Animal Behavior Society


The Animal Behavior Society is an international non-profit scientific society that encourages and promotes the professional study of animal behavior. It has open membership and also provides a certification and directory for animal behaviorists. The Society was founded in 1964.

Certification

Unlike the titles veterinarian, psychologist, and psychiatrist, which in the United States are state licensed, the title "animal behaviorist" or similar titles can be used by anyone, regardless of their background. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists have supervised graduate training in animal behavior, biology, zoology, and psychology at accredited universities. They publish data based papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Some are veterinarians who have completed a residency in animal behavior. They are full-time professionally educated animal behaviorists who work with pet owners to solve behavior issues.
There are two levels of professional certification: