As the second largest state by population and cities that are continuing to expand, Texas is a great place to become a vet office manager.
The cost of living remains relatively low, the salaries of skilled labor are increasing, and job growth is on an upward trend.
Also, there are plenty of places to relocate if you don’t like your current living environment.
Vet office managers are currently in demand, and this will continue as the population expands.
Keep reading to learn more about how to become a vet office manager in Texas.
Table of Contents
- 1 Vet Office Manager Duties in Texas
- 2 Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager
- 3 Vet Office Manager Programs
- 4 Salary
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 Should you become a vet office manager in Texas?
- 5.2 What skills are needed to be a successful Texas vet office manager?
- 5.3 What are the general steps to become a Texas vet office manager?
- 5.4 Step One: Earn a Degree
- 5.5 Step Two: Gain Experience
- 5.6 Step Three: Find a Job
- 5.7 Step Four: Earn the CVPM Certification
- 5.8 Step Five: Continue your Education
Vet Office Manager Duties in Texas
The most common duties for Texas-based vet office managers range from business administration to human resources, accounting, and even event planning.
On the human resources front, vet office managers recruit, hire, and terminate employees, create job descriptions, and engage in conflict resolution.
From a business administration perspective, they ensure smooth patient flow, create financial reports, and maintain inventory and medical records.
At some locations, these professionals are responsible for attending and creating fundraising events to advertise the practice.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager
The Texas Government doesn’t require certification or licensing to become a vet office manager.
Most employers require at least a certificate training program in vet office management to be eligible for employment.
Many professionals seek to boost their careers by taking the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) exam, which expands their skills and could result in a pay increase.
Vet Office Manager Programs
Penn Foster
One of the best online trade schools in the U.S. is Penn Foster, which offers a vet office manager certificate program.
The curriculum covers bookkeeping, medical records management, animal care, principles of management, vet practice management, human resource management, marketing, and business ethics.
The program is self-paced and completed within approximately 12 months with a $1,600 cost.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
The Texas A&M vet office manager certificate program covers the medical and business aspects of the position ranging from animal care, such as nutrition, assisting vets during procedures, and vaccinations to managing medical records, count analysis, financial document creation, and bookkeeping.
The program takes around 18 months to complete and costs $3,995.
University of Houston
Students enrolled in the UH vet office manager certificate program can expect to learn a combination of office management, business, human resources, and animal care.
The program covers topics like bookkeeping, medical records, conflict resolution, and animal restraint for procedures and dental work.
The self-paced, online program costs around $4,000 and can be completed in as little as 18 months.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Penn Foster | 200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505 USA |
| Texas A&M – Corpus Christi | 6300 Ocean Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, United States |
| University of Houston | 4302 University Dr, Houston, TX 77004, United States |
Salary
The national compensation pay range is $65,000 to $110,000, with a median pay of $86,400.
The Texas pay range is $64,200 to $109,500, with a median pay of $85,300.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Abilene | $77,080 |
| Corpus Christi | $80,960 |
| Galveston | $86,047 |
| Garland | $85,099 |
| Laredo | $76,822 |
| Midland | $76,304 |
| Odessa | $76,304 |
| San Antonio | $81,564 |
| Pasadena | $86,133 |
| Houston | $86,478 |
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 60 | $32,090 | $15.43 | $42,310 | $22,160 |
| Amarillo, TX | 150 | $32,250 | $15.5 | $43,480 | $23,300 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,450 | $39,470 | $18.98 | $51,830 | $28,290 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 150 | $34,740 | $16.7 | $44,610 | $23,300 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 100 | $35,400 | $17.02 | $53,440 | $20,800 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 170 | $34,060 | $16.38 | $45,110 | $22,590 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 170 | $31,880 | $15.33 | $43,420 | $21,340 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,510 | $38,720 | $18.62 | $50,780 | $28,430 |
| El Paso, TX | 240 | $32,960 | $15.85 | $42,090 | $23,130 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,130 | $38,290 | $18.41 | $50,240 | $28,470 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 170 | $34,480 | $16.58 | $46,210 | $27,730 |
| Laredo, TX | 50 | $39,410 | $18.95 | $69,620 | $24,220 |
| Longview, TX | 100 | $33,700 | $16.2 | $45,910 | $26,130 |
| Lubbock, TX | 190 | $32,500 | $15.63 | $40,010 | $25,560 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 150 | $34,530 | $16.6 | $46,260 | $23,490 |
| Midland, TX | 50 | $39,030 | $18.77 | $46,280 | $29,810 |
| San Angelo, TX | 40 | $34,010 | $16.35 | $45,490 | $25,950 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,200 | $37,490 | $18.02 | $49,140 | $27,550 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 40 | $32,480 | $15.61 | $44,450 | $25,850 |
| Tyler, TX | 120 | $33,500 | $16.11 | $43,440 | $24,880 |
| Victoria, TX | 40 | $32,930 | $15.83 | $46,430 | $20,940 |
| Waco, TX | 110 | $35,510 | $17.07 | $43,870 | $23,900 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 50 | $31,450 | $15.12 | $43,140 | $21,120 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you become a vet office manager in Texas?
When determining whether to enter this field, many factors must be considered.
First, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a job growth rate of 15 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is well over the growth for all jobs.
Second, the overall satisfaction among all vet office managers is generally high because they feel like they are working toward the greater good.
Third, the starting salary is not great compared to other roles, but the earning potential throughout your career is excellent.
Note earning certifications can help improve your salary and overall satisfaction in the field.
What skills are needed to be a successful Texas vet office manager?
Vet office managers engage in most aspects of the business, so they must have a range of skills.
When managing employees, they must be able to motivate, have flexibility and empathy, maintain integrity, and showcase leadership.
The most successful office managers are customer-centric and have an excellent understanding of animal care.
Other critical skills are communication, interpersonal, organization, multi-tasking, and tactfulness.
What are the general steps to become a Texas vet office manager?
Step One: Earn a Degree
The first step is to earn a degree in animal medicine, business management, or a related field.
An animal medicine degree helps in dealing directly with animals and clients while a business degree is beneficial for the business side of the position.
You can earn a certificate in 12-18 months, an associate degree in two years, or a bachelor’s degree in four years.
The higher your education, the better the starting salary.
Step Two: Gain Experience
The catch-22 of any position is all employers want recruits with field experience, but it’s hard to get the experience without having a job.
Therefore, look for internship opportunities offered during the associate and bachelor’s degree programs.
Also, find a job while at school working in any type of office management setting, especially in an administrative role.
Step Three: Find a Job
Once you have a degree and experience, you can find a position at a local practice.
It’s important to capture the exact job scope in your resume since each practice has office managers performing slightly different duties.
Step Four: Earn the CVPM Certification
Earning the CVPM certification will boost your skills and make you more marketable for future positions.
Unfortunately, you must have three years of work experience to be eligible for the exam, but it’s an important credential to further your career.
Step Five: Continue your Education
To maintain the certification, you must continue your education by taking courses, attending local conferences, and seeking leadership opportunities.
In addition to fulfilling the certification requirements, you will learn new skills that can be applied in your daily duties.
How to Become a Vet Office Manager by State