Veterinary facility accreditation

Veterinary facility accreditation is the approval of a clinic’s premises by the provincial regulator of veterinarians. A buyer of a clinic meets it because the approval is a certificate for the facility itself, separate from any veterinarian’s own licence. The veterinary practice buyer checklist lists the other items to confirm.

How Ontario handles it

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario says a veterinarian providing clinical care to animals must work from an accredited facility, and that each accredited facility is overseen by a licensed veterinarian who is the facility director. Under Regulation 1093 of the Veterinarians Act, to obtain, maintain or renew a certificate of accreditation for a facility other than a temporary one, the owners or the partners in the practice must designate a facility director. The certificate holder must immediately notify the College in writing of listed changes, including a change in the identity of the facility director.

British Columbia

The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia publishes its own pages on new facility accreditation and on changes to a practice or practice facility. This entry covers Ontario and British Columbia only; check the process with the college in the province where the clinic is.

What to ask

• Whether the certificate is current and what conditions it carries.
• Who the facility director is and whether that person is staying.
• What the college requires when ownership changes, and in what order.