ZAA accreditation

What ZAA accreditation is

ZAA accreditation is a certification from the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), a nonprofit, membership-based accrediting organization. ZAA describes its purpose as responsible wildlife management, conservation and education.

ZAA was formed in February 2005, when two earlier groups merged: the International Society of Zooculturists, started in 1987, and the United Zoological Association, started in 2000. ZAA says it has more than 950 members and over 70 accredited facilities.

Who can be ZAA-accredited

ZAA accredits zoos, aquariums and educational facilities that exhibit exotic or wild animals to the public with an educational and conservation message. That includes facilities open on a regular schedule, facilities open by appointment, and outreach programs that bring animals to schools and events. It is not available to private owners of exotic pets.

An accredited facility must also have a ZAA Professional Fellow member on its permanent staff.

How ZAA accreditation works

The process has three main steps:

1. Application. The facility submits a detailed application and pays an application fee and inspection deposit.
2. Site inspection. Inspectors visit the facility in person and grade it across many categories.
3. Committee review. ZAA's accreditation committee may table the application with a deadline to fix problems, deny it, or recommend it to ZAA's board of directors for a final vote.

Accredited facilities must repeat the complete process every five years.

What ZAA's standards cover

ZAA's stated objectives for accreditation include:

• professional standards for animal husbandry, care and welfare;
• accurate animal and medical records;
• methods that support the survival of species;
• a safe environment for staff and guests.

ZAA vs. AZA

The two names look alike, but they are separate organizations with separate standards:

• Founding: AZA dates to 1924; ZAA was formed in 2005.
• Membership: AZA has required accreditation for institutional membership since 1985. ZAA's membership is broader, including individuals, commercial members, rescues, rehab facilities and preserves, and not every member is accredited.
• Facilities: ZAA's membership mixes public and private facilities of very different sizes, from small educational operations to large zoos.
• Cycle: both re-review accredited facilities every five years.

Their standards differ on a number of specific animal management practices, so the two labels aren't interchangeable. If a facility says it's "accredited," it's worth checking which organization it means. See AZA accreditation and GFAS accreditation for comparison.

ZAA accreditation and the law

Like AZA accreditation, ZAA accreditation is voluntary. It doesn't replace a federal USDA license under the Animal Welfare Act, which most U.S. animal exhibitors need regardless of any accreditation.