Accreditation is a widely recognized seal of approval that brings national recognition to American museums, regardless of their size or location. Since the first museums were accredited in 1971, the AAM Accreditation Program has recognized museums’ commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement.

The Accreditation Program:

• strengthens individual museums and the entire museum profession by promoting ethical and professional practices; 
• recognizes excellence in individual museums and the museum community; 
• serves as the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance and self-regulation.

The program accomplishes this by: 

• assessing how well each museum achieves its stated mission and goals and meets the standards and best practices generally accepted in the museum field; 
• employing a standardized process of self-study and peer review that incorporates multiple perspectives to ensure balance and fairness;
• drawing on the collective wisdom of the field; gathering it from various sources and perspectives, including participating museums, peer reviewers, and the Accreditation Commission.

Accredited status:

• certifies that a museum meets the program’s eligibility criteria and the Characteristics of an Accreditable Museum as set forth by the Accreditation Commission; 
• certifies that a museum has undergone a rigorous process of self-assessment as well as review by its peers; 
• signifies that a museum fulfills its obligations to the public as set forth in its mission; 
• recognizes a museum’s commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement.

The Accreditation Program reflects the diversity of the museum field, accommodating museums of different: 

• disciplines (from art centers to zoos); 
• budget sizes (from less than $100,000 to $150 million and above) 
• governance types (private nonprofit or public) 
• collecting status (including museums that do not own or use collections)

Why is Accreditation important to your museum?

Why is Accreditation important to the museum field?

What is the Program's approach to standards and how are they applied? 

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