The NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA) was established in 1982 as an association under Section 30 of the Technical Institutes Act.

In 2004 the Technical Institutes Act was incorporated into the Post-Secondary Learning Act, which establishes NASA as a corporation and consists of the academic staff members of the technical institute. The NAIT Academic Staff Association has the exclusive authority to negotiate a Collective Agreement on behalf of the academic staff members. The Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors and the Academic Staff Association outlines the terms and conditions of employment.

The Act also indicates that the business and affairs of the Association shall be managed by an Executive, who shall be elected by the staff members.