Board Certification applicants must be a current ARPAS member in good standing. If you are not a current ARPAS member, please review the procedures for becoming ARPAS certified here.

There are two avenues by which you may apply for Board Certification; those procedures are as follows:

Exam Route:

  1. Submit a completed application for admission to the examination process for certification in a discipline college and include all documentation required by the application. Original transcripts and copies of publications may be required. Transcripts submitted for ARPAS membership may be used for this application step.
  2. The application and accompanying materials are submitted for review by ACAS Examination Committee members. When approved, the applicant is notified. A $200 application fee is due after being approved for the exam and must be paid before the exam may be taken. Arrangements will be made with the ARPAS Business Office for the applicant to sit for the discipline-specific (nutrition, genetics, food science, physiology or behavior) general exam, administered by a current Board Certified member.
  3. When the general discipline exam is completed and passed, the applicant may then sit for a species-specific exam within a discipline (for example Equine, Swine, Dairy, Beef, or Poultry within Nutrition). Once this is passed, the applicant must complete and pass a written practicum in that species-specific discipline.
  4. Upon successful completion of the steps indicated above, Board Certification may be approved by a majority vote from the ACAS Board.

Credentials Route for Highly Qualified Individuals:

This option is only available for highly qualified individuals who are widely recognized for their research, teaching, and industry accomplishments.

  1. Submit a completed application, curriculum vitae for review by the appropriate discipline committee and include all documentation required by the application. Original transcripts and copies of publications may be required. Transcripts submitted for ARPAS membership may be used for this application step. The applicant must indicate the discipline college (nutrition, genetics, food science, physiology, welfare science, or behavior) where certification is desired.
  2. The application and accompanying materials are submitted to the ARPAS administrative office (arpas@assochq.org). The application and accompanying materials will be reviewed by an ACAS examination committee for the discipline college indicated. If approved, a $200.00 application fee will be due at this time.
  3. When accepted for certification by this route, the applicant is notified to provide evidence of a significant contribution to the profession of animal science through teaching, research or business, and professional service. This may take many forms and should be discussed with the chairperson of the respective discipline committee.
  4. Two letters of nomination/recommendation are required for each discipline where certification is being sought and should be addressed to the chairperson of the discipline college. These should come from board-certified members of ACAS who are certified in the discipline that is being sought.
  5. Upon successful completion of these requirements, Board Certification may be approved by a majority vote from the ACAS Board.