How to Become a Vet Office Manager in Vermont

In Vermont, you can find numerous pet owners who want their animals to be happy and healthy.

If you want to play a vital role in animal care without directly participating in surgeries or medical treatments, consider becoming a veterinary office manager.

This position emphasizes administrative and managerial duties, enabling you to contribute to animal welfare in a crucial yet different way.

If you’re interested in this career path, check out this article in order to learn more about it.

Job Description for Vet Office Managers

Veterinary office managers are commonly employed in animal clinics, hospitals, and occasionally in rescue organizations.

Although their responsibilities can overlap with those of administrative assistants or general office managers, specific duties can vary based on the work environment.

Typical responsibilities of veterinary office managers include:

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

It’s important for both veterinary practice owners and aspiring veterinary office managers to understand these duties.

Candidates for this position usually have:

• 1 to 7 years of relevant experience
• A high school diploma or GED, though some roles may prefer a degree in a related field

Becoming a Vet Office Manager in Vermont

First of all, you need to get a high school diploma or GED.

You cannot pursue any higher education without getting a high school diploma first.

Once you are done with that, you can get better credentials by pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.

You can also choose to improve your qualifications by acquiring certification after high school.

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) offers a respected certification for those aiming to become veterinary office managers.

To get this certification, you have to finish the VHMA program and take the associated exam.

Although VHMA membership is optional, it comes with additional benefits.

Certification exams are available at various testing centers across Vermont, with fees as follows:

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

Vet Office Manager Training Programs in Vermont

Now it is time to find out where you can train to become a vet office manager in Vermont.

Vermont State University

The Veterinary Office Manager course equips you with the essential skills to manage the business side of a veterinary practice and prepares you for a career as a veterinary office manager.

You’ll also gain proficiency in Microsoft Office, valuable in any profession, whether you’re just starting out or already experienced.

Besides office management training, this course includes fundamental veterinary assistant training.

You’ll learn QuickBooks Online to handle accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, providing crucial skills that stand out on any resume.

The course also prepares you for certification exams in Microsoft Word, Excel, and the QuickBooks Certified User exam, setting you on a path to success as a veterinary office manager and beyond.

Upon completing the course, you’ll receive vouchers to take the aforementioned tests.

The vouchers cover the exam fees, though proctoring fees may apply and are not included.

Among the things you will learn:

• Anatomy and physiology of major organ systems
• Managing medical records and effective communication with clients and coworkers
• Restraint techniques, taking vital signs, and animal bathing
• Basics of nutrition, vaccinations, and medication administration
• Assisting during surgery and dental procedures
• Preparing prescriptions, taking blood samples, and radiographs
• Duties of a veterinary office manager
• Efficient use of Microsoft Office Word and Excel
• Professional communication skills and office etiquette
• Effective creation and dissemination of information or data
• Analyzing accounts, financial documents, and reports
• Essential bookkeeping tasks and principles, including accrual method and depreciation, using QuickBooks

For all of this you’ll pay $6,170 and Affirm can help pay the sum through installments.

The course offers access to the learning material only for 18 months.

During this timeframe, you’ll need to complete 450 hours of course.

Salary for Vet Office Manager in Vermont

Grasping the responsibilities, career progression, and training options for a veterinary office manager is crucial.

Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the potential earnings.

In Vermont, veterinary office managers typically earn an average annual salary of around $84,741, though this can vary widely based on the region.

For a detailed look at salary differences across various areas, refer to the table below.

Regional Salary in Vermont

Vet Office Manager by State