ASAB Accreditation Committee

The Accreditation Committee is a Sub-Committee of ASAB Council, to which it reports.

Its broad aims are:

1. To establish and promote effective standards for the professional clinical practice of animal behaviour in the United Kingdom.

2. To administer one or more registration schemes for clinical and other applied animal behaviourists practicing in the United Kingdom.

3. To advise ASAB Council on the development of policy towards the professional application of animal behaviour in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere in Europe.

These aims are pursued by:

1. Establishing and maintaining criteria for the certification of clinical animal behaviourists, who may or may not be members of ASAB.

2. Considering applications from individuals for certification, based upon these criteria. Certification will be annual and renewable. Certification may be unconditional or conditional upon criteria decided by the Committee and transmitted to the applicant at the time of initial certification, and renewal of certification will normally be conditional upon the individual achieving those criteria. Individuals whose applications for certification or renewal of certification are rejected may appeal to ASAB Council, whose decision shall be final.

3. Maintaining a register of certificated individuals.

4. Establishing and revising a Code of Conduct, and considering allegations of professional misconduct made against certificated individuals, in accordance with procedures and guidelines laid down by ASAB Council.

5. Promoting the standards offered by the certification scheme to other professional bodies, such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and to the general public.

6. Liaising with appropriate regulatory and professional bodies to promote national and international standards for professional applications of animal behaviour, including the Animal Behavior Society, the International Society for Applied Ethology, the British Psychological Society, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, and the UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists.

7. Holding dialogue with providers of appropriate academic and professional courses, and with clinical supervisors of intending applicants for certification.

Composition of the ASAB Accreditation Committee

• Chair: ASAB President.
• Secretary: Appointed by ASAB Council, and ex officio a member of Council.
• At least 4 members of ASAB, co-opted by Council, with relevant, complementary expertise.
  Normally at least 2 to be Certificated by ASAB.
• An advisor nominated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• An advisor nominated by the British Psychological Society.
• An advisor nominated by the International Society for Applied Ethology.

The Secretary and other members of ASAB will normally serve on the Committee for a period of three years, but may be re-nominated by Council for (a) further term(s).

Committee members will consider applications and renewals for certification, for which they will be remunerated at a rate approved by Council. Assessments of these applications will be passed to the full Committee for approval or rejection.

At least one meeting each year will be held at the Summer and/or Winter ASAB Conferences.

There will be dialogue between formal meetings and decisions may be made at these times.

The Chair and/or Secretary may convene an ad hoc meeting and consult individual members as appropriate.

The Secretary will present an annual report to the ASAB AGM / Council at the Summer Council meeting.