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On February 23, 2024, the DC Department of Health (DC Health) relocated. DC Health
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PROCESSING CENTER Hours:
The Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) Processing Center is open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 am – 1 pm, and Wednesday, 9 am - 3:30 pm (except holidays).
Office Hours:
The HRLA Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:15 am - 4:45 pm (except holidays).
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LICENSURE RENEWAL Board of Veterinary Medicine Renewals are LIVE |
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Change to the Term of License, Certificate and Registration Effective Date June 16, 2024 DC Health has always operated with fixed renewal windows for each profession. In response to feedback from the health professional community, the Director has moved to change the renewal system to align with each licensee’s month of birth. As such, all applicable licenses, certificates, or registrations issued on or after June 16, 2024, will expire on the last day of the birth month of the license holder. This will apply to all new applicants and will become applicable to licensees renewing later this year. For those renewing, this will not take effect until September 2024. For all current holders of a license, certificate, or registration additional information will be provided at a later date. This authority is pursuant to Chapter 40 Section 4006.3 DCMR Chapter 40 General Rules. |
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Please review Important Notices regarding |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PAPER APPLICATIONS:
DC Health No Longer Accepting Paper Applications (Beginning June 14, 2021)
ONLINE LICENSING APPLICATIONS
DC Health’s online licensing application system is now LIVE. (See link below.)
The District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA) is excited to announce the opening of our new online licensing system. Effective immediately, any healthcare provider who is interested in applying for a new health professional license, or to renew, reinstate, or reactivate an existing license, may do so by going to the below link and submitting an online application. All users are strongly encouraged to review the instructions prior to beginning the process.
https://doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page
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Please reach out to [email protected] for your veterinarian license inquiries. |
Mission Statement
"The mission of the Board is to protect and enhance the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the public by licensing veterinary professionals and developing, promoting, maintaining and diligently enforcing high professional standards that govern such professionals."
Vision
A District in which all animals and the public are assured of exemplary veterinary care by compassionate professionals.
The DC Board of Veterinary Medicine regulates the practice of veterinarians, veterinary establishments. The Board evaluates applicants' qualifications; recommends regulations, standards, and procedures; and issues licenses. The Board also requests investigations, conducts hearings, implements disciplinary and/or remedial action where indicated, and prepares an annual report for the Mayor. Members file personal financial disclosure statements.
The Board consists of five members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council: one consumer member, who are at least 18 of age, one veterinary technician member and three veterinarians licensed in DC, who are residents of DC and have practiced veterinary medicine in DC for a minimum of three years prior to appointment. Licenses expire on December 31 of odd years.
The Board accepts applications for licensure through national examination; waiver of national examination; reactivation of an inactive license; reinstatement of an expired, suspended, or revoked license, or by eminence pursuant to the Health Occupations Revision Act (HORA).
All applicants for licensure must establish, to the Board’s satisfaction, that they possess the appropriate skills, knowledge, judgment, and character to practice medicine in the District of Columbia. In addition, applicants must demonstrate to the Board that they are proficient in understanding and communicating medical concepts and information in English.
Please review the application checklist and regulations prior to applying for a license.
Veterinarian Checklist
Examination: Application Checklist - Veterinary New License by Examination
Endorsement: Application Checklist - Veterinary New License by Endorsement
Reinstatement: Please submit your license reinstatement application here. Choose ‘Reinstatement’ as your application type and upload all CE certificates in the document upload section of the application portal.
Veterinarian Technician (Coming Soon)
Fee Schedule
Criminal Background Check
Veterinary Application Package Please review the application checklist and regulations prior to applying for a license.
Request Verification of a License:
To request a verification of your DC veterinary license, please complete this form and mail us with a $34 check/money order. Once received and processed, we will email your license verification letter to the requested state board office. To check the status of your license verification request, please email us at [email protected].
Verifications Instructions Application
Complaint Review and Investigations Process
ADDRESS CHANGES: If you need to update your address and contact information on file, please email our office: [email protected]
BOARD MEETINGS: Beginning in June 2025, the Board will meet on the 3rd Thursday of every other month. (The open session starts at 9:30 am and is open to the public).
MEETING DATES:
PLEASE NOTE: The January board meeting has been cancelled.
January 16, 2025 (Cancelled)
February 20, 2025
March 20, 2025
April 17, 2025
May 15, 2025
July 17, 2025
August 2025 (Recess)
September 18, 2025
November 20, 2025
Board of Veterinary Medicine Open Session Meeting Minutes [PDF]
Board of Veterinary Medicine Monthly Meeting and Open Session Board Agenda
Board of Veterinary Medicine Members
Search for a Health Professional
DC Municipal Regulations for Veterinary Medicine
Euthanizing Abandoned Animals Policy Statement [PDF]