AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the welfare of animals in science and education through accreditation and education programs. Earning AAALAC accreditation includes both a thorough internal review and a rigorous external review by an expert site visit team. Because participating in the accreditation program is voluntary, it demonstrates an institution’s commitment to go above and beyond the minimums required.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL-LENGTH DIRECTOR'S CUT. PLAY THE SHORT VERSION BELOW:
SEE A TIMELINE OF KEY MOMENTS FROM AAALAC's HISTORY 1965-2025.
The accreditation program was created in 1965 when leading veterinarians and researchers founded the “American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)” as a private, nonprofit organization. In the years that followed, AAALAC accredited hundreds of organizations across the United States, raising the benchmark for laboratory animal care to new heights. (More details on the formation of AAALAC are available here.)
In 1996, AAALAC changed its name to the “Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International).” The name change reflected the organization's growth in other countries, and its commitment to enhancing life sciences and quality animal care around the world.
In 2016 AAALAC stopped spelling out its acronym in favor of simply using "AAALAC International" as its legal, official name. Because AAALAC's accreditation program has grown to encompass many wildlife and agricultural animal research programs, dropping the use of the word "laboratory" reflects this inclusivity. Today, more than 1,140+ organizations worldwide are accredited by AAALAC International. More key moments from AAALAC’s history spanning 1965 through 2025 can be seen here.
Since AAALAC’s inception, Member Organizations have played an integral role in supporting and shaping the mission and work of AAALAC International. Member Organizations are a select group of prestigious scientific, professional and educational organizations from all over the world. Over the years the role of Member Organizations has continued to evolve. Today each Member Organization appoints a representative to serve as an “AAALAC International Member Organization Delegate”—these delegates participate in an annual meeting and elect AAALAC’s Board of Directors. There are now more than 70 AAALAC Member Organizations and their participation demonstrates their organizations’ commitment to the responsible and humane use of animals in science.
The Council on Accreditation is the group responsible for evaluating animal programs and determining their accreditation status. Members of the Council are chosen to serve based on their extensive experience in the fields of veterinary medicine, laboratory animal science or animal research, and their commitment to humane animal care and use. As AAALAC has grown, the Council has expanded and now includes North American, Pacific Rim and European Sections. Council also appoints a roster of Ad Hoc Visitors (formerly known as Ad Hoc Consultants/Specialists). These experts assist the Council members with their evaluations and provide expertise in specific areas, such as management, international regulations, or certain scientific specialties. Over the years AAALAC’s pool of Ad Hoc Visitors has grown to include more than 400 professionals around the globe.
Along with meeting all applicable local and national regulations, AAALAC accredited institutions must also demonstrate that they are achieving the standards outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide, NRC 2011); the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (Ag Guide, FASS 2010); and the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes, Council of Europe (ETS 123). The standards in the Guide go above and beyond what is required by law.
Institutions choose to participate in the AAALAC accreditation program for a variety of reasons. Some use accreditation as a symbol of quality—it shows that an institution is serious about setting, achieving and maintaining high standards for animal research programs. AAALAC accreditation also promotes scientific validity—when research involves animals, reliable results depend on healthy animals and superior animal care. And perhaps most importantly, accreditation demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond the minimums required by law, and assures the public that the institution is committed to the responsible use and treatment of animals in science and education. As AAALAC’s reach has increased worldwide, so has the status and value of achieving and maintaining AAALAC International accreditation.