The Atlas/Research & Accreditation/AAALAC Accreditation
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AAALAC Accreditation
AAALAC International
The global benchmark accreditation for institutions that house and use laboratory animals, including dogs.
01 What It Is
AAALAC International is a private, non-profit organization that runs a voluntary, performance-based accreditation program for institutions using animals in research, teaching and testing. Used by institutions across dozens of countries, its accreditation is treated as the international gold standard for laboratory-animal care, sought on top of whatever the local law already requires.
02 What It Covers
Accreditation evaluates the whole animal care and use program: veterinary care, housing and husbandry, environmental enrichment, and the institutional oversight that governs it. Its performance-based approach judges outcomes rather than prescribing one design, against primary references such as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the relevant national law.
03 How It Is Checked
An institution prepares a detailed Program Description and undergoes an in-depth, confidential peer-review assessment, including a site visit, by AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation. Accreditation is not one-off: accredited institutions are re-evaluated on a recurring cycle to keep their status, so the standard is maintained rather than earned once.
04 Why It Matters
National law sets the floor for research animals; AAALAC accreditation is how an institution shows it goes beyond it. For a dog in a research setting the difference is meaningful: accreditation signals independent, expert scrutiny of its housing, care and the justification for its use, layered on top of the legal minimum.
Common Questions
Is it mandatory?
No. It is a voluntary, performance-based accreditation, sought on top of whatever the local law already requires. It is treated as the international gold standard for laboratory-animal care.
Who runs it?
AAALAC International, a private, non-profit organization, used by institutions across dozens of countries.
What does it cover?
The whole animal care and use program: veterinary care, housing and husbandry, environmental enrichment, and the institutional oversight that governs it.
What does performance-based mean?
It judges outcomes rather than prescribing one design, assessed against primary references such as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the relevant national law.
How is it assessed?
An institution prepares a detailed Program Description and undergoes a confidential peer-review assessment, including a site visit, by AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation, with re-evaluation on a recurring cycle.
Why does it matter?
National law sets the floor; accreditation is how an institution shows it goes beyond it, signalling independent, expert scrutiny of a dog’s housing, care and the justification for its use.
Primary sources
- What is AAALAC accreditation?aaalac.org