If you’ve started playing Planet Zoo 2 and discovered that some animals are locked behind Accreditation, you’re probably wondering how to unlock the rest of the game’s roster. Accreditation is an important progression system that rewards you for developing successful zoos, managing wildlife reserves and completing Career scenarios.

However, increasing your Accreditation isn’t quite as simple as building one enormous zoo. The method depends on which game mode you’re playing, and understanding the difference can save you a lot of time.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to get Accreditation in Planet Zoo 2, how to increase your tier in Career and Franchise modes, and what to do if your progress appears to have stalled.

What Is Accreditation in Planet Zoo 2?

Accreditation is a progression system that gradually unlocks additional content as you develop your zoos and complete the game’s objectives. Depending on your game mode and current tier, increasing your Accreditation can give you access to more animal species, additional marketing options, research equipment and extra animal storage.

There are five Accreditation tiers to work through, with the highest tier providing access to some of the game’s most desirable animals.

The important thing to understand is that Accreditation works differently in Career and Franchise modes. Career progression depends on the medals you earn in scenarios, while Franchise progression depends on your zoos’ Reputation and your Wildlife Reserves’ Biodiversity ratings.

You don’t need to complete Career mode to improve your Franchise Accreditation. Both progression tracks operate independently, so you should focus on the requirements for the mode in which you want to unlock more content.

How to Increase Accreditation in Franchise Mode

If you’re playing Franchise mode, you’ll need to develop successful zoos and Wildlife Reserves. Each location contributes towards Accreditation through a different rating.

Traditional zoos use Zoo Reputation, while Wildlife Reserves use Biodiversity Rating. You’ll need to reach the required star ratings at multiple locations as you progress through the higher tiers.

Step 1: Get Your First Zoo to Three Reputation Stars

Your first objective is to establish a successful zoo and raise its Reputation to at least three stars.

Pay attention to animal welfare, sustainability, guest education and guest experience. A zoo that keeps its animals healthy, provides useful educational opportunities and gives visitors an enjoyable experience will be better positioned to meet its Reputation requirements.

Rather than expanding endlessly, check your zoo’s rating and identify the areas that need improvement. Focus your spending on the weakest categories instead of building more facilities without a clear purpose.

Reaching three Reputation Stars at one zoo fulfils the zoo requirement for Accreditation Tier 2.

Step 2: Build a Second Zoo

Higher Franchise Accreditation tiers require more than one successful zoo. Once your first zoo reaches the necessary rating, establish a second zoo and work towards three Reputation Stars there as well.

Remember that a single five-star zoo cannot replace the requirement for two separate qualifying zoos. If your Accreditation stops increasing despite having an excellent zoo, check whether the next tier requires another location.

You can continue improving your existing zoos, but once they meet the required rating, your attention may be better spent developing the other locations needed for the next tier.

Step 3: Develop Your Wildlife Reserves

Wildlife Reserves are essential for reaching the higher Franchise Accreditation tiers. Unlike traditional zoos, these locations contribute through their Biodiversity Rating rather than Zoo Reputation.

You need to develop multiple separate reserves and raise each one’s Biodiversity Rating to at least three stars.

The requirements build up as you advance:

Tier 3: Two qualifying zoos and one qualifying Wildlife Reserve.
Tier 4: Two qualifying zoos and two qualifying Wildlife Reserves.
Tier 5: Two qualifying zoos and three qualifying Wildlife Reserves.

These requirements are cumulative, so you can keep using locations that have already met their required ratings. You don’t need to start your progression from scratch each time you unlock a new tier.

Step 4: Check Your Accreditation Tier

Once your zoos and Wildlife Reserves meet the necessary requirements, return to the Accreditation screen in the Planet Hub to check your progress and available unlocks.

If the next tier remains locked, look at the specific requirements displayed on screen. You may need another qualifying location rather than a higher rating at an existing one.

How to Get Accreditation in Career Mode

Career mode uses a different progression system. Instead of relying on the Reputation of your own Franchise zoos and the Biodiversity ratings of your reserves, you increase Career Accreditation by earning medals in Career scenarios.

Scenarios have objectives that determine whether you receive Bronze, Silver or Gold medals. Completing these objectives contributes towards your Career Accreditation progression.

To make progress efficiently, select a scenario and review its medal requirements before you begin. Work towards the objectives needed for the next medal rather than simply expanding the zoo or reserve without a clear goal.

If your Career Accreditation isn’t increasing, check which medals you’ve earned and what the next tier requires. Improving a Franchise zoo won’t help here, because the two progression systems are separate.

What Does Accreditation Unlock?

Increasing your Accreditation gives you access to more than just additional animals. Depending on your tier, rewards can include:

More animal species: Expand your collection and gain access to animals that were previously locked.
Additional marketing options: Unlock more opportunities to promote your zoo.
Research equipment: Gain access to additional tools for monitoring and researching wildlife.
Extra animal storage: Increase your available storage capacity as you progress.

For players focused on collecting the full animal roster, reaching the highest tier is particularly valuable. However, Accreditation can also improve the flexibility of your wider zoo-management operation.

Why Is My Accreditation Not Increasing?

If you’ve been playing for hours without seeing your Accreditation rise, there are several things worth checking.

You’re playing the wrong mode. Career and Franchise progress are separate. Make sure you’re working towards the Accreditation tier in the mode where you want to unlock content.

You need another zoo. In Franchise mode, increasing the Reputation of an existing zoo won’t replace the requirement for a second qualifying zoo.

You need another Wildlife Reserve. Higher tiers require multiple reserves to reach the required Biodiversity Rating. Improving one reserve further won’t count as an additional qualifying location.

Your location hasn’t reached three stars. Check the actual Reputation or Biodiversity rating rather than assuming a profitable zoo or well-stocked reserve automatically meets the requirement.

You’re confusing an Accreditation lock with an animal-market shortage. If an animal is unlocked but doesn’t appear in the Franchise animal market, that may be an availability issue rather than an Accreditation problem. Check whether the game explicitly identifies Accreditation as the reason the animal is unavailable.

The Fastest Way to Get Accreditation in Planet Zoo 2

The best approach is to work towards the next tier’s specific requirements rather than trying to make every zoo as large as possible.

In Franchise mode, focus on getting two separate zoos to three Reputation Stars, then develop the number of Wildlife Reserves required for your target tier. In Career mode, concentrate on earning the medals required by the scenarios.

Above all, check the Accreditation screen regularly. Knowing exactly which requirement remains incomplete will help you spend your time and resources where they make the biggest difference.

Final Thoughts

Accreditation in Planet Zoo 2 can initially seem confusing, especially when animals remain locked despite your zoo performing well. Once you understand the difference between Career and Franchise progression, however, the system becomes much easier to manage.

For Franchise players, the key is to develop multiple successful zoos and Wildlife Reserves. For Career players, earning scenario medals is the way forward.

Keep an eye on your next tier’s requirements, focus on the ratings or medals that matter, and you’ll gradually unlock more of what Planet Zoo 2 has to offer.

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