Revised March 2026
NOTE: The AAALAC International Rules of Accreditation were revised by the Board of Directors in March 2026 to clarify terminology, modernize language, and better reflect AAALAC International’s current accreditation practices and philosophy. Importantly, these revisions do not create new accreditation standards or fundamentally change how accredited programs are evaluated. Most accredited units should not need to make operational changes as a result of these updates. These revised rules are considered effective immediately. A summary to the revisions can be found here.
AAALAC International accredits active animal care and use programs. An active animal care and use program must include compliance with all applicable regulations, an Institutional Official, a local Oversight Body, an Attending Veterinarian, a program of effective education and training, consideration of the safety and well-being of personnel, and appropriate processes, procedures, facilities, and equipment for the humane and responsible care of the vertebrate animals and cephalopods used in science and education within the program.
For new applicants, an active, operational animal care and use program must be in place before applying for accreditation. AAALAC International will not conduct a site visit unless the applicant qualifies as an accreditable unit and has an active animal care and use program. Accredited units must maintain all components of an active animal care and use program at the time of a site revisit. Accreditation is granted at the sole discretion of AAALAC International.
Accreditable Unit
Any public or private institution, organization, or agency maintaining, using, supplying, or producing animals for purposes of science and education may be accredited. The appropriate administrative entity making application is the accreditable unit, and its animal care and use programs are evaluated to determine accreditation status.
The Council on Accreditation (Council) of AAALAC International shall establish the specific standards and requirements for accreditation of animal care and use programs. In doing so, the Council shall be governed by the following general principles:
The accreditation requirements established under these principles will be made public on the AAALAC International website.
Before adopting any new requirement for accreditation, or changes therein, AAALAC International shall publish the text of any proposed new or changed requirement together with a notice that any interested person can submit to AAALAC International written comments, data, views, or arguments in opposition to or in support of such proposals within thirty (30) days from the publication of the notice. AAALAC International shall consider all such written submissions before adopting the new or changed requirement.
AAALAC International shall receive applications from accreditable units seeking accreditation accompanied by reasonable nonrefundable fees pursuant to a schedule established and promulgated by the Board of Directors. In addition to the application fee, each accredited unit shall be charged a reasonable annual fee pursuant to a schedule established and promulgated by the Board of Directors. First-time annual fee invoices shall be prorated to the date of initial accreditation (as conveyed by the date of the letter awarding accreditation). Payment terms are thirty (30) days from the invoice date.
If additional site visits are required prior to determination of accreditation status, or interim or follow-up visits are required after accreditation, fees may be required, when justified, and as determined by AAALAC International. Routine site revisits will not require additional application fees, except that such fees may be imposed when necessary for the economic security of AAALAC International.
All accreditable units shall be initially evaluated by a team of not fewer than two site visitors, led by a Council Member or Council Emeritus and supported by at least one Ad Hoc Visitor. A single site visitor may be used at the option of the Council for a specific part of the evaluation after the initial site visit has been concluded, or in the event of a small and/or remote facility.
All accreditable units that qualify for accreditation review receive an initial site visit. Accredited units and those on Provisional Status are routinely revisited as often as deemed necessary by AAALAC International, but at least every three (3) years.
The Council shall neither employ nor use any visitor to evaluate an accreditable unit if, within the past ten (10) years, the visitor (a) is employed or retained by the accreditable unit; (b) is employed or retained by the same person, institution, or agency which owns, manages, or operates the accreditable unit; or (c) is employed or retained by, or the owner of, another organization which has a financial interest in the outcome of the site visit to the accreditable unit.
AAALAC International must have sufficient information to evaluate adequately an accreditable unit’s animal care and use program. In general, this will require that site visitors be permitted to enter any and, if deemed necessary, all animal holding rooms, laboratory or use areas, and support areas. Further, the site visitors must be provided all relevant programmatic information including that regarding use protocols, particularly information regarding the use of potentially hazardous agents or compounds.
AAALAC International will not accredit units that cannot be thoroughly evaluated. Access to facilities and information is essential to assess all aspects of husbandry, sanitation, animal well-being, and safety procedures.
No Council Member or Ad Hoc Visitor shall have authority to perform or conduct on behalf of AAALAC International an evaluation of any accreditable unit except upon and in accordance with an assignment made by AAALAC International.
Accreditation may be granted, withheld, or revoked by AAALAC International.
For a new applicant, Full Accreditation or Conditional Accreditation may be awarded. If the new applicant does not meet the requirements for accreditation, Provisional Status may be granted by AAALAC International for a period not exceeding twenty-four (24) months or accreditation may be withheld. At the first meeting of the Council after the expiration of the Provisional Status period, accreditation must be either withheld or awarded. A previously accredited unit cannot be reverted to Provisional Status.
Previously accredited units will be reassessed on a periodic basis. Following the reassessment, the accredited unit may be awarded Continued Full Accreditation.
Alternatively, an accredited unit may be placed on Conditional Accreditation or Probation if specific deficiencies are identified that require correction. Conditional Accreditation is typically reserved for deficiencies that are easily addressed, although the accreditation decision remains at the discretion of the Council. If a unit is placed on Probation and the specific deficiencies are not corrected within twelve (12) months, accreditation will be revoked. If all probationary deficiencies have been satisfactorily corrected at the time of the site revisit but additional deficiencies of a serious nature are noted, an additional probationary period, not to exceed the original total of twelve (12) months, may be granted to correct the new deficiencies. Notice of Conditional Accreditation or Probation shall be provided only to the unit and to AAALAC International.
Accreditation may be revoked by AAALAC International at any time in the event of a change in the nature, structure, location, or operation of an accredited unit or failure to adhere to the Rules of Accreditation. When the Council determines that accreditation is to be revoked, the Council will advise an accredited unit of proposed reasons for revoking accreditation and the accredited unit will have the opportunity to appeal this decision.
Accreditation may be revoked by AAALAC International at any time for nonpayment. Invoices are to be paid in full and may not be reduced by taxes or fees payable to the jurisdiction or institution from which payment is being made, as these are considered by AAALAC International to be the responsibility of the accredited unit.
If a unit fails to meet the criteria for an active animal care and use program for twelve (12) consecutive months after notification by AAALAC International, its accreditation will be revoked. If the unit resumes an active animal care and use program after revocation, a new application for accreditation must be submitted.
During the period immediately prior to determination of accreditation status or during Provisional Status, probationary accreditation, revocation of accreditation, or appeal, accreditable units may not change their organizational structure, as defined in the Application for Accreditation or as amended in annual reports, so as to remove deficient facilities from evaluation. However, facilities previously used for animal care and use may be permanently abandoned for such purposes at any time.
Upon rendering any decision to withhold or revoke accreditation, AAALAC International shall notify the unit in writing of the proposed decision of the Council and the factual findings and reasons supporting the proposed decision. Such notice shall be sent to the unit utilizing a return receipt mechanism which confirms delivery and indicates the date of delivery (e.g., registered mail, certified mail, etc.). Within thirty (30) days after receiving such notice, the unit may offer written evidence or argument tending to refute or overcome the factual findings and proposed decision of the Council and, in addition or in the alternative, may apply in writing for an oral hearing. AAALAC International shall hold such hearing at the next scheduled meeting of the Council after receipt of such request, and the unit shall be given an opportunity at the hearing to present evidence or argument tending to refute or overcome the factual findings and proposed decision of the Council and may be represented by counsel. Within thirty (30) days after its meeting, the Council shall render its decision after considering all the facts and matters before it and shall send its decision to the unit utilizing a return receipt mechanism which confirms delivery and indicates the date of delivery. If the unit fails to make a timely submission of evidence or argument, the decision of the Council shall be final.
AAALAC International shall issue a certificate of accreditation to each accredited unit. If a unit’s accreditation is revoked, the certificate of accreditation shall be destroyed or returned to AAALAC International. Units that are on Provisional Status are not entitled to receive certificates of accreditation.
The accredited unit shall submit an annual report which describes elements of the animal care and use program as specified by AAALAC International.
The accredited unit shall promptly notify AAALAC International of any investigation, legal action, or other formal proceeding involving its animal care and use program, as well as any related media coverage or public reporting.
Information related to the animal care and use program disclosed by an accredited unit participating in the accreditation program, whether in oral, written, graphic, electronic, or other form, shall be deemed to be “Confidential Information” of the disclosing party. Information generated by AAALAC International regarding an accredited unit’s accreditation is also considered Confidential Information. Confidential Information does not include information that (i) was known by AAALAC before the date of its disclosure by the accredited unit; (ii) AAALAC obtained from an independent third party having the right to disclose such information to AAALAC; or (iii) was already known to the public or was accessible to the public through no fault of AAALAC.
AAALAC International shall hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence and shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any third party, other than (i) to its directors, officers, employees, and consultants who need to know such information and who are bound by AAALAC International's Confidentiality and Secrecy Agreement; and (ii) to the extent required by law or judicial process. When Confidential Information is required to be disclosed by law or judicial process, AAALAC will make reasonable efforts to minimize the likelihood that the Confidential Information will be disclosed to the public.
If you have any questions about the information contained within the AAALAC International Rules of Accreditation, please contact the AAALAC International office at 301.696.9626 or accredit@aaalac.org.