Regarding pets, 57% of Florida households have at least one pet and the estimated number of pet owners is 12.5 million.
With that many pets, it stands to reason that there will be many vet offices needing a vet office manager.
The job market in Florida is even better than the national average, and it is a good place to be looking for a job in a veterinary office not to mention the warm weather.
Table of Contents
Vet Office Manager Duties in Florida
A business management degree will be helpful for anyone looking to work as a vet office manager.
You should also be very detail-oriented and able to multitask.
Welcoming pet owners and their pets and making sure that all billing is done correctly and promptly.
Inventory control and making sure that medical and office supplies are in stock at all times.
Managing staff scheduling and resolving any conflicts is also a skill that a veterinary office manager has.
Hiring and training new staff members.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager in Florida
The state of Florida has no licensing requirements for veterinary office managers.
Being certified will enhance your appeal to prospective employers.
Vet Office Manager Programs in Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University
It is a completely online program.
Call 855-520-6806 for more information.
The cost of the course is $3995.
A payment plan is available.
Enrollment is available online.
This course provides vouchers for the QuickBooks Certified User Exam and Microsoft exams for Excel and Word.
The course is 450 hours of learning.
Participants can take up to 18 months to complete the course.
Open enrollment means you can start anytime you’re ready.
You need to have a PC.
This program is not compatible with a Chromebook or Apple device.
Having internet access and email is necessary.
Students must have the latest version of Firefox, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.
Education includes essential bookkeeping tasks.
Animal anatomy is taught as well as information about nutrition, restraint, and medical care.
Advanced training in Excel, Microsoft Office, and QuickBooks.
Office etiquette and conflict resolution.
Veterinary team culture and communication.
Penn-Foster
Penn Foster is a licensed and accredited online college.
Tuition for the course is $1599 if paid in full.
Payment plans are available to help spread out the payments and bring the cost to $1999.
Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
A high school diploma or having a GED is mandatory.
PCs running the latest Microsoft or Mac running the latest Sierra are required.
The program is not compatible with Chromebooks.
Participants must have a high-speed internet connection.
An email account is required.
Webinars are part of the curriculum.
Have Microsoft Office 365 or 2019.
Penn-Foster partners with some of the biggest veterinary practices in the country.
This program is flexible, allowing you to finish as quickly as is convenient for you.
The average time to complete is 14 months, accelerated, 12 months.
What you will learn:
- Business management and finances
- Patient billing and fees
- How to lead by example
- Laws and ethics that apply to veterinary practice
- Customer service fundamentals
- Human resources and staffing
- Basics of Accounting
The program has seven courses providing 19 credits.
Graduates of this program receive a certificate.
This program prepares graduates to sit for the CVMP (Certified Veterinary Practice Manager) exam.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 10501 FGCU Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33965, United States |
| Penn Foster | 200 Hickory Street Scranton, PA 18505 USA |
Salary
The average Vet Office Manager salary in Florida is $82,064.
The range is much wider depending on where you want to work and your experience and education.
The median salary is pretty consistent across the entire state, within a couple of thousand dollars.
The low end is slightly under $60,000 and the highest is over $100.000.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boca Raton | $84,569 |
| Daytona Beach | $78,436 |
| Jacksonville | $81,718 |
| Pensacola | $78,263 |
| Tampa | $81,891 |
| Bradenton | $81,804 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $83,446 |
| Melbourne | $78,867 |
| Miami | $83,359 |
| Hollywood | $83,446 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 330 | $41,500 | $19.95 | $50,350 | $30,940 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 330 | $43,830 | $21.07 | $58,560 | $31,100 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 230 | $38,130 | $18.33 | $45,960 | $29,400 |
| Gainesville, FL | 190 | $38,990 | $18.74 | $47,260 | $28,450 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 90 | $35,880 | $17.25 | $45,770 | $28,730 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,010 | $41,050 | $19.74 | $48,500 | $30,240 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 210 | $38,490 | $18.51 | $46,620 | $29,740 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,090 | $43,480 | $20.91 | $56,880 | $31,380 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 220 | $44,820 | $21.55 | $59,560 | $36,610 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 460 | $40,970 | $19.7 | $49,730 | $30,460 |
| Ocala, FL | 230 | $38,650 | $18.58 | $48,410 | $29,070 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,090 | $41,280 | $19.85 | $50,130 | $30,340 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 340 | $40,170 | $19.31 | $47,390 | $30,620 |
| Panama City, FL | 80 | $37,780 | $18.16 | $45,610 | $30,750 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 270 | $38,720 | $18.61 | $45,970 | $29,270 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 250 | $40,810 | $19.62 | $49,490 | $30,640 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 80 | $39,660 | $19.07 | $47,750 | $30,420 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 80 | $39,550 | $19.02 | $48,430 | $29,790 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 310 | $37,360 | $17.96 | $46,910 | $28,550 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 2,070 | $43,380 | $20.86 | $57,970 | $30,860 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take continuing education to do vet management in Florida?
Taking continuing education as a vet office manager is not required.
However, it increases your value as an employee and can be a large boost to your career prospects.
Other veterinary practice employees such as vets and vet technicians have some requirements to complete continuing education to maintain licensing every two years.
Where in Florida are there the most opportunities for vet practice management?
Florida residents have a lot of pets.
In addition to that, horse farms are extremely prevalent in areas of Florida, which makes those areas likely to have more opportunities.
Ocala is the horse capital of the world.
St Petersburg is very cat-friendly.
Frankly, the entire state has opportunities for vet office manager candidates.
Do you need a college degree in Florida to be a vet practice manager?
No, you don’t need a college degree in Florida to be a vet practice manager.
Many people work their way up through a veterinary practice to obtain the position of office manager.
Will a college degree help you?
Absolutely.
Having a degree in accounting or business management will open many doors.
How to Become a Vet Office Manager by State