American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)

The standard of veterinary excellence

Established in 1933 by leaders in the veterinary profession, AAHA is the only organization to accredit companion animal veterinary hospitals. To become AAHA accredited, companion animal hospitals undergo regular, comprehensive onsite evaluations by AAHA veterinary experts who evaluate each practice on more than 900 standards of veterinary care. Today, more than 4,500 practice teams (12%–15% of veterinary practices in the United States and Canada) are AAHA accredited or preaccredited.

AAHA is also a founding member of Partners for Healthy Pets and is a member of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Steering Committee.

AAHA’s mission is to:

Enhance the abilities of veterinarians to provide quality medical care to companion animals

Enable veterinarians to successfully conduct their practices and maintain their facilities with high standards of excellence

Meet the public’s needs as they relate to the delivery of small-animal veterinary medicine

AAHA’s vision

AAHA seeks to lead the profession in the provision of the highest quality of care for companion animals by improving standards of care, championing accreditation, and supporting our member practices in all aspects of this pursuit.

AAHA's values

AAHA cares. We care about the veterinary profession, about excellent medicine, about pets and their people, and about you. We care about high standards of care and service, to ensure your team is united in a common goal and your clients and patients experience better outcomes. We care about constant growth and improvement, so you can progress as the human-animal bond progresses. We care about veterinary professional wellbeing, so you and your team thrive in a high-performing, happy practice. We care about attracting the best and brightest into the profession, so you can work with a passionate and talented team. We care about providing the resources you and your team needs to do your job to the best of your abilities. We care about nurturing the unique community you have created for one another.