From Buffalo to New York City and up to Plattsburgh, New Yorkers take animal well-being seriously
If you’re interested in being part of those seeking to heal and help animals without the extensive educational requirements and student loan debt that veterinarians accrue, becoming a veterinary office manager may be an excellent fit.
In this position, you are responsible for ensuring the front office is operating smoothly and efficiently.
The position is highly business- and administrative-focused across all locations and veterinary facility types.
If you’re interested in helping animals while simultaneously growing a business, keep reading to learn more about becoming a vet office manager in New York!
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Vet Office Manager Duties in New York
As a vet office manager, you can work across various locations and facilities, including veterinary offices, hospitals, specialty clinics, and rescue organizations.
Although the locations, processes, and some job duties may differ, vet office managers are commonly responsible for the following:
- Appointment scheduling
- Bookkeeping
- Hiring
- Managing client billing
- Marketing
- Ordering suppliers
- Supervising
- Training
Although you will work in a veterinary facility, your interaction with the animals will be minimal as the position focuses on the business side of the company.
Many of the daily activities are administrative, but they contribute to ensuring animals get the best possible treatment.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager
Like most other states, New York doesn’t have licensure requirements.
However, there is still a process, and those seeking to become vet office managers will find it difficult to enter the field with only a high school diploma and no experience.
The typical vet office manager candidate has a high school diploma, with most in this position holding a higher learning degree and 1-to-7 years of experience.
To meet these requirements, follow this process:
Step One: Earn a Diploma
The first and most basic step is to earn a high school diploma.
Without this, it’s not possible to enter a training program, and no hiring managers will consider you for the position.
Step Two: Enroll in a Training Program
The next step is to find a training program that suits your budget and location.
Most office vet management programs are available online.
However, some are coupled with other related positions like veterinary technician, which has an in-person laboratory element to the curriculum.
If you want to ensure the program is entirely online, then look into an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Alternately, a shorter certificate program in vet office management may be a good option.
Step Three: Seek Certification
Although certification isn’t required to get a job, earning the certificate offered by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association while in school highlights a willingness to learn and expand your skills.
Earning this certification requires passing an examination and paying a fee that costs $675 for members and $825 for non-members.
Step Four: Gain Experience
While in school, working part-time in an office, preferably a veterinary office, will be a tremendous value.
In addition to giving you the necessary experience in the veterinary environment, it also provides you with office skills.
Also, working in a healthcare office is similar to a vet facility, so you will still gain excellent experience.
Step Five: Apply for a Position
The final step in the process is to apply for an open position.
While the Internet is an excellent resource, don’t let it be your only resource for job openings.
Speak to family friends, network with school colleagues, and join industry groups to speak with other professionals in the field.
Vet Office Manager Programs
SUNY Canton
The State University of New York Canton campus offers a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Service Administration.
Graduates move into positions as veterinary admins at vet offices, in animal shelters, at zoos, in research facilities, and in diagnostic laboratories.
This four-year program teaches students the basics of veterinary administration, like accounting principles and bookkeeping, but also proper animal restraint techniques and anatomy.
The City University of New York
CUNY offers a veterinary office manager program that is self-paced and entirely online.
The program requires you to complete 450 hours of coursework in 18 months and comprises Microsoft Office training, QuickBooks Online, anatomy and physiology, basic accounting principles, analyses of reports, financial documents, accounts, bookkeeping tasks, and techniques for bathing and taking vital animal signs.
The program costs $6,170, including all fees and materials.
Students can use Affirm to break the payments into monthly installments.
Top 2 Schools in New York
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| SUNY Canton | 34 Cornell Dr, Canton, NY 13617, USA |
| The City University of New York | 450 W 41st St, New York, NY 10036, United States |
Salary
The salary varies greatly across the state, with the median compensation in Buffalo being $82,935 per year and $99,658 in Manhattan.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Vet Office Managers in New York
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Albany | $86,586 |
| Clay | $85,119 |
| Nassau | $93,378 |
| Queens Village | $98,242 |
| Utica | $83,830 |
| Yonkers | $97,448 |
| Rochester | $83,694 |
| New Rochelle | $96,433 |
| Henrietta | $83,694 |
| Binghamton | $82,235 |
Regional Salary in New York
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 660 | $112,680 | $54.17 | $178,230 | $49,120 |
| Binghamton, NY | 100 | $124,600 | $59.91 | $217,230 | $65,000 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 560 | $120,290 | $57.83 | $183,380 | $62,560 |
| Elmira, NY | 50 | $101,120 | $48.61 | $164,440 | $46,390 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 60 | $104,530 | $50.26 | $165,770 | $60,030 |
| Ithaca, NY | 120 | $124,040 | $59.63 | $188,470 | $64,780 |
| Kingston, NY | 70 | $117,200 | $56.35 | $163,480 | $66,380 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 17,130 | $144,300 | $69.38 | $223,630 | $63,260 |
| Rochester, NY | 530 | $124,250 | $59.73 | $185,070 | $63,130 |
| Syracuse, NY | 400 | $120,870 | $58.11 | $177,550 | $65,560 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 160 | $110,350 | $53.06 | $162,590 | $65,910 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 30 | $98,520 | $47.37 | $160,670 | $57,940 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
https://www.veterinaryschoolsu.com/vet-office-manager/
https://www.vocationaltraininghq.com/vet-office-manager-new-york/
Frequently Asked Questions
What career options are available in New York State?
New York has a variety of city types and sizes.
From rural towns to a massive metropolis and medium-sized locations in between, the state has something for everyone.
As a result, the career options are endless and include laboratory animal care personnel, animal grooming and boarding personnel, veterinary assistants, and vet office managers.
The completed training program prepares you for all of these positions.
What are the qualifications to sit for the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager examination in New York?
To be eligible to sit for the exam, you must have four letters of recommendation, 48 hours of continuing education courses, 18 credit hours in business management, three years of active employment, and pay the required fees.
What essential skills are needed to become a vet office manager in New York?
The most successful vet office managers have strong attention to detail and interpersonal skills.
They are also excellent in reading and writing, and have computer proficiency, along with robust managerial, administrative, motivational, and staff retention skills.
