Raising The Bar
IAABC offers credentials for professionals at various career stages, grounded in learning, ethology, biology, and psychology. Our credentials are recognized internationally, and we work with governments to ensure credential holders can work in regulated areas. We advocate for behavior professionals as experts, ensuring they are viewed equally with related fields, protecting the profession and supporting independent careers. To maintain education standards, IAABC connects credentialed practitioners with qualified education providers and pre-approved resources for continuing education, helping them stay current in their fields.
Why Pursue Your Credentials?
IAABC credentials are highly regarded due to their rigorous evaluation process, where examinations are developed and scored by experienced behavior consultants using an objective rubric, ensuring thorough and unbiased assessments. Unlike certifications from educational courses, IAABC acts as a neutral third-party credentialing body, offering a higher standard of evaluation. Additionally, our credentials are internationally recognized, meeting industry standards and supporting practitioners as qualified and competent professionals worldwide.
Credentials Levels
IAABC offers three credential levels to support professionals in animal behavior consulting. The Accredited credential recognizes trainers with a strong foundation in training principles and the ability to handle a variety of behavior issues independently. The Affiliate credential is designed for shelter workers with proven competence in shelter environments and an understanding of behavior change. The Certified designation is the highest level, awarded to experienced consultants capable of managing complex cases, aimed at mid- to late-career professionals. Each credential includes listing in the IAABC consultant locator and recognition of competencies.
Understanding The Process
The IAABC credential is a third-party certification. This means we don’t teach you the material. Instead, we independently assess your existing knowledge, skills, and ethical decision-making against established professional standards. Applicants must already have significant education and hands-on experience in animal behavior consulting before applying. The process is not an entry-level training course. It’s a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation designed to confirm that you can already practice competently and ethically. If you pass, your credential demonstrates to clients, employers, and colleagues that your work meets the IAABC’s standards for professional behavior consulting. If you do not meet these standards, certification is not awarded. This ensures that only qualified, ethical, and experienced professionals earn the IAABC credential, protecting both the public and the reputation of our field.
Ready to Get Started?
1. First, please read our IAABC Code of Ethics. We take our ethics seriously and will investigate and sanction any member and/or credential holder who is reported to be in violation.
2. Choose your credentials. We offer various levels of credentials based on specialty and experience in the field.
3. Log into your supporting membership account to start the application process. One your open your examination you will have 60 days to receive endorsement and 60 days to complete the written examination.
If you are looking for more information we encourage you to read our in-depth Application Handbook. This document contains all the detailed policies and processes that we follow