Practice Facilities

Veterinary Practice Facilities

The General Statutes of North Carolina and the Administrative Rules of the NC Veterinary Medical Board allow the Board to establish certain requirements for veterinary practice facilities. These requirements include, but are not limited to:

Approval of the veterinary practice facility name

The inspection of practice facilities to ascertain compliance with minimum standards

Maintaining the minimum standards where veterinary medicine is practiced

Who may own a veterinary practice?

Ownership of a veterinary facility will no longer be limited to veterinarians. However, any person who owns a business which operates a facility providing services that constitute the "practice of veterinary medicine" shall have a veterinary facility permit issued by the Board prior to offering or delivering any veterinary medical services to the public. The general statutes and administrative rules of the Practice Act are available in their entirety under the Laws & Regulations section of the website.

Inspections

All locations where veterinary medicine is practiced shall be adequate for the maintenance of good hygiene at all times. General Statute 90-186 allows the Board to inspect any Hospital, Clinic, Mobile Unit or any other facility where the practice of veterinary medicine is taking place.

Practice Facility Inspections are mandatory for the following:

• New Veterinary Practices
• Change in ownership of a practice
• Veterinary practices moving or renovating
          
  Facility Standards Self Evaluation Checklist

How often are inspections conducted?

Existing facilities are inspected at least every two (2) years (unless the Board deems it necessary to inspect more frequently), provided there are no ownership changes or renovations.

If there is a change in ownership or renovations made, facilities are inspected on a 'new facility' schedule. (See below)

New facilities are inspected prior to opening, then again the following year. Beyond the first year, new facilities are inspected on a two (2) year schedule.

Facility Permit Applications

Applications were available October 14, 2024. All applications must be submitted electronically via the Licensure Gateway: https://portal.ncvmb.org

FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION SIGNATURE FORMS
NOTE: The signature pages included with the Veterinary Facility Permit Application (Form FP-01) must be signed and uploaded at the time of the application as indicated in the instructions provided on the application.

You will need to register if you have never registered.  If you have registered, all you will need to do is log in.  Once logged in select 'Applications' then 'Veterinary Facility Permit Application'. Payment of fees can only be made by credit card. The NCVMB does not accept paper filings or payment by check.

NOTE: All applications submitted and received prior to January 1, 2025 will have the application fee waived.
Effective January 1, 2025 the application fees below will apply:
- Veterinary Facility Permit: $150
- Veterinary Facility w/Boarding Kennel Permit: $225

All permits will need to renewed annually beginning 2025; the renewal window for permits will open October 1, 2025
RENEWAL FEES
Facility Permit: $150
Facility Permit w/Boarding Kennel: $225

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact our office at 919-854-5601 or via email at prodenburg@ncvmb.org or kwest@ncvmb.org

BOARDING KENNEL RULES: Effective January 1, 2025

VETERINARY FACILITY PERMITS (SECTION .0900)

.0901 Definitions
.0902 Veterinary Facility Permits
.0903 Supervising Veterinarian
.0904 Discipline Veterinary Facility Permits
.0905 Reinstatement after Revocation of Facility Permit

 

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Information for Practice Facility Owners

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Setting up a New Practice Facility

The Process

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Change in Ownership of a Practice Facility

The Process

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Renaming the Practice

The practice owner may choose or be required to change the existing practice facility name at the time of sale; the practice name approval process for a 'new facility' will need to be followed. Written notification of the pending sale is still required. NCVMB Facility Naming Rules

If an owner chooses to change the name of the facility, a Name Change form (FP-03) must be completed and submitted to the NCVMB via mail or email, prodenburg@ncvmb.org.

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Moving / Renovations

The Board office needs written notification of any pending move, construction or renovation of a practice facility.

Please complete the Moving/Renovation/Change in Services Notification form (FP-05) and submit to NCVMB via mail or email, prodenburg@ncvmb.org.

The form requests an inspection date. Please choose a date approximately four (4) weeks out to give time for the inspection to be arranged. The inspector from your region will contact you to finalize the inspection date. The inspection must be completed prior to providing services to the public utilizing the new location or the renovated space (no filing fee).

Prior to inspection, please review the Facility Standards Self-Evaluation Checklist

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Closing a Practice Facility

Prior to closing your facility, the Board office requires written notification (Closing Practice Facility Form), which includes information such as:

How clients can obtain copies of their medical records

How other veterinary practices can obtain medical information in emergencies

Name(s) of any associated professional entities

Written notification must be provided to clients detailing how they can obtain copies of medical records. In addition, a notice with the information about how to obtain medical records must be posted at the practice before and after the closing of the facility.

Medical records must still be maintained for three (3) years, in accordance with NC Administrative Code .0207(b)(12)(B).

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Helpful Links For Commonly Asked Questions

• Sales Tax - NC Department of Revenue
• NC Department of Labor / OSHA
• DEA
• NC Department of Radiation Protection
• NC Division of Waste Management
  1. Solid Waste Section
  2. Medical Waste Section
  3. Hazardous Waste Section
  4. Alternative Medical Waste Treatment Technologies Section