The Accreditation Commission is an independent and autonomous body, designated by Chapter X of the AAM Bylaws, that is responsible for the ongoing administration of the Association's accreditation program and for rendering all decisions regarding accredited status.

The Commission consists of a Chair and an even number of Commissioners to be determined on a periodic basis by the AAM Board (based upon the program workload). In the past ten years, the number has fluctuated between 7 and 9 Commissioners. The Chair of the AAM Board appoints all Commissioners, each of whom serves in a fully voluntary capacity.  Commissioners serve a six-year term, and may be appointed for a maximum of two terms.  The position of Chair is a three-year term, which may be renewed once.

The Commission is made up of individuals whose experience and expertise represent the spectrum of the museum field and the Accreditation Program.  Commissioners are senior museum professionals—usually directors of accredited museums—with significant experience in all areas of museum management and operations. 

Each Commissioner also has experience with the Accreditation Program, having taken a museum through the accreditation process at least once, and served as a peer reviewer on several site visits.  Accreditation Commissioners have a track record of taking an active role in the museum field on a national, local, or state level, and have demonstrated their commitment to advancing museums through standards and best practices.

The Commission meets three times a year—generally at the beginning of April, the end of July, and the beginning of December.