRA member that has earned the AP certificate in question.

Click here for a list of Potomac Division Members who are AP Certificate holders and on their way to becoming an MMR.

Click here for a list of the Potomac Division Master Model Railroaders.

Click here for links for the to go to the clinics page and view the AP clinics from the Potomac Division.

Click here to view a checklist used by evaluators for the AP certificate requirements that you can down load and print. (Word format)

Click here to view a checklist used by evaluators for the AP certificate requirements that you can down load and print.. (PDF format)