How to Become a Vet Office Manager in North Dakota

North Dakota has its fair amount of pet lovers dedicated to the health and happiness of their animals.

If you share this dedication and are thinking about a career change, becoming a veterinary office manager could be an excellent choice for you.

In this role, you’ll significantly contribute to animal welfare by overseeing the administrative functions of a veterinary practice.

This doesn’t have to involve directly participating in medical procedures or surgeries.

As a veterinary office manager, you’ll handle crucial administrative tasks that keep the practice operating efficiently.

To learn more about this fulfilling career opportunity, keep reading.

Job Description for Vet Office Managers

Veterinary office managers are employed in animal clinics, hospitals, and sometimes within rescue organizations.

While their roles often mirror those of administrative assistants with the specific responsibilities can vary depending on the environment.

Key duties of veterinary office managers typically include:

• Scheduling appointments
• Managing client billing
• Ordering and overseeing supplies
• Supervising office staff

Understanding these responsibilities is crucial for both veterinary practice owners and those aspiring to the role.

Common qualifications for candidates include:

• 1 to 7 years of relevant experience
• A high school diploma or GED, with some roles preferring a related degree

Becoming a Vet Office Manager in North Dakota

To embark on a career as a vet office manager, follow these easy steps!

Graduating from high school diploma or getting your GED, is an important first step.

An associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field is also recommended.

If you want to enhance your credentials, consider acquiring other certifications.

One credentials is offered by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA).

VHMA provides a prestigious certification for this role.

To earn certification it, you will need to enroll in the VHMA training program and then pass the exam.

It’s best to become a member of VHMA though this is optional, but it offers some advantages.

Certification exams are available at various testing centers across North Dakota.

The following fees apply:

• $675 for VHMA members
• $825 for non-members

Vet Office Manager Training Programs in North Dakota

So, what are the best schools that provide vet office managers programs in this state?

Let’s have a look at them.

University of North Dakota

The veterinary office manager course has 450 hours that you must complete in 18 months.

This program includes training for Microsoft Office, foundational veterinary assistant skills, and QuickBooks Online.

At the end of the program, you’ll have to take certification exams for:

• Microsoft Word,
• Microsoft Excel,
• QuickBooks.

However, you won’t get any other certificate at the end of the program.

The tuition is $6,170, it covers all the above and the textbooks which will be sent to you as PDFs.

The curriculum covers:

• The anatomy and physiology of major organ systems
• Managing medical records and effective communication with clients and staff
• Techniques for restraining animals, taking vital signs, and bathing
• Essential knowledge of nutrition, vaccinations, and medication administration
• Assisting with surgical and dental procedures
• Creating and sharing information effectively
• Analyzing financial documents and reports
• Essential bookkeeping practices
• Basic accounting principles and QuickBooks functionality for bookkeeping

You can enroll at any time.

North Dakota State University 

At this university you have the possibility of earning a Bachelor of Science degree through the Department of Animal Sciences.

Veterinary technologists will be able to work in the following types of practices:

• Large animals
• Small animals
• Lab animals
• Exotic animals

You should know that there are several areas in which you could work as a vet tech.

The first year prepares the students if they want to apply for the limited-enrollment professional portion of the program.

The second year is when the professional portion actually starts.

Of course, not everyone will want to take this vet tech career path.

They can instead, enroll in other majors and the credits earned in the first year can be transferred towards the new major.

Salary for Vet Office Manager in North Dakota

At this point in time, it’s time you thought about the potential earnings in this field.

In North Dakota, the average annual salary for veterinary office managers is around $85,519.

Keep in mind that salaries may differ based on the specific region within the state.

For a detailed analysis of these regional salary variations, please consult the table below.

Regional Salary in North Dakota

Vet Office Manager by State