After the Evaluation

The final stage in the AAHA accreditation process is the practice evaluation – conducted on-site or virtually by your dedicated AAHA practice consultant. The accreditation process signifies that the practice has met or exceeded AAHA standards, the only standards for veterinary facilities in the United States and Canada. Nearly 5,000 practices have joined AAHA as an accredited practice, willingly striving to meet a higher standard of care for their patients and raising the bar for the profession.

After the evaluation
When you pass the evaluation), you’ve achieved AAHA accreditation, demonstrating your commitment to excellence in patient care. Now what? Here are five steps you should take next

  1. Celebrate your new status! It takes hard work and dedication to achieve AAHA accreditation. Enjoy the enhanced sense of teamwork and boost to staff morale that follows a successful accreditation experience.
  2. Let the world know you're an AAHA-accredited practice! Within a week or two of passing your practice evaluation, you'll receive an email from Credly asking you to claim your digital accreditation badge. Practices put them on their websites (usually in the footer on every page, or on an "About Us" page) and sometimes on their email signatures to let pet owners know what accreditation is and why they should care.
  3. Review your comprehensive evaluation summary and provided resources that you can use to identify AAHA standards that could improve your practice and set goals to implement those changes. Your dedicated practice consultant and accreditation specialist will still be only a phone call or email away from answering any questions you may have regarding next steps or any other concern.
  4. Agree to abide by AAHA bylaws, standards, policies and procedures and sign the licensing agreement to use the AAHA-accredited practice logo.
  5. Share your new status with your patients, colleagues, and community. You’ll be listed in AAHA’s online practice locator, but be sure to update your website, social media, marketing materials and clinic signage to reflect your accreditation. Access our members-only accredited practice marketing toolkit for helpful materials and resources. Many practices also order AAHA merchandise.
  6. Log into your member account on AAHA.org and update your practice team member list to ensure no one misses out on education and publication discounts, Trends® magazine, news updates, and more. Every member of your team continues to receive full access to all AAHA member benefits at no extra charge.
  7. Consider enrolling in AAHA Advantage®, a unique purchasing program in which all the discounts and rebates you earn go right back into your practice—AAHA does not take anything off the top.

Maintaining Your Accreditation

To maintain your accreditation, you’ll pay annual dues. Dues are billed during the month of your evaluation anniversary. After the second year and then every three years after that, a practice evaluation consultant will re-evaluate the practice. Re-accreditation fees are included in annual member dues.

Compete to be recognized as the best of the best

Did you know that AAHA has an awards program that recognizes exceptional practices each year? After you’ve basked in the glow of your new accomplishment, consider entering the competition to be named the best.

Accreditation matters!

See what the 2022 Accredited Practice of the Year winner has to say.

What happens If your practice doesn’t pass the evaluation?

Because you’ll be working hand-in-hand with a dedicated practice consultant from the time you sign your member agreement, it is unlikely that you will not pass your evaluation. If you are unable to achieve AAHA accreditation after your initial evaluation, your practice consultant will convert that visit into a “courtesy walkthrough,” and you won’t be penalized. Your consultant will review any adjustments that you may need to make in order to achieve accreditation during your next visit. We will then work with you to reschedule your formal evaluation once you’ve had a chance to put your consultant’s recommendations into effect.