Licensing & Certification Guide

Animal facilities need to apply for license(s) with their local government annually. Your facility may need multiple licenses depending on the services you provide.

Check with your local government's department of health for specific license application requirements and to schedule a site inspection prior to your application. To learn more, see the New Jersey Department of Health Guidelines for Municipal Licensure of Animal Facilities.

You need a Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registration if you or your business use sodium pentobarbital for animal euthanasia. Follow these steps to apply:

1. Email the NJ Drug Control Unit (DCU) at cds@dca.njoag.gov to request the Animal Shelter CDS Registration application.
2. After your completed application has been emailed to the DCU, they will email you an invoice to pay the fee online.
3. Be sure to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to validate your CDS registration. Email a copy of your DEA registration to the DCU within 60 days.

You need a Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registration if you use CDS to train dogs in narcotics detection. Follow these steps to apply:

1. Email the NJ Drug Control Unit (DCU) at cds@dca.njoag.gov to request the Dog Trainer CDS Registration application.
2. After your completed application has been emailed to the DCU, they will email you an invoice to pay the fee online (if applicable).
3. Be sure to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to validate your CDS registration. Email a copy of your DEA registration to the DCU within 60 days.

You need a Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registration if you or your business dispense any CDS. You must already have a New Jersey Board of Pharmacy (BOP) permit before applying for CDS registration.

If your pharmacy is outside New Jersey and you send prescription drugs or devices to patients in New Jersey, you need to register as an out-of-state pharmacy.

Your pharmacy business needs a permit in order to operate. The permit application process includes a site inspection. Once a permit is issued, your pharmacy must open within 90 days and notify the Board of Pharmacy in writing of the date the business opens.