Accreditation Program
CAZA ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
On February 25, 2005 the CAZA Board, approved the results of a comprehensive review of the Accreditation Program. This resulted in the creation of several new documents that update and codify the standards to be met by the members of the Association. The key documents are the Accreditation Process Guide and the Visiting Committee Handbook that together provide a comprehensive description of the program. Also included are a new Accreditation Application Form, and a Visiting Committee Evaluation Form. All of these forms are now available in both English and French
MISSION STATEMENT
To establish, maintain and raise standards of operation in the Canadian zoo and aquarium community through a process of self-evaluation, on site inspections and peer review.Goals
- Establish standards for CAZA zoos and aquariums.
- To create standards that will be a living document of currently acceptable practices for zoos and aquariums in Canada. CAZA will utilize an ongoing review process that will include policy development, review and revision
- Achieve recognition of CAZA standards as representing the national industry standard for zoos and aquariums.
- Encourage and assist member institutions to develop superior facilities and enhanced programs.
- To ensure that member institutions continuously strive for superior facilities and enhanced programs.
- Work with non-accredited institutions to communicate the importance of CAZA accreditation and encourage participation by providing whatever professional assistance is available.
BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION
CAZA accreditation is: A publicly recognized symbol signifying excellence in, and commitment to, collection management, veterinary care, ethics, physical facilities, staffing, conservation, education, safety and security, finance, and supportive bodies. Conversely, denial of accreditation should lead to improvements in identified areas and increased cooperation from supportive bodies.Accreditation: Develops public confidence by attesting in an independent, measured, and documented manner that an institution meets or exceeds current professional standards as established by CAZA, based upon a periodic thorough review and site inspection conducted by zoological experts in operations, animal management, and veterinary medicine.
Accreditation is important in: Guiding private and governmental agencies that frequently need expert opinion as a basis for qualitative judgment in connection with contributions, grants, contracts, and other areas
Other benefits include: Eligibility for grants (makes institutions eligible for consideration for funding and grants from certain foundations, corporations and other sources), cuts red tape (exempts institutions from certain government requirements), allows organizations to learn from other institutions and better understand the importance of accreditation through participating in training and subsequent participation as accreditation inspectors, fosters staff and community pride; significantly improves the organizations ability to attract and retain a high quality, professional staff
Membership in CAZA includes: Animal exchange (access to specimens from other CAZA accredited facilities for loan and/or breeding); information /knowledge exchange (access to top experts and colleagues within the zoological and aquarium professions, for aid as needed and sharing of information); access to CAZA’s Ottawa office resources.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CAZA thanks the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) for permission to use its accreditation program as a model and for helpful counsel and advice. Without this aid, CAZA’s efforts to develop and improve it’s Accreditation Program would have been very greatly prolonged. The updating of the accreditation program has also profited from the suggestions of many colleagues in Canada and abroad. CAZA would like to specifically recognize the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (ARAZPA) for sharing their materials so freely.
The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums also recognizes the invaluable support of the Department of Canadian Heritage in providing the funding that made this accreditation review project possible. The partnership between CAZA and Canadian
Heritage is a vital element of the effort to ensure that CAZA’s Accreditation program remains at the forefront of animal care and professional practice in the worldwide zoo and aquarium industry. Of equal importance, this partnership is a key to the development of new initiatives that will enable the exploration of new revenue streams through a CAZA Enterprises model that should place the association on a long-term sustainable footing. The revenue from these new sources of funding will be devoted to CAZA's priority programs in the fields of research, conservation and education, with resulting benefits to all Canadians.
Accreditation Application Form - amended December 1 2008.pdf
Accreditation_Process_Guide _amended_December_1_2008.pdf
Accreditation_Standards_amended_December_1_2008.pdf
Inspection form-traduction amended Dec 1 2008.pdf
