What Does AZA Accreditation Mean? A Guide for Zoo Visitors

You've probably seen "AZA-accredited" on a zoo's website or by the front gate. It's one of the most useful labels a zoo can carry, and one of the least explained. Here's what it actually means and how a zoo earns it.

What is the AZA?

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit membership organization for zoos and aquariums. It was founded in 1924. Its best-known job is accreditation: deciding which zoos and aquariums meet its professional standards.

In 1985, AZA made accreditation mandatory for membership. A zoo can't simply join and use the name; it has to pass the review first. AZA says membership fell by about 75% when that rule took effect, and it kept the rule anyway.

What AZA accreditation checks

AZA's standards cover a zoo's entire operation, not just its animal exhibits. Inspectors look at:

• Animal welfare and care: living spaces, social groups, nutrition and enrichment that encourages natural behavior. AZA says every animal at an accredited zoo gets a welfare assessment at least once a year.
• Veterinary care: the quality of the vet program, health records and medical protocols.
• Conservation and research: what the zoo contributes to protecting species, in its own care and in the wild.
• Education: how the zoo teaches visitors about animals and conservation.
• Safety and security: for animals, staff and guests.
• Staffing, finances and governance: whether the zoo has the trained people, money and leadership to keep meeting the standards.

AZA says U.S. agencies, including the USDA and OSHA, refer to its standards when they evaluate zoos.

How a zoo earns accreditation

Getting accredited is a long, demanding process.

1. A detailed application. The zoo submits a questionnaire with its policies, records and reports. AZA says this takes many months to prepare and about six months to review.
2. An in-person inspection. A team of three to five inspectors visits for two to five days, depending on the zoo's size. Every team includes a veterinarian, plus experts in animal care and operations.
3. A hearing. The zoo's senior leaders appear before AZA's Accreditation Commission, a panel of experienced zoo professionals, to answer questions.
4. A decision. The Commission can grant accreditation, grant it provisionally while specific concerns are fixed, table a new application until problems are resolved, or deny it.

The zoo pays for its own inspection.

It has to be earned again every five years

Accreditation doesn't last forever. Every accredited zoo must repeat the full process, including a new inspection, every five years. Inspectors check that problems flagged last time have been fixed.

In between, the Commission meets monthly to review incident and progress reports. It can remove accreditation at any time if a zoo stops meeting the standards. A zoo that loses accreditation also loses its AZA membership.

AZA accreditation vs. a USDA license

These two get confused, but they mean very different things.

• A USDA license is the legal minimum. Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, anyone who exhibits certain animals to the public needs one. Roadside attractions, traveling animal shows and major city zoos all need the same license.
• AZA accreditation is voluntary and far stricter. According to AZA, only about 10% of the roughly 2,150 USDA-licensed exhibitors are accredited.

So a USDA license tells you a facility is legally allowed to show animals. AZA accreditation tells you independent experts have examined how it runs and found that it meets professional standards.

Other labels you might see

AZA isn't the only organization that reviews animal facilities:

• GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries) accredits true sanctuaries: places that care for rescued animals, usually don't breed them, and often limit public visits.
• ZAA (Zoological Association of America) runs its own accreditation program with different standards from AZA's.

When a zoo names an accreditation, it's worth checking which organization it means.

Species Survival Plans: why it matters for wildlife

Accredited zoos work together through Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs. Each one manages the population of a species across many zoos, using a shared studbook to recommend which animals should breed and which should move between zoos. The goal is a healthy, genetically diverse population that doesn't depend on taking more animals from the wild.

AZA says there are nearly 300 SSP programs. Many cover endangered animals, such as the red panda. Through its SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) programs, AZA also connects zoos to conservation work in the wild.

Does it matter for your visit?

For most visitors, AZA accreditation is a quick and reliable sign that:

• the animals get professional veterinary care and are regularly checked on;
• the zoo has been inspected by independent experts in the last five years;
• it takes part in conservation beyond its own grounds.

Some good facilities aren't accredited, often small sanctuaries, nature centers or rescue groups. They may not fit AZA's definition of a zoo, or may not be able to afford the process. If a place you're planning to visit isn't accredited, look at how it describes its animal care and whether it holds another accreditation, such as GFAS.

How to check if a zoo is AZA-accredited

• Look for the logo. Accredited zoos show "Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums" on their website and often at the entrance.
• Search AZA's member list. AZA keeps a public, current list of accredited zoos and aquariums.
• Check its Feather & Fang page. Every zoo in our U.S. zoo directory shows whether it's AZA-accredited, with a short explanation of what that means.