Jordan Ellis
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. It is the only organization that accredits veterinary practices in the United States and Canada. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be evaluated on 900 standards that cover nearly every aspect of veterinary practice, including surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental and nursing care, diagnostic imaging, and anesthesiology. Less than 15% of pet hospitals in North America meet these stringent requirements, which are continuously updated to keep accredited hospitals at the forefront of veterinary medicine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of veterinary practices accredited by AAHA | More than 4,500 |
| Number of veterinary team members | 50,000 |
| Number of mandatory standards | 50 |
| Number of remaining standards assessed using a points-based system | Hundreds |
| Number of veterinary care providers in the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) | 36,000-40,000 |
| Number of animal hospitals in the database | 15,000 |
| Number of animal hospitals in Newsweek's list of America's Best Animal Hospitals 2025 | 500 |
| Number of animal hospitals in Plant-A's list of America's top 500 animal hospitals | 500 |
| Percentage of US hospitals that are AAHA accredited | 12-15% |
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What You'll Learn
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
AAHA-accredited veterinary practices deliver the highest quality of care for pets. AAHA-accredited hospitals set themselves apart by demonstrating their commitment to excellence. They voluntarily choose to be evaluated on 900 standards, encompassing all aspects of veterinary medicine, including patient care, surgery, anesthesia, dentistry, pharmacy, and emergency and critical care. These hospitals are continuously evaluated by AAHA consultants to ensure compliance with the association's standards for services, facilities, equipment, and quality procedures.
To achieve AAHA accreditation, veterinary hospitals must meet or exceed hundreds of rigorous standards. These standards are continuously updated to keep accredited hospitals at the forefront of veterinary medicine. Hospitals seeking their initial accreditation make significant changes and prepare for months to years for their first evaluation. They work with a dedicated, experienced, and credentialed accreditation specialist and practice consultant who stays with them throughout the process.
AAHA provides its members with various benefits, including industry-leading guidelines, veterinary medicine resources, learning opportunities such as free webinars and educational programs, and community connections. AAHA-accredited hospitals also have access to guidelines, resources, career development, and advancement tools designed specifically for veterinary professionals.
Only about 12-15% of animal hospitals in the United States and Canada are AAHA-accredited, making it a prestigious recognition of their commitment to delivering exceptional veterinary care.
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AAHA's mandatory standards
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. It is the only organisation that accredits veterinary practices in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be evaluated on 900 stringent standards that cover all aspects of veterinary medicine, including facilities, equipment, and quality procedures. These standards are continuously updated to keep accredited hospitals at the forefront of the profession.
To achieve AAHA accreditation, a veterinary hospital must meet or exceed mandatory standards in various categories. One of the mandatory standards is that veterinary clinics must use one dedicated and enclosed room for surgery. This room must have aseptic and single-use, with proper lighting, sterile equipment and procedures, and easy access to drugs and equipment. Proper anaesthetic procedures are also required, including a pre-anaesthetic examination and the provision of safe and state-of-the-art anaesthesia.
Dental service is another important category, with mandatory standards in place to ensure maximum safety and cleanliness. AAHA hospitals routinely perform teeth cleaning, extractions, and gum procedures, and the new mandatory dental standard requires general anaesthesia with intubation for any dental procedures, including dental cleanings. This is to ensure the safety and comfort of the animal and to allow for proper assessment and treatment.
Other mandatory standards cover a broad range of areas, including emergency and critical care, human resources, pain management, patient care, pharmacy, and surgery. For example, hospitals must outline how to assign pets a pain score and which drugs to use in specific situations. They must also ensure that medications are stored and organised correctly and that proper records are maintained. AAHA-accredited hospitals are committed to excellence and continuously strive to meet the highest standards of care.
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AAHA accreditation as an indication of quality
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the AAHA is well known for its standards for hospitals and pet healthcare. The AAHA is the only organization that accredits veterinary practices in the United States and Canada. AAHA-accredited practices are evaluated on stringent standards that encompass all aspects of veterinary medicine, from pain management and patient care to team training and medical record-keeping.
AAHA accreditation is a strong indication that a veterinary practice delivers quality medicine, positively impacting patients, clients, and the team and raising the bar for the entire veterinary profession. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be evaluated on hundreds of standards. These standards are continuously updated to keep pace with advancements in veterinary medicine, ensuring that accredited hospitals remain at the forefront of the profession.
To achieve AAHA accreditation, a veterinary hospital must meet or exceed hundreds of standards covering all aspects of veterinary care and business. These standards include anesthesia, dentistry, emergency and critical care, and human resources. For example, anesthesia standards are in place to ensure anesthesia is safe and effective for every pet, and dental cleanings are only performed on anesthetized pets to ensure maximum safety and cleanliness.
In addition to meeting these standards, AAHA-accredited hospitals also follow AAHA guidelines, which are available to all veterinary professionals, regardless of their AAHA membership status. These guidelines are created by industry experts to cover popular and rapidly developing topics and help practitioners stay on top of cutting-edge care recommendations.
AAHA accreditation sets hospitals apart by demonstrating their commitment to excellence and showcasing why accreditation matters. Choosing an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice for your pet’s medical care assures you that the practice has the facilities, equipment, staff, and medical protocols that the AAHA believes are important for delivering high-quality care.
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The process of attaining accreditation
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the AAHA is the only organisation that accredits veterinary practices in the United States and Canada. Accreditation of animal hospitals by the AAHA is voluntary, and hospitals that undergo this process do so to demonstrate their commitment to excellence.
The process of attaining AAHA accreditation involves meeting or exceeding hundreds of rigorous standards covering all aspects of veterinary care and business. These standards are continuously updated to keep accredited hospitals at the forefront of the profession. They include mandatory standards as well as additional applicable standards assessed using a points-based system. The specific areas evaluated are:
- Anesthesia: Standards ensure that anesthesia is safe and effective for every pet, with proper procedures and equipment in place.
- Dentistry: Maximum safety and cleanliness are ensured, and dental cleanings are mandated to be performed only on anesthetized pets.
- Emergency and Critical Care: Standards govern how patients and clients are handled and treated during emergencies and hospitalizations.
- Human Resources: This focuses on ensuring the efficient and smooth running of the business side of the hospital.
- Pain Management: Guidelines outline how to assign pets a pain score and which drugs or drug combinations are most appropriate in different situations.
- Patient Care: This includes medical protocols and patient handling.
- Pharmacy: Standards ensure the correct storage, organisation, and record-keeping of medications.
- Surgery: This area heavily emphasises safety and sterility, requiring a single-use, aseptic room with proper lighting and easy access to drugs and equipment.
To achieve accreditation, veterinary hospitals work with a dedicated AAHA accreditation specialist and practice consultant who provides support throughout the process, typically lasting two to six months. Consultants regularly visit hospitals to ensure compliance with the standards. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be evaluated on these comprehensive standards, setting themselves apart by their commitment to delivering high-quality care.
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AAHA-accredited hospitals and their commitment to excellence
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the AAHA is well-known among veterinarians and pet owners for its standards for hospitals and pet healthcare. AAHA is the only organization that accredits veterinary practices in the United States and Canada. Accreditation by the AAHA is a strong indication that a veterinary practice delivers quality medicine, positively impacting patients, clients, and teams, and raising the bar for the veterinary profession.
AAHA-accredited hospitals stand out by demonstrating their commitment to excellence. Only 12-15% of veterinary hospitals have undergone the rigorous accreditation process. To achieve AAHA accreditation, a veterinary hospital must meet or exceed hundreds of standards covering all aspects of veterinary care and business. These standards are continuously updated to keep pace with advancements in veterinary medicine, ensuring that accredited hospitals remain at the forefront of the profession. AAHA-accredited hospitals also follow guidelines created by industry experts to cover popular and rapidly developing topics, helping practitioners stay on top of cutting-edge care recommendations.
The process of becoming AAHA accredited involves animal hospitals undergoing a detailed evaluation based on approximately 900 standards that encompass all aspects of veterinary care. This includes anesthesia and monitoring, vaccinations, customer service, record-keeping, sterilization techniques, and handling controlled substances. Hospitals seeking their initial accreditation make significant changes and prepare for months or even years for their first evaluation. Accredited hospitals must also undergo regular re-evaluations to ensure they continue to meet AAHA's high and evolving standards.
AAHA-accredited practices experience tangible benefits, including enhanced client trust. Pet owners can rest assured that AAHA-accredited veterinary practices and team members are driven to be the best and care about their pet's health and well-being. Choosing an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice for your pet's medical care assures you that the practice has the facilities, equipment, staff, and medical protocols that AAHA believes are important for the delivery of high-quality care.
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Frequently asked questions
Less than 15% of animal hospitals in North America are AAHA accredited, which amounts to over 4,500 practices.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 40,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals.
To become AAHA accredited, a veterinary hospital must meet or exceed hundreds of mandatory standards covering all aspects of veterinary care and business. These standards are continuously updated to keep up with advancements in veterinary medicine.
