Join ARPAS: Enhance Your Animal Science Career
ARPAS Is About Promoting Professional Competency and a Culture of Integrity.
ARPAS certifies animal science professionals involved in research, industry, and on-farm practice. Certification shows colleagues, employers, and clients that your expertise has been verified by your peers and that you keep it current.
Most people join through one of two routes. Start by finding yours.
Annual membership requires annual dues and 16 annual continuing education credits (CEUs).
One CEU equals one hour of participation in an approved educational event (i.e., meeting, conference, webinar, and so on). ARPAS maintains a running list for CEU-approved events, including on-demand webinars.
Route 1: Certification by exam
You take a qualifying exam in your species or product area and then maintain certification with 16 CEUs each year.
Professional Animal Scientist (PAS/aPAS)
For anyone with a degree in animal science or a closely related field, from a bachelor’s through a PhD. This is the most common path for industry professionals, consultants, nutritionists, graduate students, and veterinarians working in animal science.
Graduate students take their exam for the first time entirely for FREE. Have a group of students interested in the exam together? ARPAS provides a free pizza lunch!
Registered Animal Scientist (RAS) / Registered Animal Product Specialist (RAPS)
For professionals whose expertise comes from experience rather than a specific degree.
Apply today
Learn more about the exam
Route 2: Certification without an exam
Academic Professional Animal Scientist (aPAS / aaPAS)
If you are a full-time PhD faculty member or postdoc in an animal science department, your position qualifies you directly. No exam needed. You remain at this tier as long as you hold a faculty or postdoc appointment.
Highly Qualified Individual (HQI)
Nomination only. HQI recognizes people whose research, teaching, extension, or industry contributions are already well established in the field. You cannot apply for HQI yourself, but you can nominate a colleague.
Apply today
Nominate a colleague for HQI membership
Taking the exam
ARPAS currently offers proctored online exams that can be taken anywhere and during a window that works for your unique schedule, as well as in-person exams at select animal science meetings and in scheduled groups.
Anyone interested in sitting for the examination should start by completing an ARPAS application and indicating what type of exam—online or in-person—you prefer to take. We recommend using your personal email address as you apply.
After your application, fee(s), and photo ID are received and reviewed by the ARPAS business office, the ARPAS administrator will contact you via email to schedule your exam.
A full two hours are allocated for the exam, and applicants can review the exam session requirements here. Retakes within the 90-day window are complimentary.
What membership gives you
- A credential people recognize. PAS, aPAS, RAS, and RAPS after your name tell colleagues, clients, and employers that a professional body has verified your knowledge.
- An easy path to staying current. The 16 CEU annual requirement and list of ongoing approved events keep you reading, attending, and learning alongside people doing the same work.
- A shared standard of conduct. Members commit to the ARPAS Code of Ethics.
- Lower publishing costs. Members pay a reduced article processing charge in Applied Animal Science. For authors publishing even one paper a year, the savings can exceed the cost of dues.
- A member badge. Display the badge in your email signature, LinkedIn profile, and business cards. We also offer ARPAS logowear for displaying your credentials throughout your day.