Programs

The Akita Club of America (ACA) Versatility Program honors Akitas and their owners who are skilled in multiple activities with certificates of achievement. These achievements showcase the Akita’s diversity, athleticism, and adaptability through activities emphasizing strength, fitness, agility, speed, dexterity, soundness, health, temperament, intelligence, and natural instincts inherent to the breed. The Versatility Program was developed to foster, encourage, and support enriched socialization and responsible training of the Akita as well as breeding healthy dogs with stable temperaments suitable for companionship.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Documentation and Versatility Program Application may be submitted by email or mail as indicated on the application form.  Participants may apply for titling with the 2026 version now or with the 2025 version until October 31st, 2026.

Download 2026 Program Information

Download 2026 Application Form

Download 2025 Program Information

Download 2025 Application Form

ELIGIBILITY

• The Akita shall be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
  • A PAL/ILP registration number is also permitted.
• The applicant (owner or breeder) shall be an ACA member in good standing at the time of application.
• Deceased Akitas meeting registration requirements and having fulfilled certificate requirements are eligible if the applicant was an ACA member in good standing when the dog was alive.

POINTS

• One point for each title, health certificate, or event.
  • Only AKC and AKC recognized titles are accepted and recognized titles must be submitted to AKC
  • Duplicate titles/certificates apply to VAX2+ titles only (ie, AKC RN and CKC RN are duplicate titles)
  • Instinct/introductory titles/certificates (ACT, TDI, ATD, etc.) apply to VAX2+ titles only and does not fulfill category requirements
  • Virtual category points apply to VAX2+ titles only and do not fulfill a category requirement
  • Community Service – events that benefit the community such as organized fundraisers or events which educate the public about the breed such as a pet fair or meet the breed event
  • OFA health certificates accepted for:
    • Hips – fair, good, or excellent rating
    • Elbows, knees, thyroid – normal rating
    • Eyes – clear/normal rating
  • DNA testing certificates accepted:
    • UC Davis Akita Diversity
    • OFA DNA Databank

QUALIFICATIONS

CATEGORIES

DOCUMENTATION

• Title history summary from AKC
• OFA testing summary and/or DNA certificates
• Therapy and/or Crisis Response certificates
• For Community Service – photos, flyer, and description of event

To view recipients of this award, visit Versatility Awards.

The Versatility Register of Merit (VROM) recognizes production of Akitas who demonstrate diversity, athleticism, and adaptability through activities emphasizing strength, fitness, agility, speed, dexterity, soundness, health, temperament, intelligence, and natural instincts inherent to the breed as well as to foster, encourage, and support the breeding of healthy dogs with stable temperaments suitable for companionship.

The Akita Club of America (ACA) grants the title, Versatility Register of Merit (VROM), to Akitas who have produced versatile Akita progeny. Earning any ACA Versatility Award level and/or any ACA Hall of Fame Award (excluding conformation) will meet the criteria.

To be eligible, the Akita must be owned or bred by a current ACA member and a certificate will be issued to each owner, co-owner, and/or breeder who is a current ACA member.

To qualify, a bitch must produce three (3) progeny who have met the criteria by earning any ACA Versatility Award and/or any ACA Hall of Fame Award (excluding conformation).

To qualify, a dog must produce six (6) progeny who have met the criteria by earning any ACA Versatility Award and/or any ACA Hall of Fame Award (excluding conformation).

The letters “VROM” may be used as an ACA suffix title, although this is not an official AKC title.

Hall of Fame status is awarded to Akitas who earn the following titles or higher: Obedience (UD), Rally (RM), Agility (MXP, MX, MFP, MXF, MJP, or MXJ), Therapy (THDS before 2022 or THDD after 2021), Barn Hunt (RATM), Scent Work (SWM), Dock Diving (DE or AE).

The Versatility program awards points for achievements in 19 different categories. Member breeders may apply for a Versatility award for dogs that they have bred but do not own. Visit the Versatility page for more information about qualifying and applying for a Versatility award.

To view recipients of this award, visit Versatility Register of Merit Awards.