[5] The organization is active in institution accreditation, animal care initiatives, education and conservation programs, collaborative research and advocacy.

As of 2019 AZA had 238 accredited facilities in the US and eleven other countries: Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea.

The American association has developed a definition for zoological gardens and aquariums as part of its accreditation standards: "A permanent cultural institution which owns and maintains captive wild animals that represent more than a token collection and, under the direction of a professional staff, provides its collection with appropriate care and exhibits them in an aesthetic manner to the public on a regularly scheduled basis.

They shall further be defined as having as their primary business the exhibition, conservation and preservation of the earth's fauna in an educational and scientific manner."

AZA's Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program prioritizes collaboration between zoos and aquariums to support highly vulnerable species.

[10] SAFE builds on existing recovery plans to implement strategic conservation and public engagement activities.

[12] The SAFE program signature species include the African lion, African species of vultures, Asian elephant, Atlantic Acropora coral, black-footed ferret, black rhinoceros, cheetah, eastern indigo snake, giraffe, gorilla, sea turtles, orangutan, radiated tortoise, red wolf, sharks and sting rays, vaquita, western pond turtle, and whooping crane.

Animal care, health and welfare, followed by species and habitat conservation, describe 68% of the AZA community's research.

Accredited facilities maintain a professional staff and appropriate animal care, and are open to the public on a predictable basis.