A certificate of veterinary inspection is a document that is signed by a veterinarian that shows that an animal that is likely to travel over state lines has met the health requirements to do so safely. It shows that the animal has been inspected to meet the regulations set at the state, federal, or other authority.

In short, a USDA accredited veterinarian is a licensed and certified veterinarian that is recognized by the USDA as being such. By being accredited, the organization knows that the individual has the ability to provide accurate and thorough information for health certificates or other types of necessary health inspections for animals.

In most situations, a certificate of veterinary inspection is good for 30 days from the time that animal was inspected. If there is a need for it beyond this 30-day point, a new certificate may need to be obtained after another physical and inspection is provided to ensure that the animal is still healthy and safe to travel.

A certificate of veterinary inspection is issued by a veterinarian. He or she sets the price to charge for this type of service. Most of the time, this health certificate is priced between $25 and $150. However, there may be some providers that charge significantly higher for this service than this. By using an online service such as www.VetSentry.com for $2.85 per certificate, they can reduce this cost dramatically.

Veterinarian doctors provide the certificate of veterinary inspection to those who request it. This is a person that has to physically inspect the animal to ensure it meets all of the necessary regulatory requirements. The individual must also be a USDA certified veterinarian to provide this type of service. If they use an online system, the system normally automatically sends the certificates directly to each state veterinarian involved.