North Carolina is home to many pet enthusiasts dedicated to the well-being of their animals.
Becoming a veterinary office manager might be the perfect fit for you if you want to be part of this community and also consider a new career.
Vet office managers play a key part in animal welfare by managing the administrative operations of a veterinary practice, without engaging in most medical procedures.
As a veterinary office manager, you’ll have to ensure the practice runs smoothly.
Read on if you want to learn more!
Article Table of Contents
Job Description for Vet Office Managers
Veterinary office managers work in animal clinics, hospitals, and even in rescue organizations.
Although their roles are similar to those of office managers from other types of businesses, their specific duties can differ based on the setting.
Typical responsibilities of veterinary office managers include:
- Scheduling appointments
- Handling client billing
- Ordering and managing supplies
- Supervising office staff
It’s important for both vet practice owners and prospective vet office managers to understand these duties and not only.
To be an ideal candidate, you need:
- From 1 to 7 years of relevant experience
- Some certifications for this position
- A high school diploma or GED, at the very least
Becoming a Vet Office Manager in North Carolina
To pursue a career as a veterinary office manager, it’s essential to follow a few steps as described below.
Complete your high school education by earning your high school diploma or its equivalent.
Advance your education by obtaining an associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Pursue some certifications to enhance your qualifications.
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) is one of the institutions offering a highly regarded certification for this role.
For this, enroll in the VHMA program and make sure to pass the required exam.
VHMA membership is optional, but it has additional benefits.
Certification exams are offered at various testing centers across North Carolina.
You’ll have to pay one the following fees:
- $675 for VHMA members
- $825 for non-members
Vet Office Manager Training Programs in North Carolina
We should now take a look and decide which are the best schools in North Carolina.
North Carolina Central University
If you want to attend this Veterinary Office Manager course, you first need access to:
- A PC with Windows 10 at least
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Office 365, 2021, or 2019, for which you need to buy the license
This comprehensive program also includes crucial training in:
- Microsoft Office
- QuickBooks Online
- Basic veterinary assistant training.
You will become proficient in the following areas, but not only:
- The anatomy and physiology of major organ systems
- Managing medical records and effectively communicating with clients and coworkers
- Techniques for restraining animals, taking vital signs, and bathing
- Essential knowledge of nutrition, vaccinations, and administering medication
- Preparing prescriptions and taking blood samples and radiographs
- The responsibilities of a veterinary office manager
- Efficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel
- Effective methods for creating and sharing information or data
- Essential bookkeeping duties and tasks
- Basic accounting principles and QuickBooks functionality to support bookkeeping practices
For all of the above, you must pay $6,170 something that can be made easier with Affirm.
This tuition will give access to:
- PDF textbooks
- The certification tests for Microsoft Excel, Word, and QuickBooks Online
- 450 hours of study hours for 18 months
Coastal Carolina Community College
This college offers a veterinary office assistant program that can be useful for your future career.
The program ends with a certificate of achievement that will allow you to work in various animal-related places.
Here are the courses that you’ll attend:
- Veterinary Assisting
- Small Animal Care and Management
- Reptile Care and Management
- Animal Agriculture
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Avian Care
- Exotic Animal Medicine
- Introduction to Veterinary Assistance
You’ll also have to attend the Zoological Internship made available to students of this program.
The internship lasts for 15 weeks.
School Name | Address |
---|---|
North Carolina Central University -Continuing Education | 1801 Fayetteville Street Durham, NC 27707 US |
Coastal Carolina Community College | 444 Western Blvd Jacksonville, NC 28546 |
Salary for Vet Office Manager in North Carolina
After you have learned all that about this profession, it’s important to evaluate the potential earnings in this role.
In North Carolina, veterinary office managers generally earn an average annual salary of $82,927.
However, the amount can vary depending on the region in the state and not only.
For a detailed breakdown of these regional salary differences, please refer to the table below.
Annual Salary Range:Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Cary | $84,223 |
Raleigh | $84,223 |
Morrisville | $84,137 |
Holly Springs | $84,050 |
Wake Forest | $83,964 |
Zebulon | $83,878 |
Harrisburg | $83,791 |
Charlotte | $83,791 |
Belmont | $83,705 |
Nashville | $83,618 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asheville, NC | 200 | $46,230 | $22.23 | $60,070 | $35,410 |
Burlington, NC | 40 | $40,670 | $19.56 | $50,230 | $28,620 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 900 | $44,960 | $21.61 | $61,720 | $32,900 |
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 180 | $45,970 | $22.1 | $62,580 | $32,060 |
Fayetteville, NC | 80 | $41,800 | $20.1 | $56,700 | $29,130 |
Greensboro-High Point, NC | 300 | $44,900 | $21.59 | $58,920 | $35,440 |
Greenville, NC | 40 | $38,210 | $18.37 | $45,750 | $29,950 |
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 80 | $39,830 | $19.15 | $48,120 | $32,130 |
Jacksonville, NC | 30 | $38,520 | $18.52 | $47,180 | $29,020 |
Raleigh, NC | 790 | $47,180 | $22.68 | $61,560 | $35,530 |
Wilmington, NC | 290 | $47,980 | $23.07 | $59,380 | $37,000 |
Winston-Salem, NC | 270 | $43,730 | $21.03 | $59,170 | $33,480 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have a good income working as a vet office manager in North Carolina?
All vet office managers in this state earn a good salary per year.
However, a series of factors will influence any paycheck:
- Experience
- Education
- Location
- Clinic’s reputation
- Clinic’s size
Where can I find employment as a vet office manager in North Carolina?
Remember that you’ll need between 1 and 7 years of experience in a closely related field.
This means that you first have to work an entry-level job in any veterinary practice before you can have the office manager job in that practice.
Do vet office managers in North Carolina need any special skills?
Yes, just like any other office managers.
Some of these are:
- Motivational Skills
- Staff Retention Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Attention to detail
- Strong managerial abilities
- Solid administrative skills
- Excellent writing, reading, computer, and internet proficiency
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Practice Manager