What is AETA Certification?

AETA is committed to promoting self-imposed standards of excellence in performance and conduct. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognizes AETA’s responsibility to uphold the highest industry standards, ensuring that certified individuals exporting embryos have the required knowledge, qualifications, and expertise. AETA Certified members can help in all phases of a successful ET program. To become AETA certified, individuals must pass a rigorous examination, demonstrate extensive experience, participate in annual continuing education, and abide by the rules and regulations established by the AETA and USDA, including facility and laboratory inspections.

The AETA Certification Program, established in 1985, maintains standards within the ET industry and ensures that certified practitioners meet or exceed these standards. Accuracy and completeness of all records pertaining to the parentage of the resulting offspring is an area in which certified ET practitioners excel. We recognize our responsibility and obligation to top performance.

The objective and purpose of the AETA Certification Program is to establish and maintain standards within the embryo transfer industry and to ensure that the certified practitioner meet or exceeds these standards while performing the procedures involved with the practice of embryo transfer.

The AETA Certification Program works closely with USDA/APHIS to qualify and meet specific protocols for export of U.S. bovine embryos to foreign markets.

What is AETA Certification?

1. Certification Application

Certification Application must be completed and postmarked 21 days prior to exam date. Applicants may either email in their application or mail it to AETA headquarters.

Download Application 

2. Operating Agreement

The Operating Agreement must be completed and submitted with the application.

Download Agreement 

3. Certification Guidelines

The Certification Guidelines must be reviewed so the applicant understands what the responsibilities of an AETA Certified individual are and what is necessary to maintain certification in the event the applicant is granted Certified status.

Read Guidelines 

4. Certification Exam

All sections of the Certification Exam must be passed.

Reference Material 

5. Certification Application Payment

The application fee of $300.00 must be submitted with the completed application.

Certified Practitioners are required to meet annual requirements and cycle requirements. Each cycle is 5-years. Need to check your cycle status? Click here.

A Certified Embryo Transfer Practitioner Certificate is available.

Additional questions? Contact the AETA Certification Committee.

Annual Dues Must Be Paid

The certification fee of $100.00 must be paid annually. By paying the certification fee of $100.00 (required annually), you agree to adhere to all guidelines within the Operating Agreement.

Check Dues Status 

Submit Annual Data

Certified individuals are required to submit an annual report of their embryo collection and transfer data to the AETA Statistics Committee.

Submitting the data entitles the practitioner to a $50 discount on their next years' membership dues.

Submit Data 

Submit Annual Quiz

This quiz is given in-person during the certification session at the AETA annual meeting. Quiz submission entitles the practitioner to 10 AETA Certification CEs. Meeting CEs cannot be received unless certified individuals take and submit the quiz.

Attend 3 AETA Meetings in Each 5-Year Cycle

30 of the required 50 CEs that must be earned in the 5-year cycle must be obtained by attending AETA annual meetings. Each AETA annual meeting is worth 10 CEs and these CEs are recorded once the annual quiz has been submitted.

Attend 1 Recertification Session in Each 5-Year Cycle

Each certified practitioner is responsible for enrolling themselves in one required supplemental certification session per every 5-year cycle. These sessions will have limited attendance and will only take place at the AETA convention.

This session is not a reexamination but rather a review of certification requirements.

Survey Forms

AETA Certification Committee Portal. Submit survey.

Submit