Accreditation of veterinary facilities
The College’s Facility Accreditation program ensures veterinary facilities provide a professional environment and contain the essential equipment required for patient care. There are more than 1,700 veterinary practices operating 2,400 facilities in Ontario. All veterinary facilities, including mobile facilities, must meet the College’s accreditation standards.
Facilities must meet the required standards to receive Certificate of Accreditation.
Temporary Facilities
Rabies, microchip clinics and others
The College provides opportunities for programs or clinics to operate from an unaccredited facility. Those interested in hosting a temporary clinic or program are encouraged to review the relevant Position Statement and submit an application form. The College requires two weeks to process an application for a temporary facility.
Accreditation Fees
| Accreditation Type | Description | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Fee | For each location where an inspection takes place | $187.00 |
| Inspection Fees | In addition to the amount specified above | |
| a. for the inspection of a companion animal hospital, a specialty animal hospital, a companion animal emergency clinic, a food-producing animal hospital or an equine clinic | $127.00 | |
| b. for the inspection of a companion animal office, companion animal mobile office, companion animal spay-neuter clinic or a poultry service | $104.00 | |
| c. for the inspection of a companion animal mobile, a remote area companion animal mobile, a food-producing animal mobile, an equine mobile or an equine emergency mobile | $90.00 | |
| for the inspection mentioned in clause (c) if another facility is being inspected at the same time for the purposes of being accredited | $68.00 | |
| for the inspection of two or more mobiles under clause (c) of the same kind, at the same location and at the same time: for the first mobile | $90.00 | |
| or each additional mobile | $68.00 | |
Cancellation or Rescheduling Penalty: for the cancellation or rescheduling an inspection with less than 48 business hours notice $187.00
Late Payment Penalty: if the payment is not received within thirty days $112.00
Accreditation Fees after October 1, 2023
At its June meeting, Council approved the amendment to Schedule 1 to the By-Laws – Fees for adoption, effective October 1, 2023. To review the amended By-Laws in its entirety, please visit the amended Schedule 1 to the By-Laws – Fees. The projected costs of the new accreditation program were used to determine the proposed fees. After the program has been running for two years, the College will re-evaluate and re-adjust the fees as necessary.
New Accreditation Fee Schedule
Calculating an annual fee
The scope of practice and accreditation standards are used to calculate the annual fee. The College has prepared several examples of practices and what they would choose as their additional scope of practice and the resulting annual fee.
Requesting an Exemption
The Accreditation Committee has the authority to exempt an applicant or veterinary facility from compliance with any qualification, requirement or standard for a Certificate of Accreditation. On rare occasions a licensed member will seek an exemption, which results in a restriction on an aspect of the member's practice. A licensed member would request an exemption only after an inspection has identified a deficiency.
Exemptions can result in the following:
- The Committee can grant the exemption with no corresponding restriction placed on the certificate of accreditation of the veterinary facility; and/or
- The Committee grants the exemption requests and there are terms, limitations and conditions placed on the Certificate of Accreditation.
Both types of exemption requests are limitations and will be noted on the College's public register as a condition and limitation on a facility's Certificate of Accreditation. In reviewing a request for an exemption, the Committee can refer the issue(s) to the Registrar for a Registrar's Investigation if the Committee has concerns about potential professional misconduct of a licensed member. This direction would be parallel to the Committee's decision on the Certificate of Accreditation.
Authority of the Accreditation Committee
The Accreditation Committee is responsible for deciding upon and directing the issuance of Certificates of Accreditation for those facilities that are referred to it by the Registrar.
The Accreditation Committee:
May exempt an applicant or veterinary facility from compliance with any qualification, requirement or standard for a Certificate of Accreditation
Determines the eligibility of applicants and facilities for Certificates of Accreditation that have been referred to the committee and after considering application for issuance or renewal of the Certificate of Accreditation, may direct the Registrar:
To issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation
To refuse to issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation
To issue or to renew the Certificate of Accreditation subject to the conditions and limitations the Accreditation Committee specifies
Reviews existing policy and considers new policy items, as directed by Council, and makes recommendations for changes or additions to/updates of the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario
Has the authority over facility name approvals which do not comply with regulations
Shall appoint a time for, give notice of and hold a hearing to determine the allegations in respect of a Certificate of Accreditation
Makes referrals to the Registrar over concerns about potential professional misconduct.
Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB):
The HPARB is an independent tribunal established by the provincial government whose function is to review decisions of statutory committees of all the regulated health professions in Ontario.
If the owner/director of the veterinary facility is not satisfied with a decision of the Accreditation Committee, then they have 30 days from receipt of the decision to file an appeal with HPARB.
The powers of HPARB regarding certificates of accreditation are as follows:
Confirm the proposed decision of the Accreditation Committee;
Require the Accreditation Committee to direct the Registrar to issue or renew a certificate of accreditation for the appropriate class of veterinary facility; or
Refer the matter back to the Accreditation Committee for further consideration and the Board may make recommendations.
