Enroll, Enrich, Advance
For decades, AZA has provided in-person classroom-based professional training courses taught by some of the premier subject-matter experts in the field. We know that these courses offer valuable training and networking experiences for our members.
We continue to be committed to offering these intensive training experiences, but we also realize that our members need more professional development opportunities in a variety of subject areas and in more flexible formats. Additionally, we have heard our membership tell us clearly that they want to be recognized for the breadth and depth of their professional training.
The AZA Professional Development Certificate Program meets both of these needs. What does this program mean for you?
Foundations for excellence. AZA Professional Development Certificates are offered in different areas or "concentrations." Each concentration is grounded in AZA's hallmark, in-person courses to build a strong foundation for further training.
More training, your way. AZA Professional Development Certificate concentrations are completed by choosing from an array of electives. These elective offerings include workshops, webinars and courses offered by AZA, AZA Animal Programs, and like-minded partner organizations. These Learning Partners offer high quality training in areas that complement and build on the foundation AZA courses create.
Meeting the highest standards. Earning an AZA Professional Development Certificate demonstrates that you have completed more than 100 hours of training in a particular concentration. It represents not only a commitment to AZA's high standards and policies, but also to experiencing a breadth of training that will expand your perspectives on zoo and aquarium practices by learning from our partners.
Certificate Program Requirements
Enrollment in the AZA Professional Development Certificate Program is a member benefit! You must be an AZA member in good standing at the Professional Associate level or higher. Membership must be maintained for the duration of enrollment in the program. Credits must be accumulated at the rate of a minimum of one qualifying unit (see list below) every twelve months. If you do not earn at least one credit unit each year, your training portfolio will be docked two credits towards completion of a certificate.
Getting Started [Coming Soon!]
To enroll in the program and start earning credits toward an AZA Professional Development Certificate today, log in to the AZA website and select Online Store. Click on Professional Development Certificate Program and add the concentration(s) on which you wish to focus to your shopping cart. There is no cost associated with this item. You will then be able to track your progress within the [Certifcations or CEUs] section of your AZA profile.
To earn a certificate, you will need to complete two concentration-specific courses from the AZA core courses and 12 additional relevant elective units.
Concentration Areas
Each concentration focuses on a different area of the zoo and aquarium community. Certificate Program concentrations include (only those in bold are currently available):
Behavioral Husbandry
Collection & Population Management
Conservation & Research
Education & Interpretation
Husbandry - Aquatics
Husbandry - Avian
Husbandry - Carnivore
Husbandry - General
Husbandry - Herpetology
Husbandry - Large Mammals
Husbandry - Primates
Management & Operations
Electives
Certificate Elective Units Guide
.5 units - 1 Hour Web-based training
1 unit- 2-4 Hour Web-based training
2 units - Half Day In-person Workshop or Seminar
3 units - Full Day Workshop or Seminar
4 units - 2-3 Day Workshop or Course
6 units - 4+ Day Workshop or Course*
*no more than one of these may be applied to a concentration as an elective
Please note: Electives are not independently evaluated by AZA. Awarding of a certificate recognizes successful completion of the core courses and 12 units of electives and does not guarantee particular competencies or certifications.Electives are subject to change.
Sample Certificate
For example, you could earn an AZA Professional Development Certificate in Behavioral Husbandry by completing:
Retroactive Credit
Credit cannot be awarded retroactively for electives. Certificate Program participants who enroll by Septmber 1, 2013 can receive credit for core courses taken since October 2009.
Questions?
Contact AZA Training at azatraining@aza.org or call 301-562-0777 ext. 251