Oklahoma boasts a lively community of pet enthusiasts committed to their animals’ health and well-being.
If you share this enthusiasm and are considering a career shift, becoming a veterinary office manager could be an ideal choice for you.
In this position, you will play a vital role in promoting animal welfare by managing the administrative operations of a veterinary practice.
Luckily, you won’t be directly engaging in medical procedures or surgeries.
As a veterinary office manager, you will be responsible for essential administrative tasks that ensure the smooth operation of the practice.
To discover more about this rewarding career opportunity, keep reading.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description for Vet Office Managers
Veterinary office managers operate in animal clinics, hospitals, and occasionally within rescue organizations.
While their roles are similar to those of administrative assistants or general office managers, their specific duties can vary depending on the workplace.
Typical responsibilities of veterinary office managers 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 this role.
Common requirements for candidates include:
- 1 to 7 years of relevant experience
- A high school diploma or GED, with some positions preferring a related degree
Becoming a Vet Office Manager in Oklahoma
To embark on a career as a veterinary office manager, follow the next steps.
Begin by earning your high school diploma or GED.
Next, consider obtaining an associate or bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field to enhance your expertise.
Furthermore, you can enhance your qualifications by acquiring a certification.
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) provides a well-respected certification for professionals in this field.
To achieve this certification, you must join the VHMA program and successfully pass the required examination.
Although membership in the VHMA is not mandatory, it does offer extra advantages.
Certification exams are available at various testing centers throughout Oklahoma.
You’ll have to pay one of the following fees:
- $675 for VHMA members
- $825 for non-members
Vet Office Manager Training Programs in Oklahoma
So where can you train in this state?
Have a look at the available programs!
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
The Veterinary Office Manager course equips you with the essential skills to manage the business operations of a veterinary practice.
This comprehensive course includes key training in Microsoft Office, which is beneficial in any profession, whether you’re starting out or already have experience.
Additionally, the course provides basic veterinary assistant training.
You’ll also learn to use QuickBooks Online, covering accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, which are valuable skills in any office setting.
The course prepares you for certification exams in Microsoft Word, Excel, and QuickBooks, enhancing your professional qualifications.
Upon successful completion, you will receive vouchers for the QuickBooks Certified User Exam and the Microsoft Excel, and Word exams.
These vouchers provide prepaid access to the exams upon eligibility, though proctor fees may apply and are not included.
Some of the things you will learn include:
- Anatomy and physiology of major organ systems
- Managing medical records and effective communication with clients and coworkers
- Techniques for animal restraint, taking vital signs, and bathing
- Basics of nutrition, vaccinations, and medication administration
- Assisting in surgery and dental procedures
- Effective creation and dissemination of information or data
- Analysis of accounts, financial documents, and reports
- Fundamental bookkeeping tasks and basic accounting principles
- How QuickBooks supports bookkeeping practices
For all this you’ll have to pay $6,170 a sum that also include the textbooks needed, in PDF format.
To complete the course, you must finish 450 hours in 18 months top, because after that deadline is up, you won’t have access to the course anymore.
The program can only be completed on a PC with Windows 10 at the very least, and on which you have installed both Adobe Acrobat Reader and Microsoft Office.
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City | 900 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73107 |
Salary for Vet Office Manager in Oklahoma
Grasping the responsibilities, career trajectory, and training opportunities for a veterinary office manager is crucial.
Equally significant is assessing the earning potential in this field.
In Oklahoma, veterinary office managers typically earn an average annual salary of around $79,904.
However, it’s important to recognize that salaries can vary widely across different areas within the state.
For a detailed look at these regional salary variations, please refer to the table below.
Annual Salary Range:Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Kingston | $84,569 |
Bennington | $84,569 |
Tulsa | $81,718 |
Jenks | $81,632 |
Owasso | $81,545 |
Broken Arrow | $81,459 |
Bixby | $81,373 |
Kellyville | $81,286 |
Leonard | $81,200 |
Vera | $81,113 |
Regional Salary in Oklahoma
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawton, OK | 30 | $30,160 | $14.5 | $41,540 | $23,400 |
Oklahoma City, OK | 300 | $37,400 | $17.98 | $47,810 | $28,520 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I want a degree as a vet office manager in Oklahoma, which one is the best?
According to the presentation above, you don’t need a degree for this position.
Yet, other vet office managers obtained either an associate degree or even a bachelor’s.
Which skills do I need to work as a vet office manager in Oklahoma?
The following duties are rather important for this occupation:
- Motivational Skills
- Staff Retention Skills
- Solid administrative skills
- Excellent writing, reading, computer, and internet proficiency
- Interpersonal Skills
- Attention to detail
- Strong managerial abilities
Do vet office managers in Oklahoma have a good income?
Of course they do!
Vet office managers can reach a salary that reaches 6 digits, per year.
However, this can be affected by:
- Experience
- Education
- Location
- Clinic’s reputation
- Clinic’s size
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Practice Manager