How to Become a Vet Office Manager in California

Veterinary Practice Managers are one of the driving forces of animal medicine.

If you love animals, and you’re interested in supporting and managing the behind-the-scenes operations of veterinary offices, animal hospitals, or specialty animal clinics, becoming a Vet Office Manager could be the right career pathway for you.

Learn more about the daily duties of local vet practice managers and get an overview of a few area colleges, universities, and vocational training programs offering formal education in the guide below.

Vet Office Manager Duties in California

• Animal Care
• Appointment Scheduling
• Client Communication
• Facility Management
• Medical Records Management
• Inventory Management

Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Practice Manager in California

Most Veterinary Practice Management professionals incorporate a combination of education, experience, and certification to land their first or subsequent jobs.

The Certified Veterinary Practice Manager CVPM is one of the most sought-after credentials in the field for aspiring practice managers.

CVPM credentials are assessment-based credentials that certify the credential holder has the required combination of skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed in the role of Vet Office Manager.

VHMA allows applicants to sit for certification who have reached the age of 18, completed the required number of years of on-the-job training in the role, a commitment to ongoing Veterinary Office Management education and recertification, letters of recommendation from employers, coworkers, or other qualified professionals who can attest to the career competency of the applicant.

Vet Office Manager Programs in California

California State University at Fullerton

The Department of Extension and International Programs at CSU offers incoming Veterinary Office Managers the opportunity to earn their veterinary certificate or degree online in the four-hundred-fifty-hour program.

This comprehensive web-based program operates using a combination of online and in-person lectures, readings, and clinical experiences that prepare new office managers to handle the critical aspects of their management careers.

Courses Offered

• Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
• Surgical and Dental Procedures
• Financial Account Management
• Introduction to Microsoft Word
• Veterinary Assistant Duties

Contact Information

• Address: 800 North State College, Fullerton, California – 92834
• Phone: 855-520-6806

California State University at San Bernadino

CSU at San Bernadino presents local students with the option of getting the required training and skills needed to operate as VPMs in their online program.

Students who enroll in CSU’s online training program learn what it takes to manage a veterinary practice from current and former professionals who have worked in their practices.

Attendees can work at their own pace online and have twenty-four-hour access to their self-paced program for up to twelve months.

Successful candidates will complete course requirements meeting VHMA certification standards.

Courses Offered

• Small Animal Surgical Assisting
• Personal and Professional Development
• Veterinary Dental Assisting
• Pharmacy Procedures
• The Veterinary Healthcare Team

Contact Information

• Address: 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, California – 92407
• Phone: 855-520-6806
• Program Cost: $4.095.00

UC Davis Graduate School of Management

Animal medicine professionals seeking to own or operate their practice can boost their career skills by enrolling in the Foundations of Veterinary Business program at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

This comprehensive business certificate teaches the fundamentals of finance, marketing, human resource management, and animal care for vet practice managers.

Courses Offered

• Accounting – Transactions and Reporting
• Finance – Cash Flow and Company Valuation
• Marketing – Strategy and Design
• Human Resource Management

Contact Information

• Address: One Shields Avenue
• Phone: 530-752-7658

Vet Office Manager Salary – California

Online salary data reports from reputable sources show that vet practice managers in California make well-paying salaries that typically fall above the US national average.

Average salary reports for US-based practice managers come in at just over $86,000.00 per year with compensation salary and benefits.

The reports also show that vet office managers in California earn an average of $95,000.00 annually.

Regional Salary in California

How to Become a Vet Office Manager by State