AAALAC International
AAALAC International is a nonprofit founded in 1965 that accredits animal care and use programs in research, teaching, and testing across 1,140+ organizations in 52 countries, serving pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersFrederick, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AAALAC International does
AAALAC International is a nonprofit accreditation organization founded in 1965 and headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, with regional offices in Pamplona, Spain (covering Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and Samutprakarn, Thailand (covering Asia-Pacific). The organization operates the premier global accreditation program for animal care and use programs used in research, teaching, and testing. AAALAC evaluates programs against established standards—principally the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and its proprietary Three Primary Standards framework (Position Statements, Guidance Statements, and Reference Resources)—through a structured process involving application submission, document review, site visits by trained Council on Accreditation evaluators, and Board affirmation.
The organization's customer base spans 1,140+ accredited organizations across 52 countries/regions, including major pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, Charles River Laboratories), academic institutions (Harvard University), and government agencies (NIH). AAALAC generates revenue through three streams: one-time non-refundable application fees, recurring annual fees for accredited programs, and supplemental fees for interim or follow-up site visits beyond the routine 3-year revisit cycle. The business operates on a direct sales/go-to-market model where institutions apply voluntarily for accreditation. AAALAC supports its core accreditation service with educational outreach through publications (i-Briefs, handouts), webinars, conferences, training events, and a member portal for accredited units.
AAALAC International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AAALAC International
- Legal name
- AAALAC INTERNATIONAL
- Website
- https://aaalac.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AAALAC International is a nonprofit founded in 1965 that accredits animal care and use programs in research, teaching, and testing across 1,140+ organizations in 52 countries, serving pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AAALAC International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Laboratory Animal Care Accreditation
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM), Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)
Keywords
Where AAALAC International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frederick
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
AAALAC International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Accreditation Fees: AAALAC International generates revenue through non-refundable application fees and annual fees charged to accredited programs. First-time annual fee invoices are pro-rated to the date of initial accreditation. Additional fees may be charged for supplemental site visits beyond routine 3-year revisits.
- Annual Accreditation Fees: Each fully accredited program and each program on less than Full Accreditation status is charged a reasonable annual fee pursuant to a schedule established by the Board of Directors. Payment terms are 30 days from invoice date.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Application Fee - one-time non-refundable fee for initial accreditation |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Fee - recurring fee for maintaining accredited status |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Supplemental Site Visit Fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
AAALAC International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AAALAC International provides voluntary accreditation of animal care and use programs at institutions engaged in research, teaching, and testing. Institutions apply, host site visits by AAALAC-appointed evaluators, and undergo evaluation against the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC) and AAALAC's Three Primary Standards, with accredited status maintained through annual fees and routine three-year re-evaluations. The organization complements accreditation with education, outreach, and standards publications (Position Statements, Guidance Statements, Reference Resources) that help programs comply with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
Product overview
AAALAC International operates as a single, unified accreditation program rather than a platform with multiple modules. The core offering is the AAALAC International Accreditation Program, which evaluates animal care and use programs through site visits against the Three Primary Standards. Supporting offerings include educational publications (i-Briefs, handouts), presentation series, the Directory of Accredited Organizations, and the Unit Login Portal for member resources. The organization also administers several awards recognizing excellence in animal welfare and the 3Rs (Fellowship Award, Global 3Rs Awards, Bennett J. Cohen Award, Outstanding Delegate Service Award, James R. Swearengen Award). Standards-related products include Position Statements, Guidance Statements, and Reference Resources that supplement the primary accreditation standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AAALAC International Accreditation Program
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 1,140 organizations across 52 countries/regions have earned AAALAC accreditation
Companies that use AAALAC International
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AAALAC International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
AAALAC International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- SBCAL (Brazilian Association of Laboratory Animal Science)majorCo-hosting with AAALAC International a FREE in-person training event in Rio de Janeiro on September 10, 2026 focused on improving animal welfare and science through AAALAC accreditation.
- Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz)majorCollaborating with AAALAC International and SBCAL on the 2026 training event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil focused on improving animal welfare and science through accreditation.
- Sichuan Laboratory Animal Science AssociationmajorCo-hosting the 2026 AAALAC Accreditation Training in Chengdu, China from July 30 to August 2. AAALAC, Sichuan Laboratory Animal Science Association and WestChina-Frontier PharmaTech Co., Ltd. are collaborating on this regional training event organized by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
- WestChina-Frontier PharmaTech Co., Ltd.majorCo-organizing the 2026 AAALAC Accreditation Training in Chengdu, China. Partnering with AAALAC and Sichuan Laboratory Animal Science Association for this regional training event.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicinemajorPrimary organizer of the 2026 AAALAC Accreditation Training in Chengdu, China. Coordinating logistics and hosting for the regional training event.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AAALAC International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS): AALAS is the leading US professional association for laboratory animal science professionals, providing certification (ALAT, LAT, LATG) and education. It addresses the same target audience (lab animal research community) and serves a complementary function to AAALAC's program accreditation.
- International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS): ICLAS is the international umbrella organization promoting laboratory animal science worldwide, including harmonization of standards and guidelines. It shares AAALAC's global mandate around animal research quality and welfare standards.
- Laboratory Animal Management Association (LAMA): LAMA is a US-based association of laboratory animal facility managers and professionals, providing education and best-practice resources that complement AAALAC's accreditation services.
- Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA): FELASA represents European laboratory animal science associations, issues accreditation and training recommendations, and publishes guidelines used across the EU. It is the closest European counterpart to AAALAC's accreditation function.
Others
- Animal Welfare Institute: AWI is a long-standing animal welfare advocacy organization that engages with AAALAC's standards and accreditation work. It is a stakeholder rather than a direct peer, but its policy positions directly shape the regulatory environment in which AAALAC operates.
- National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR): NABR is the primary US advocacy organization for the continued use of animals in biomedical research. It supports AAALAC's role in promoting high standards and is a closely aligned stakeholder in the animal research ecosystem.
- Americans for Medical Progress: Americans for Medical Progress advocates for the responsible use of animals in biomedical research. While not a direct accreditor, it works alongside AAALAC to promote animal welfare standards and public understanding.
Broad incumbents
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW): OLAW is the US federal body that oversees compliance with the Public Health Service Policy on humane care of laboratory animals for NIH-funded research. It is a broader, government-mandated authority that AAALAC accreditation is often used to complement.
Emerging players
- American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM): ACLAM certifies laboratory animal veterinarians (diplomate status) in the US. While it focuses on individual certification rather than program accreditation, it is a closely related standards body serving the same animal research community.
Regional players
- Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS): CALAS is the Canadian national association supporting laboratory animal science professionals, providing training and certification. It serves a regional (Canadian) market that overlaps with AAALAC's accredited programs in Canada.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AAALAC International social profiles
Digital presenceAAALAC International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
AAALAC International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AAALAC International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
AAALAC International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AAALAC International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AAALAC International
What does AAALAC International do?
AAALAC International provides voluntary accreditation of animal care and use programs at institutions engaged in research, teaching, and testing. Institutions apply, host site visits by AAALAC-appointed evaluators, and undergo evaluation against the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC) and AAALAC's Three Primary Standards, with accredited status maintained through annual fees and routine three-year re-evaluations. The organization complements accreditation with education, outreach, and standards publications (Position Statements, Guidance Statements, Reference Resources) that help programs comply with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
Is AAALAC International a public or private company?
AAALAC International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AAALAC International founded?
AAALAC International was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AAALAC International based?
AAALAC International is headquartered in Frederick, United States, in the North America region.
How does AAALAC International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Accreditation Fees are the primary driver. The others are annual Accreditation Fees.
Who are AAALAC International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS), Laboratory Animal Management Association (LAMA) and Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA). Others are Animal Welfare Institute, National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) and Americans for Medical Progress. NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) is listed as a broad incumbent. American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) is listed as an emerging player. Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS) is listed as a regional player.
Does AAALAC International have an API?
No public API is recorded for AAALAC International.
What industry is AAALAC International in?
AAALAC International's product category is Laboratory Animal Care Accreditation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADACAI, Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations, with a secondary code of HLAJAIAM, Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs. Its SIC code is 8600.