Costs associated with the Accreditation Program include fixed fees and variable costs related to the Self-Study phase and Visiting Committee site visit.

Fixed Fees

Application Fee

There is a one-time application fee of $400 for each institution applying. The fee is the same for every applicant museum, regardless of its budget size or discipline.  This fee is only billed to the museum if and when its application to participate in the program is accepted (AAM sends an invoice at this time). There is no equivalent fee for accredited museums when they begin the subsequent review ("reaccreditation") process. 

Annual Participation Fee 
NOTICE: NEW FEE AMOUNTS TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2008
The annual participation fee for accreditation will increase in January 2008. In the first increase to the member rate since 1996, AAM member museums will pay $50 more, for a total of $250. The rate for non-members will rise from $500 to $575, the first change to this rate since 2003.

All museums participating in the Accreditation Program, including applicants that have not yet been accredited, are required to pay an Annual Participation Fee.  Museums that are AAM members pay a $250 fee and non-members pay a $575 fee.  (Museums are not required to be AAM members to participate in the Accreditation Program; member museum dues are handled and billed separately from accreditation fees.  Learn more about AAM membership.)

This yearly fee covers only a portion of the costs of operation a quality Accreditation Program. This fee is subject to change but is uniform for every museum, regardless of budget size or discipline. Museums are usually billed for their Annual Participation Fee every January. More about the annual participation fee.

Additional Expenses

Self-Study
Although no direct costs are assessed, staff time and financial resources will need to be allocated for the completion and submission of the Self-Study. Cost considerations for the Self-Study may include, but are not limited to: materials to assemble the submission (binders, tabs, plastic sleeves, labels, etc.), postage for shipping materials to AAM, photographs to submit as part of the supporting documentation, printing and photocopying, and staff time.

Site Visit
The museum is responsible for the expenses related to the Visiting Committee's site visit: travel, meals, accommodations, and related incidentals (parking, taxis, etc.). The Visiting Committee consists of two individuals and usually lasts 2-3 days, not including travel time. Although these expenses can vary depending on factors such as length of stay, distance traveled, available airfares, and local hotel costs, museums should budget approximately $1,500-$2,700 for the Committee's expenses.  Visiting Committee members are reimbursed directly by AAM for their expenses; in turn, AAM invoices the museum.  (Note: very large museums and museum systems may require a 3-person Visiting Committee and could last longer than 2-3 days.)

Other Possible Process Expenses
There may also be expenses associated with correcting any problems or deficiencies revealed during the process or deemed necessary by the Accreditation Commission for awarding accreditation.

All accredited museums are required to undergo a subsequent ("reaccreditation") review every ten years. Therefore, museums should anticipate and budget for costs related to the Self-Study, Visiting Committee, and for any related corrective measures each time.