MembershipsProfessional Group Exams

Professional Group Exams

Take the ARPAS Online Exam Together!

If you have a group of professionals interested in earning their ARPAS certification, we now offer groups the opportunity to take the online exam together—whether at conferences or events, in their workplace, or at their university.  

If you, your team, or your event are interested in organizing a group exam session, we’d love to hear from you.

Reach out today to learn more and reserve your group’s spot.

What Is the ARPAS Exam?

ARPAS currently offers proctored online exams that can be taken anywhere during a window that works for your group’s schedule.

Professionals can take exams in one or more species/product areas: Aquaculture; Beef Cattle; Companion Animals; Dairy Cattle; Horses; Goats; Laboratory Animals; Poultry; Sheep; Swine; Meat Science; Dairy Product Science; and Poultry Product Science.

Once the test is passed, each professional then qualifies for member certification:

  • Professional Animal Scientist (PAS), for animal science professionals ranging from undergraduate students to PhD students
  • Registered Animal Scientist or Registered Animal Product Specialist (RAS/RAPS), for animal professionals with experience and expertise in one or more of the related areas of specialization or species
Take the ARPAS Online Exam Together!

All you need is

  • a recommended minimum of five professionals interested in pursuing ARPAS certification and membership, and
  • a point person to act as proctor.

What’s Included?

  • Coordination support from ARPAS
  • Simplified online exam 
  • Clear next steps toward ARPAS membership and certification

Once the test is passed, ARPAS staff will work with the group members to finish their membership onboarding. Annual membership requires annual dues and 16 annual continuing education credits.

Retakes within the 90-day window are complimentary.

Prefer to skip the exam? Current full-time PhD academic faculty or postdoctorates are eligible for the Academic Professional Animal Scientist (aPAS) or Associate Academic Professional Animal Scientist (aaPAS) certification without an exam. Faculty or postdoctoral status must be maintained to keep this tier.

  • $25.00 per PAS/RAS/RAPS species exam (see Examination Process under Application Requirements for more information)
  • $50.00 application fee for aPAS, aaPAS, and PAS Highly Qualified Individual (HQI) application route. *If the application is denied for the HQI route, the fee will transfer to the applicable PAS exam and/or membership fees.
  • $100.00 exam fee for Dairy Nutrition Certification
  • $100.00 exam fee for Feed Management Certification
  • $200.00 application fee for ACAS Board Certification

Annual Membership Dues

  • Student Members (undergraduate and graduate): $10.00
  • Postdoctoral Student Members and aaPAS Members: $42.50
  • PAS, aPAS, and RAS/RAPS Members: $140.00
  • Emeritus Members: $70 annual dues or one-time fee of $425.00
  • Board-Certified (ACAS) Members: $175.00