Earn Your Professional Animal Artist Credentials
Are you ready to step up your artwork to the next level? Then earning your credentials is definitely for you!
Your clients deserve the best from you, and by continuing your education and pushing yourself do be your best, you will be able to deliver every time. Challenging yourself through image competition is the best way to grow as an artist and perfect your technical skills. Earning your credentials will show your clients that you care about them and they chose the right artist.
AIM's Animal Imagery Accreditation Program was the first and original credentialing program available specifically for pet and animal photographers and artists. Upon entering this program, participants commit to ongoing education and elevating their craft. By earning points from qualified judges through image competition, participants prove their work is of the highest professional level.
Apply now to start earning credentials and elevate your professional image.
Become an 'Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery'
Purpose:To elevate the credibility and professional imagery of pet and animal artists as well as the quality of the products and services they offer.
What You Gain:
- Professional designation after your name (credential seal)
- Increased credibility with clients
- Recognition at the AIM Conference
- Points that carry forward for future achievement
Accredited Artists:
- Promote and maintain professional standards
- Keep pace with new developments in the industry
- Consistently produce the highest quality work possible
- Continuously work to better themselves and their business
Why Accredit?
- To recognize the highest level of artistic performance and set the standard of excellence in the pet and animal imaging field
- To increase the credibility of the profession
- To help define the profession, scope of practice, and encourage growth as an artist
- To help each artist rise above their competition through superior artistic skills
- To ensure a consistent level of imagery which clients can expect from each individual artist
- To validate sustainable prices to clients. They want the best and credentials prove to them that they are getting exactly that
How to become an Accredited Animal Artist:
Eligibility: Open to artists who participate in AIM competitions and/or conferences and demonstrate ongoing commitment to excellence. Follow the steps below to get started!
FIRST:Complete the Credentialing Application. Once your information is received and verified, you may log into the member site anytime to update your profile. We will keep a database of points and will update the point totals after every competition. (Points will begin to accumulate at the time you join the program.) Your membership number will be followed by a hyphen, then your current point total. Upon reaching the "Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery" designation, recipients will receive a ribbon and medallion and will be recognized at the AIM conference. Additional medallions will be added at the “Master” and the “Grand Master” levels.
SECOND: Submit images to the Animal Image Makers annual competition. Each artist's top four scores of 80 or higher will count toward the annual point total.
- Top 4 scores of 80+ will count toward accreditation
- Points accumulate as one per score point (score an 81, get 81 points) Example: If you earn four scores of 90, 85, 82, and 80, you will accumulate 337 points toward accreditation.
- Additional points may be accrued outside of competition:
- Speaking for AIM: 80 points
- Attending the AIM Conference: 40 points
- Volunteering for AIM: 20 points
Three tiers of achievement:
Participate in the AIM Creative Showcase & Awards and earn points toward your credentials — every entry can help you achieve APAI, MAI, or Grand Master status!
Ready to apply?
If you are ready to become an Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery through the only organization dedicated solely to animal artists, click the link below to fill out the application!
Credentialing FAQs:
APAI Recipients:
MAI Recipients:
