Guidelines for Opening a Veterinary Practice

1. NAME APPROVAL

Once the name has been reviewed for consideration and approved by the ABVMA PIPS Committee you will be informed of the decision by phone. We recommend that you do not have stationary printed, signs made, etc until the name has been approved.

AB.VMA Bylaw re: Name Approval “Article XV, e), f), g)”

e) A facility or entity offering veterinary services to the public shall, prior to the use of any practice name which the facility or entity wishes to use, have its name approved by the PIPS Committee. The PIPS Committee shall be granted the right to ensure that there is no breach of any provisions of the By-laws or Regulations with respect to ethical conduct or general advertising regulations in assessing any proposed practice name.

f) Each facility or entity offering veterinary services shall clearly indicate in their name that veterinary services are provided to the public.

g) The PIPS Committee is authorized and has the authority to refuse the approval of any practice name that:

i) is misleading;

ii) is in bad taste, self laudatory, or otherwise contrary to the honour and dignity of the veterinary profesion

iii) suggest any abuse of trust;

iv) is suggestive of any specialty unless the facility of entity has specific board certification;

v) claims superiority;

vi) claims any guarantee.

Download the 2012/2013 Practice of Facility Approval Form

2. PERMIT TO PRACTICE

If you will be forming a Limited Company or Corporation, you will need to fill out an “Application By Corporation For Permit To Practice Veterinary Medicine”. Please note that a Registered AB.VMA Member must own the majority of shares of the permit. Once the application has been reviewed for consideration and approved by the AB.VMA Council you will be informed, in writing, of the decision.

If any shares in this Corporation or a Practice are owned by a Corporation under the control of a veterinarian, than each of these Corporations must have an individual “Permit To Practice”

Download the 2012/2013 Permit to Practice Form

A copy of the “Certificate of Incorporation” from an Alberta Registrar of Corporations must be submitted with your application.

To search for a Registry near you go to: http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/ra/ran.cfm

3. X-RAY REGISTRATION

If you are opening a facility that has an x-ray machine you will need to have it inspected by an authorized inspection agency and fill out an “Application For The Registration Of X-Ray Equipment”. Upon completion of the inspection, you must forward this inspection report to the AB.VMA Office who will process a Certificate Of Registration to be displayed in your practice.

In the case of an existing practice, re-inspection is required at the designated date when no change to the installation has occurred.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE & PRACTICE INSPECTION

You will receive a Self Verification Guide, which must be completed and returned to the AB.VMA Office. It must be reviewed and approved by the Practice Inspection & Practice Standards (PIPS) Committee before your opening date. Arrangements will be made for an in-person inspection soon after you open.

Please Note: Your Practice must meet all inspection requirements PRIOR to your first day of operation as a veterinary facility.

For further information regarding the PIPS Bylaws please refer to the AB.VMA Website Section Legislation/Bylaws