Membership Categories

Practice Membership

There are three categories of practice membership. Membership dues are based on the number of veterinarians on staff.

• Accredited Practice Member — Accredited practice members have passed their evaluation on AAHA standards and are practicing the highest quality medicine possible. Each AAHA-accredited practice designates at least one veterinarian as Medical Director who has authority over medical decisions and AAHA standards' issues. They can also designate a Practice Manager who has principle administrative responsibility for the practice.
• Accredited Referral Practice Member – An accredited referral practice member has a board-certified specialist on staff in the specialty being pursued and has successfully passed the evaluation on AAHA Referral Standards. AAHA referral accreditation validates that a specialty practice is meeting the highest standards in the profession.  
• Accredited University Practice Member — An accredited university practice member is associated with a school or college of veterinary medicine and has successfully undergone an evaluation to achieve accreditation.
• Nonaccredited Practice Member — This is a practice membership for a practice that has not pursued or achieved AAHA accreditation.

Individual Membership

Individual membership is ideal for practitioners who have recently graduated as well as managers or technical and administrative support staff members who are committed to higher standards of care and who are not employed at a clinic with practice membership.

• New Veterinarian: New veterinarians are any practicing veterinarians residing in the United States or Canada, not employed at an AAHA practice member, and graduated within the last five years.
• First Year New Veterinarian: Members during their first year after graduation.
• Second Year New Veterinarian: Members during their second year after graduation.
• Third Year New Veterinarian: Members during their third year after graduation.
• Fourth Year New Veterinarian: Members during their fourth year after graduation.
• Fifth Year New Veterinarian: Members during their fifth year after graduation.


• Veterinary Student: Students in AVMA-accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. Find out more about our Veterinary Student Program.
• Veterinary Technician Student: Students enrolled in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program. Find out more about our Veterinary Technician Student Program.
• International Affiliate: Practicing veterinarians outside the United States and Canada.
• Commercial Affiliate: Individuals, both veterinarians and nonveterinarians, who are associated with commercial organization relating to veterinary medicine.
• Faculty Affiliate: Faculty members of schools or colleges of veterinary medicine or instructors in fields relating to veterinary medicine or veterinary practice management.
• University Associate: Associate veterinarians employed at a university hospital that is an AAHA-accredited university practice member.
• Practice Manager: Nonveterinarians or nonpracticing veterinarians who have administrative and/or management responsibilities and who are not employed by an AAHA practice member.
• Veterinary Technician: Licensed/certified veterinary technicians who are not employed at an AAHA practice member.
• Veterinary Support Staff Member: Assistant, front office, kennel, or other support staff persons who are not employed at an AAHA practice member.
• Past Active Member: Former members who have retired after 25 consecutive years of membership.
• Honorary Member: Holders of certain distinguished positions who are awarded membership in recognition of their tenure of office.
• Hospital Director Emeritus: Retired hospital directors who have been practice director members for at least 25 consecutive years.
• Distinguished Life Member: Veterinarians, scientists, or other persons who are awarded membership because they have made or are making a distinguished contributions to the advancement of veterinary medicine.