What is AZA accreditation?

In AZA, "accreditation" means official recognition and approval of a zoo or aquarium by a group of experts. These experts, called the AZA Accreditation Commission, carefully examine each zoo or aquarium that applies for AZA membership. Only those zoos and aquariums that meet our high standards can become members of AZA.

How does AZA accreditation work?

Selecting the experts

First, AZA carefully selects the expert Accreditation Commission members who evaluate each zoo and aquarium. These experts are leaders in their fields and have many years of experience and education in zoo and aquarium operations, animal management, and veterinary medicine. There are 12 experts on the Accreditation Commission.

What we evaluate

The Accreditation Commission evaluates every zoo or aquarium to make sure it meets AZA's standards for animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition. We also make sure that animals are provided with enrichment, which stimulates each animal's natural behavior and provides variety in their daily routine.

The Accreditation Commission also evaluates the veterinary program, involvement in conservation and research, education programs, safety policies and procedures, security, physical facilities, guest services, and the quality of the institution's staff. And because a zoo or aquarium needs a strong foundation in order to continue to meet high standards, accreditation also evaluates each institution's finances, its governing authority, and its support organization. In other words, we look at everything!

How we evaluate

Every candidate for accreditation fills out a detailed questionnaire which includes copies of their policies, procedures, records, lists, and reports. The application takes several months to complete. After the Accreditation Commission studies the application, a team of inspectors visit the zoo or aquarium in person. Each team includes at least one veterinarian along with animal and operations experts. The inspectors spend several long days at the zoo or aquarium visiting every area, interviewing staff, checking records, and examining the physical facilities. The inspectors then write a detailed report about everything they saw and evaluated.

The Accreditation Commission Meeting

The Accreditation Commission meets twice a year to consider all candidates for accreditation. They examine the application, the supporting documents submitted by the zoo or aquarium, the inspection team's report, and any information and comments received from outside organizations and individuals. The zoo or aquarium's senior officials must go to the Accreditation Commission's meeting to answer questions. Finally,the Accreditation Commission decides whether or not to grant accreditation. Our standards are high and not every new candidate receives accreditation on their first try.

Staying Accredited

AZA accredited zoos and aquariums are constantly evolving and standards are continuously being raised. Each zoo or aquarium must keep up with these changes to remain AZA accredited. And to prove it, they must go through the entire accreditation process every five years. AZA believes that nothing is more important than assuring the highest standards of animal care and our accreditation process does just that!

Look for the Logo

Fewer than 10% of the approximately 2,400 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are AZA accredited! The AZA logo is the easiest, most reliable way for people to choose zoos and aquariums that meet our rigorous accreditation standards.

So be sure to look for the "Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums" logo on web sites, advertisements, and at the gate! Before you visit, check our list of accredited institutions to see if an institution is AZA accredited. For more extensive information on accreditation we invite you to download a copy of the latest edition of the Accreditation Standards and Related Policies (in PDF) and read our standards for yourself.