A veterinary office manager is essential to the smooth running of a veterinary practice.
If you are looking for a challenging career path, this is one you should consider.
Loving animals and being able to resolve conflicts are good skills to have and, with the correct education, you can have a promising future in the state of Virginia as a vet office manager, where employment opportunities are growing even as we speak.
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Vet Office Manager Duties in Virginia
Every veterinary practice will have its office manager duties, but some duties are pretty much across the board for all offices.
The veterinary office manager will schedule staff and resolve any interoffice conflicts.
They will welcome patients to the office and solve any billing issues.
Making sure the veterinary office has all the supplies that it requires is part of the office manager’s duties.
A veterinary office manager allows the veterinarians to concentrate on the care of their patients and not on the running of the office.
Vet office managers keep records of fees, banking, billing, and other bookkeeping tasks.
Hiring, firing, and retaining staff is a large part of vet office manager duties.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager in Virginia
Vet office managers in the state of Virginia have no licensing requirements.
Veterinarians and veterinarian technicians do have requirements for licenses such as continued education.
Being certified, however, is a big plus when looking for a position as a vet office manager.
Vet Office Manager Programs in Virginia
Central Virginia Community College
855-520-6806
In coordination with ed2go, it provides an online vet office manager program.
The cost of the program is $3995 if paid in full or in 12 monthly payments.
Interest is accrued if you opt to pay in 18 or 24 months.
The course must be completed in a year and a half.
The course is open enrollment, and you can start at a time that is convenient for you.
You have the full 18 months to complete it, but if you have more time, it can be completed more quickly.
Before enrolling there are a few prerequisites.
You must have a PC as Macs and Chromebooks are not compatible with the program.
The latest version of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.
QuickBooks Online will be included with the course along with a one-year membership.
You will need to have internet access and a personal email address.
Most of the instructional material is available in the form of a PDF.
These books will be used for many lessons:
- Veterinary Assisting Fundamentals & Applications, 2nd edition, by Beth Vanhorn – eBook
- An Illustrated Guide to Veterinary Medical Terminology, 4th edition, by Janet Amundson Romich – eBook
The following will be mailed to you:
- Bookkeeping for Dummies
- QuickBooks Online software
You must have Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365, none of which are provided with the course.
You must also have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
All programs should be downloaded before beginning the program.
The first half of the program is designed to give you what you need to be a veterinary technician.
The second half of the program provides the business and management portions of the course.
Together they provide everything you need to become a certified vet office manager.
PVCC Piedmont Virginia Community College Central Virginia Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College offers the same online program as Central Virginia Community College.
The only difference in the courses is the cost, which is $4595 at PVCC.
Penn Foster
1-800-827-2676
Penn-Foster is a licensed and accredited college that offers an online undergraduate certificate program.
Most students complete the course in 14 months, but it can be done in 12.
If paid in full, the cost is $1599.
Paid in multiple payments, the cost is $1999.
All books and materials required are included.
Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
A high school diploma or GED is required.
Applicants have to pass math and reading assessment tests.
An email account and high-speed internet are essential.
A PC with Microsoft 10 or higher or a Mac with the latest versions of Sierra 11.2 or higher.
Microsoft Office 2019 or Microsoft 365 are needed.
Discussion boards and webinars are a necessary part of the program.
The curriculum is 7 courses for 19 credits.
Courses include:
- Business orientation
- Principals of management
- Basic accounting
- Veterinary practice management
- Human resource management
- Marketing
- Business ethics
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Central Virginia Community College | 3506 Wards Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502, United States |
| PVCC Piedmont Virginia Community College | 501 College Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22902, United States |
| Penn Foster | 200 Hickory Street Scranton, PA 18505 USA |
Salary
The average veterinary office manager’s salary in Virginia is $86,642.
The range typically falls between $75,425 and $99,548.
Salary is largely dependent on the city, certifications, experience, education, and what you bring to the job in additional skills.
Salaries are higher in the northeastern area near Washington, DC.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alexandria | $95,962 |
| Annandale | $95,962 |
| Newport News | $81,650 |
| Roanoke | $79,667 |
| Suffolk | $81,133 |
| Portsmouth | $81,219 |
| Chesapeake | $81,046 |
| Hampton | $81,650 |
| Petersburg | $83,633 |
| Norfolk | $81,219 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 110 | $45,610 | $21.93 | $60,020 | $30,210 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 110 | $43,330 | $20.83 | $51,050 | $31,310 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 40 | $43,040 | $20.69 | $49,960 | $31,100 |
| Richmond, VA | 400 | $42,780 | $20.57 | $49,740 | $30,490 |
| Roanoke, VA | 110 | $39,510 | $18.99 | $46,850 | $29,220 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 70 | $39,740 | $19.11 | $47,630 | $29,610 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 550 | $41,190 | $19.8 | $47,890 | $29,730 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 30 | $36,590 | $17.59 | $47,970 | $25,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do veterinary offices in Virginia need to have a vet office manager?
No rule says an office has to have an office manager, but for a smooth-running office, it is an excellent idea to have one.
How many people in Virginia own pets?
More than 55% of Virginia’s 8.6 million people own pets.
Are there jobs in Virgina for veterinary office managers?
Currently, there are more than 30 jobs for managers at a veterinary practice.
Employment is strong in Virginia.
How to Become a Vet Office Manager by State
