The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), founded in 1979, is an independent, non-profit organization that surveys and accredits ambulatory health care organizations — including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery practices, occupational health clinics, community health centers, medical and dental group practices, and student health centers. Accreditation is voluntary but signals that an organization meets nationally recognized standards for quality, governance, infection control, patient rights, clinical records, and continuous quality improvement. The process centers on an unannounced or scheduled on-site survey conducted by peer surveyors (practicing clinicians and administrators) who evaluate the organization against the AAAHC Standards Handbook. Accreditation is generally awarded for up to three years, after which the organization must be resurveyed. For occupational-health providers, AAAHC accreditation (alongside or instead of The Joint Commission) can be a differentiator with employers and may be required by certain payers, state programs, or contracts as evidence of credible quality and safety practices.