Corporations

FAQs

Note: For the purposes of this section, "corporation" means professional association (PA), professional corporation (PC) and/or professional limited liability company (PLLC).

1. Am I required to form a corporation?

No - corporation and practice creations are two separate processes. You can have both a corporation and a practice, or just a practice, or just a corporation. For example, relief veterinarians commonly form only corporations for tax purposes. However, single veterinarians running small mobile practices or small practice facilities often work as sole proprietors without forming a professional corporation. When practice facilities are owned by multiple veterinarians, often times the owners will form a PLLC for liability reasons. Effective January 1, 2025, ownership of a veterinary facility is no longer limited to veterinarians (see Section .0900 of the North Carolina Administrative Code of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act).

2. Do I require an inspection?

Maybe - corporations do not require inspections. However, if your corporation is associated with a practice, your practice facility does require an inspection (this includes brick and mortar practice facilities and mobile practices, as well as boarding kennels unless they are inspected by the Animal Welfare Section (AWS) of the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services). Failure or refusal to have a practice facility inspected by the Board is a violation of Rule 21 NCAC 66.0207 of the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act.

3. Does my corporation's name have to match my practice name?

No - corporation names do not have to follow the naming regulations for practices. Many organizations choose to have matching names to avoid the need for filing a DBA ("Doing Business As") with the Register of Deeds in their county. However, any name you choose is required to have a corporate ending per the North Carolina General Statutes - either PA ("professional association"), PC ("professional corporation") or PLLC ("professional limited liability company").

4. What do I need to do to keep my corporation active?

Professional corporations are renewed annually with our Board, regardless of the date of incorporation, and the renewal must be completed by December 31. Failure to comply with our Board's renewal requirements could result in suspension of the professional corporation by the North Carolina Secretary of State's office.

5. How long will it take to get my Certification of Licensure Memorandum?

It will be emailed to you within 24 to 48 business hours after your application and documents have been submitted, reviewed, and approved by our Board.

6. I am applying for both a new practice and a corporation. What steps should I take?

If the new corporation will be the owner of the new practice, then you must apply for the corporation first, and the application and applicable Articles must be reviewed and approved by both our Board and the North Carolina Secretary of State's office before you can apply for a Veterinary Facility Permit to start a new practice.