Veterinary office managers have an integral role in the overall success of veterinary hospitals and clinics.
They have a variety of important duties in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the veterinary clinic or hospital where they work.
The role of veterinary office managers includes making sure that the veterinary practice runs smoothly, which is accomplished through a variety of duties.
Scheduling appointments, providing customer service, implementing an inventory control system, and maintaining it are some duties of veterinary office managers.
They develop and then enforce policies and procedures, and foster a positive environment for workers, pets, and pet owners.
Students who choose to become veterinary office managers can expect excellent job growth and a good salary.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a much faster than average job growth rate for workers who provide care for animals.
The site Salary.com indicates that the average salary for veterinary office managers, as of October 1, 2024, is $86,677.
Completing a veterinary office manager program is an important step towards starting a career in a veterinary office or advancing a career in a veterinary clinic or hospital.
Online programs allow students to continue working while completing their veterinary office manager program courses.
The best programs provide students with the knowledge and skills that they need to become certified veterinary office managers.
Table of Contents
- 1 Best Online Veterinary Office Manager Training Programs
- 1.1 1. Florida Gulf Coast University
- 1.2 2. Valdosta State University
- 1.3 3. Broward College
- 1.4 4. Kennesaw State University
- 1.5 5. California State University San Bernadino
- 1.6 6. Queensborough Community College
- 1.7 7. Columbus State University
- 1.8 8. University of New Mexico
- 1.9 9. University of Texas at Arlington
- 2 What Courses are Offered in an Online Veterinary Office Manager Program?
- 3 Can You Earn a Veterinary Office Manager Certification Completely Online?
- 4 How Long Does It Take to Earn a Veterinary Office Manager Certification Online?
- 5 Summary
Best Online Veterinary Office Manager Training Programs
Students who want to become veterinary office managers do not have to spend several years in college.
The best online veterinary office manager programs provide students with everything that they need to know to start their career or advance their careers.
1. Florida Gulf Coast University
The Florida Gulf Coast University Veterinary Office Manager program is a self-paced program.
Students have 12-month access to the program.
Students learn the essential skills of the business operations of a veterinary practice.
The program also provides students with the skills to work as a veterinary office manager.
The program also prepares students for their work as veterinary office managers by providing them with the skills of Microsoft Office.
Students also learn QuickBooks Online.
The QuickBooks Online training prepares students to take the QuickBooks Certified User Exam.
The school provides graduates with a voucher to sit for the exam.
Students learn about the duties of veterinary office managers and the basic bookkeeping and accounting principles that are important for veterinary office managers.
They learn about the anatomy of major organ systems, take vital signs, and assist during surgery and dental procedures.
Students complete courses that prepare them to administer medications and vaccinations.
The total price for the program is $3,795.
2. Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University indicates that veterinary office staff often do “heroic work” for pets and their pet owners at veterinary offices.
The school offers a 100 percent online Veterinary Office Manager program that provides students with the knowledge and skills to work as office managers at veterinary clinics or hospitals.
The program topics include the skills to handle and care for animals and the skills for handling the business side of veterinary practices.
Some of the program objectives include handling medical office records, efficiently using Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and Excel, and understanding office etiquette.
They learn about front office duties and develop their communication skills.
Students learn about nutrition, taking blood samples, and administering vaccinations.
They learn about infection control and workplace hazards.
The school provides an exam voucher for the QuickBooks Certified User exam.
The cost of the program is $3,795.
3. Broward College
Students who enroll in the Broward College Veterinary Office Manager program learn how to operate and manage the non-clinical side of a veterinary hospital or clinic.
The program trains students in the essential management and business skills.
It prepares them for a veterinary office manager career.
The 100 percent online program requires that students have access to a personal computer (PC) with Windows 10 or later.
Students also need to have Microsoft 365, 2021, or 2019, which is not included in their enrollment.
The school does include a voucher for a free one-year subscription to QuickBooks Online.
The 12-month program features open enrollment.
The program is self-paced, allowing students to take their time learning the knowledge and skills that will help them in their careers.
Some topics covered during the 382-course hour program include basic accounting principles, bookkeeping skills, and handling medical records.
Students learn about the analysis of financial documents, reports, and accounts.
They also learn restraint techniques to restrain animals during some procedures and to assist during dental procedures or surgeries.
They learn about professional and personal development.
The cost of all instructional materials is included in the $3,795 program cost.
4. Kennesaw State University
Learn the knowledge and skills to work on the non-clinical side of veterinary practice by enrolling in the Veterinary Office Manager program at Kennesaw State University.
The program prepares students to start their career or to advance from their current position into a veterinary office manager career.
Students learn about scheduling, accounts receivable, and analyzing financial documents and reports.
They gain knowledge and skills that are related to nutrition, taking vital signs, taking blood samples, and administering medications.
Students learn communication skills and professional and personal development.
A voucher for the QuickBooks exam is included in the cost of the program.
All instructional materials are included in the $3,795 cost of the program.
5. California State University San Bernadino
Students who enroll in the 12-month Veterinary Office Manager program at California State University San Bernadino take the courses in a 100 percent online format at their own pace.
They also receive a free, one-year subscription to QuickBooks Online.
Students who complete the program receive a voucher to take the QuickBooks Certified User exam.
Coursework for the program includes learning the duties of a veterinary office manager, accounting and bookkeeping skills, and how to efficiently use Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
Students gain the skills to efficiently manage the business aspects of a veterinary practice.
They learn other skills, which include taking blood samples, taking X-rays, and preparing prescriptions.
The program covers communication skills and what to do in case of an emergency.
The $3,895 program cost includes the voucher for the QuickBooks Certified User exam and instructional materials.
6. Queensborough Community College
Start a career in the veterinary field or advance your career by enrolling in the online Veterinary Office Manager program at Queensborough Community College.
The program features open enrollment, which means that students can enroll in and start the program at any time.
Students complete the 382-course-hour program at their own pace.
The program provides students with the knowledge and skills that are required to operate the business aspects of veterinary practices.
They learn key Microsoft Office skills and QuickBooks skills.
Students learn about animal care, dental procedures, surgical procedures, and how to respond during emergencies.
The Veterinary Office Manager program provides students with knowledge about veterinary team culture, communication skills, and professional development.
Coursework includes topics such as taking patient histories, performing physical exams, and diagnostic images.
The topics also include surgical and dental procedures, veterinary care of exotic species, and large animal species.
The cost of the program is $3,795.
The total cost includes instructional materials and a voucher for the QuickBooks Certified User exam.
7. Columbus State University
Stand out from other applicants or advance your career by completing the online Veterinary Office Manager program at Columbus State University.
The program, offered by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Department, allows students to complete courses at their own pace over 12 months.
Students who want to start a career as a veterinary office manager or who want to advance from their current position to a veterinary office manager gain the knowledge and skills to efficiently operate the business aspects of veterinary clinics and hospitals.
The program provides training for the office management side of veterinary practices, along with basic veterinary assistant training.
The QuickBooks Online training gives students the knowledge and skills that are needed for accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.
Students also learn key Microsoft Office skills.
Learn about veterinary care of small animals, large animals, and exotic species.
Learn to take blood samples, perform diagnostic imaging, and restraint techniques for vaccinations and administering medications.
The program cost, which includes all instructional materials, is $3,795.
8. University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico Division of Continuing Education offers its 100 percent online Veterinary Office Manager program in partnership with Ed2Go Online Education.
The program prepares students to work as veterinary office managers and veterinary assistants.
Students learn about the duties of veterinary office managers and gain an understanding of office etiquette.
They learn how to handle medical records and develop and use their communication skills.
The program provides students with the knowledge and training to take their Microsoft Office and Excel skills to any workplace.
Gain the skills that are required to provide patient care, including assisting with medical procedures and surgeries.
Students who complete the program receive a voucher to sit for the QuickBooks Certified User Exam.
The cost of the program is $4,395.
9. University of Texas at Arlington
Prepare for a new career or advance your current career by completing the Veterinary Office Manager program at the University of Texas at Arlington.
The program is offered in an online format.
The school offers the self-paced program through its Continuing Education Department, Division for Enterprise Development.
Learn the basic accounting and bookkeeping skills that veterinary office managers need to operate the non-clinical side of veterinary practices.
Students learn Microsoft Office Word and QuickBooks Online knowledge that helps veterinary office managers in their daily duties.
Enjoy the benefit of receiving a voucher to sit for the QuickBooks Certified User Exam after completing the program.
Some topics covered in the curriculum include learning about veterinary healthcare teams, and the culture and communication of veterinary healthcare teams.
Learn communication skills with team members and pet parents.
Students learn the skills that are needed for accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and managing inventory.
The program also gives students the knowledge that they need to assist with dental procedures, surgeries, vaccinations, drawing blood, and preparing prescriptions.
Veterinary office manager students learn what to do in case of emergencies.
The cost of the 12-month program is $3,895.
What Courses are Offered in an Online Veterinary Office Manager Program?
The courses that are offered in veterinary office manager programs are similar from one school to another in the U.S. Students should make sure that the program that they enroll in gives them the knowledge and skills that they need to meet their career goals.
Some courses offered in veterinary office manager programs include:
- Introduction to Veterinary Office Terminology
- Introduction to Microsoft Word
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel
- Veterinary Inventory Management
- Pharmacy Procedures
Students also complete other courses, which include:
- Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks Online
- Physical Exam and Patient History
- The Role of the Assistant During Emergencies
- Small Animal Vaccines and Infectious Diseases
- Personal and Professional Development
Can You Earn a Veterinary Office Manager Certification Completely Online?
The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) provided details of a new certification at its 2024 conference.
The Certified Veterinary Office Manager (CVOM) is separate from the existing Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM).
The new certification is geared towards certifying qualified veterinary management professionals.
It is focused on administrative tasks, including team leadership roles.
Candidates who have at least one year of experience working in a veterinary practice, who have accomplished specific tasks, and who have two letters of recommendation may apply for the certification.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Veterinary Office Manager Certification Online?
People who want to become a Certified Veterinary Office Manager need to complete a veterinary office manager program.
The program usually lasts for 12 months.
The Certified Veterinary Office Manager is available to veterinary professionals who have worked at a veterinary practice for at least a year.
Summary
Many colleges offer online Veterinary Office Manager programs.
The courses prepare students to work in the non-clinical side of veterinary practice.
Students learn to help with patients.
They learn to communicate with pet parents and the veterinary practice team.
Students may receive vouchers to sit for some exams.
The new Certified Veterinary Office Manager credential recognizes the important work that veterinary office managers perform and gives them their own professional certification.