If you love animals and have a good head for business, a vet office manager job might be a great fit for you.
The office manager oversees the business side of the veterinary practice and must be able to use various software.
Education and experience in office management are needed for this job in Arkansas, but you don’t need any special licensing.
There are a few options available if you want to pursue this type of job in Arkansas.
Table of Contents
- 1 Vet Office Manager Duties in Arkansas
- 2 Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager in Arkansas
- 3 Vet Office Manager Programs
- 4 Salary
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 What is the advantage of taking a vet office manager course over a simple business administration program at another university?
- 5.2 Why is there no licensing requirement in Arkansas to be an office manager?
- 5.3 What is the job outlook for vet office managers?
- 5.4 With no licensing, how is one qualified to be a vet office manager?
Vet Office Manager Duties in Arkansas
A vet office manager is not much different from any other office manager.
The basic job is to run the office or the business side of the operation.
This can include billing and even scheduling at times.
It includes keeping records, buying supplies, and supervising the staff.
In small operations, you might also have to serve as the receptionist, taking in animals and keeping track of appointments.
It would help to have some animal knowledge, but business experience is more important in this job.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager in Arkansas
There is no licensing required to be a vet office manager in Arkansas, but you do need experience or education, and preferably some of both.
You could get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in office management, or you could take a course that focuses on vet office management.
You can get a certificate from state and national office manager organizations.
These are not required, but they show you have the training needed.
Vet Office Manager Programs
The University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas’ professional and workforce development division offers an online course for $3995.
It is designed to take about 18 months, but you may do it at your own pace.
You will need to have a copy of Word, but Quickbooks software is provided.
Two e-books must be purchased and used during the course.
The course has instruction in bookkeeping, principles of management, leadership, and many other things related to running an office.
You may get certification in Word and Quickbooks, which can be useful for many other types of jobs.
This class also includes the basic vet assistant program, which may be taken separately for $2500.
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas also offers an online course.
This one is designed to take 18 months and includes 450 hours of instruction.
There are classes in Word, Excel, and Quickbooks, and you may earn certification in all three at the end of the course.
The cost is $3995, and you may pay monthly installments if you wish.
The class will include teaching on how to run an office, staffing, leadership, and many other things related to office management.
It also offers the vet assistant package as part of the program.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers a program very similar to the other two.
Word, Excel, and Quickbooks are essential software that you will be learning, and you must pass an exam in each one to complete the program.
You may also take horse care management, or vet assistant, training as part of the overall management class.
You may bundle these three options in any way you like.
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University offers a shorter program, which is six months and costs $2595.
It does not include certification in Word, Excel, or Quickbooks, but the software of each is still part of the class.
The course includes training to be a vet assistant like the other ones do.
The instruction is essentially the same but does not offer the certifications the other programs do.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| The University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR 72701, United States |
| University of Central Arkansas | 201 Donaghey Ave, Conway, AR 72035, United States |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 2801 S University Ave, Little Rock, AR 72204, United States |
| Arkansas State University | 2105 East, Aggie Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72401, United States |
Salary
The salary for an office manager in Arkansas varies a lot, depending on the size of the operation.
It can range from $59,000 to $101,000, and the median is $78,000.
The national average is $86,000.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bentonville | $77,942 |
| Conway | $78,460 |
| Fayetteville | $78,546 |
| Fort Smith | $75,270 |
| Jacksonville | $79,149 |
| Jonesboro | $80,184 |
| Texarkana | $78,373 |
| Springdale | $78,546 |
| Rogers | $78,115 |
| Pine Bluff | $77,166 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of taking a vet office manager course over a simple business administration program at another university?
If you want to be an office manager at a veterinarian’s office, you need at least some expertise with animals.
The online classes for vet office managers include basic vet assistant training as part of the package.
A business administration degree from a university would provide all the business training you need, but would not include the vet assistant aspect.
Why is there no licensing requirement in Arkansas to be an office manager?
The main reason is that the office manager focuses on the business side of the operation and has very little to do with the animals.
Anyone who is directly involved with animal care must have some kind of licensing in Arkansas.
What is the job outlook for vet office managers?
The veterinary field itself is expected to expand by 20 percent over the next 10 years.
That should result in more clinics and hospitals, so there should be more office manager jobs opening up as well.
With no licensing, how is one qualified to be a vet office manager?
The running of a veterinarian’s office is not that different from running any kind of office or business operation.
Most vets will want someone with experience in running an office.
Having a degree in business administration or something similar will give a person the training they need.
Experience is still the thing that is wanted most.
How to Become a Vet Office Manager by State