How to Become a Vet Office Manager in Arkansas

Arkansas is home to many animal lovers who are passionate about keeping their pets healthy.

If you share this passion and want to take a more active role, consider becoming a veterinary office manager.

This position lets you contribute to animal care without being directly involved in surgeries or medical procedures.

Your responsibilities will be more aligned with those of a traditional office manager.

If this introduction piqued your interest, keep reading to learn more!

Job Description for Vet Office Managers

Veterinary office managers can be found in animal clinics, hospitals, and even animal rescues.

Their roles and tasks closely resemble those of administrative assistants or office managers.

However, each office may operate differently, even within the same industry.

Here are some of the most common responsibilities of veterinary office managers:

• Scheduling appointments
• Billing pet owners
• Ordering supplies
• Supervising office staff

Job descriptions are valuable for both employers and prospective employees.

Typically, the employers are the owners of the veterinary practices.

When applying for a veterinary office manager position, you’ll need to meet certain requirements.

Generally, having between 1 and 7 years of work experience is mandatory.

Educational requirements can vary; some positions may only require a high school diploma or GED, while others might necessitate a specialized diploma related to the occupation.

Becoming a Vet Office Manager in Arkansas

If you’re becoming more interested in a career as a veterinary office manager, here’s how you can get started:

• Education:
  • Begin by finishing high school or earning a GED.
• Degree Programs:
  • Next, consider enrolling in a degree program, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.
• Certification:
  • Alternatively, you can pursue certification to enhance your credentials.
  • One such certification is offered by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA).
  • To earn this certification, you’ll need to enroll in the program and pass an exam.
  • Although membership in the VHMA is not mandatory, it can be beneficial.
• Exam:
  • The certification exam is available at testing centers across Arkansas.
  • Note that there is a fee to take the exam:
    • $675 for VHMA members
    • $825 for non-members

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a veterinary office manager.

Vet Office Manager Training Programs in Arkansas

Let’s have a look at the programs you can attend in Arkansas!

University of Central Arkansas

Do you want to enroll in a program that allows self-paced learning?

Then this online training program designed by this university might be just for you.

Its duration is 18 months during which you must complete 450 course hours.

Through this course, you’ll learn how the business aspect of the vet clinic must be handled.

You’ll learn how to operate Microsoft Office Excel and Word as these are basic programs of an office.

Another useful and mandatory program for a vet office manager is QuickBooks Online.

You’ll have to sit through 3 different exams when you complete the program.

The tests will be for the 3 mandatory office applications.

If you pass these tests, you’ll earn a certificate for each.

Currently, the tuition is $3,995 discounted from $6,170.

University of Arkansas – Little Rock

At this online university, you have 3 programs to choose from:

• Horse Care Management
• Veterinary Assistant
• Veterinary Office Manager

We’ll focus on the last one, although you need to know what options you have in the veterinary field.

The cost and duration of this program are the same as for the previous one.

Other common parts with the other program are:

• The syllabus
• Enrollment requirements
• Certifications

Arkansas State University

This university also offers an online program for those interested in being a vet office manager.

This program has a shorter duration and a lower tuition.

Speaking of these, the duration is 6 months during which you must complete 210 course hours.

The tuition, on the other hand, is just $2,595 that can be paid with Affirm.

What this course lacks is the possibility of earning the 3 certifications for those main office programs.

Salary for Vet Office Manager in Arkansas

You’ve learned what a veterinary office manager does, how to become one, and where to train.

Now, let’s explore the earning potential for this role.

In Arkansas, veterinary office managers earn an average annual salary of around $78,695.

However, salaries can vary based on the location within the state.

To better understand this variation, refer to the table below.

This table highlights how salaries for veterinary office managers can differ depending on the area in Arkansas.

Vet Office Manager by State