How to Become a Vet Office Manager in Oregon

Many of Oregon’s citizens are pet enthusiasts committed to ensuring the health and happiness of animals.

If you share this dedication and are considering a career shift, becoming a veterinary office manager could be an ideal path for you.

In this position, you’ll play a vital role in supporting animal welfare by managing the administrative operations of a veterinary practice.

This means not getting involved in medical procedures or surgeries if it’s not needed.

As a veterinary office manager, you’ll be responsible for key administrative tasks that keep the practice running efficiently.

To discover more about this rewarding career opportunity, check out this article.

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.

The most common qualifications for candidates include:

• 1 to 7 years of relevant experience
• A high school diploma or GED,
  • For some positions a related degree is preferred

Becoming a Vet Office Manager in Oregon

To start a career as a veterinary office manager, follow these crucial steps:

Begin by obtaining your high school diploma or GED.

Even if it’s not mandatory, consider earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field to expand your knowledge and skills.

If you want to boost your credentials more, try to obtain more certifications.

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) provides a highly regarded certification for professionals in this field.

To obtain this certification, you need to enroll in the VHMA program and successfully pass the necessary exam.

While VHMA membership is not mandatory, it comes with extra advantages.

Oregon has many testing centers for this exam.

Members and non-members have different exam fees to pay:

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

Vet Office Manager Training Programs in Oregon

So where can you train in this state?

Have a look at the available programs.

Southwestern Oregon Community College 

The Veterinary Office Manager course provides you with the essential skills needed to oversee the business operations of a veterinary practice, preparing you for a successful career in this role.

This comprehensive program includes vital training in Microsoft Office, which is beneficial whether you are new to the workforce or have prior experience.

Additionally, the course covers basic veterinary assistant training.

You will become skilled in QuickBooks Online, mastering accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll—essential skills for any office setting.

This course also readies you for certification exams in Microsoft Word, Excel, and QuickBooks, enhancing your professional credentials.

Upon completion, you will be awarded vouchers for the QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU) Exam as well as the Microsoft exams, MO-201 or MO-211 (Excel) and MO-101 or MO-111 (Word).

These vouchers provide prepaid access to the exams, though any proctor fees are not covered and may apply.

Key Learning Areas:

• Anatomy and physiology of major organ systems
• Management of 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
• Preparation of prescriptions, and taking blood samples and radiographs
• Responsibilities of a veterinary office manager
• Efficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Professional communication skills and office etiquette

For all of this, including the PDF textbooks you’ll need to pay $6,170.

The duration of the program is 450 hours that must be completed in up to 18 months.

After this deadline, the access to the course will stop.

Salary for Vet Office Manager in Oregon

Understanding the responsibilities, career path, and training opportunities for a veterinary office manager is essential.

Equally important is evaluating the earning potential in this profession.

In Oregon, veterinary office managers generally earn an average annual salary of approximately $87,765.

However, it’s important to note that salaries can vary significantly across different regions within the state.

For a comprehensive overview of these regional salary differences, please refer to the table below.

Regional Salary in Oregon

Vet Office Manager by State