A veterinary office manager runs the business side of the operation and so does not need any medical qualifications.
What matters is keeping the operation running smoothly so the vet and staff can focus on taking care of animals.
Some certifications may help, but showing you can run a business is the most important thing.
Experience of running a business is the qualification.
Some business experience and demonstrable skills are the minimum you would need to become an office manager.
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Vet Office Manager Duties in North Carolina
The vet office manager is responsible for keeping the business running smoothly.
This would start with finances and bookkeeping.
Billing, paying bills, payroll, and any other financial items would go through the office manager.
The vet office manager could also be the receptionist and deal with scheduling appointments, so some solid organizational skills would be needed.
Keeping records of all the animals treated would also fall under the office manager’s care.
Hiring and training office staff would be another responsibility.
Taking care of the facility itself, like making sure supplies are on hand or arranging for cleaning and lawn care, may also be part of the job.
Licensing Requirements to Become an Office Manager in North Carolina
The office manager is not directly involved in animal care, so no medical licenses are required.
Hiring an office manager is at the discretion of the owner.
Even so, some certification in software programs would be an asset.
Things like Word, Excel, and so forth would be a bonus, but skill trumps certification.
There is a national certificate, Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM), offered on a national level.
It is not required, but if you complete the exam, you will have proof that you have the necessary skills and background to do the job.
Vet Office Manager Programs
There are some programs to educate office managers in North Carolina.
In some instances, in small clinics, an office manager might get involved with the direct treatment of animals.
In that case, a vet tech license is required, which is a two-year program.
Coastal Carolina Community College
Coastal Carolina Community College (CCCC), located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, is known for being a solid option for students seeking affordable and flexible education, especially for military-affiliated individuals due to its proximity to Camp Lejeune.
It offers a range of associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs, with a strong emphasis on technical, vocational, and health-related fields, including nursing, welding, automotive tech, and criminal justice.
Top 2 Schools in North Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Central University | 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707 US |
| COASTAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | 444 Western Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546 |
Salary for Office Managers
An office manager in North Carolina makes a good salary that can vary greatly across the state.
In Charlotte, the median is $82,000.
In Raleigh, the state capital, the median is $83,000.
In Asheville, that dips to $78,000.
While it is a good salary for the cost of living in North Carolina, it is below the national average.
The national median salary for vet office managers is $85,000, ranging from $75,000 to $101,000.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Vet Office Managers in North Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Asheville | $78,429 |
| Durham | $83,173 |
| High Point | $80,187 |
| Wilson | $83,165 |
| Jacksonville | $77,568 |
| Wilmington | $78,165 |
| Fayetteville | $76,416 |
| Cary | $83,762 |
| Burlington | $79,061 |
| Raleigh | $83,762 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 270 | $92,420 | $44.43 | $137,510 | $58,660 |
| Burlington, NC | 70 | $91,280 | $43.89 | $142,180 | $53,490 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,290 | $119,490 | $57.45 | $176,250 | $65,860 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 700 | $121,610 | $58.47 | $177,700 | $65,290 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 150 | $91,180 | $43.84 | $155,130 | $52,270 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 500 | $100,720 | $48.42 | $157,670 | $47,230 |
| Greenville, NC | 90 | $103,550 | $49.78 | $166,880 | $55,890 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 130 | $95,610 | $45.96 | $157,360 | $56,980 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 50 | $86,680 | $41.68 | $143,760 | $45,150 |
| New Bern, NC | 40 | $88,370 | $42.49 | $138,420 | $48,340 |
| Raleigh, NC | 1,360 | $109,540 | $52.66 | $171,960 | $57,640 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 60 | $95,370 | $45.85 | $154,980 | $42,600 |
| Wilmington, NC | 190 | $97,730 | $46.99 | $164,650 | $44,950 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 380 | $100,780 | $48.45 | $162,800 | $49,640 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications to get a CVPM Certification?
The Certified Veterinary Practice Manager certification is a national organization that certifies your ability to run a veterinary office.
You will need three years of experience working in a vet office and 18 college credit hours in management or related areas.
Additionally, you need 48 hours of continuing education in management and four letters of recommendation.
Finally, you must take an exam that costs between $600 and $800, and it is a pass-or-fail exam.
It carries weight with some people, and it could get your foot in the door if you do not know the veterinarians.
What are some things specific to North Carolina that an office manager needs to know?
North Carolina has specific rules for vaccinations and tick control.
An office manager needs to know about these so they can answer questions from customers about animal care.
The state has a high incidence of Lyme disease, and could help clients be educated in this area.
It would also be good to know the state’s veterinary practice act, which outlines how veterinary medicine is to be practiced.
Areas like animal cruelty reporting and boarding, or abandonment, have specific rules in the state, which an office manager would find useful to know.
How would being an office manager be different in big cities like Raleigh from more rural areas?
In big cities like Raleigh or Charlotte, offices would be bigger, with much larger staff.
The primary clients would be pet owners, like dogs or cats.
Well-care checkups or yearly vaccinations might be the primary reason for visits. In more rural areas, farm animals might be a larger concern.
The veterinarian might be making visits to farms, and that could impact scheduling.
There might be more emergency or injury-type visits with dogs or other pets.
The clinics in rural areas would be smaller and would have fewer people on staff.
The office manager might have a wider variety of tasks in a rural clinic.
What personality type would fit an office manager role?
The office manager needs to be attentive to detail and flexible enough to handle a variety of tasks.
A little perfectionism would be a good thing, but also be able to recognize what is most important.
The office manager should also be self-directed and not need much, if any, supervision.
The ability to be personable with staff and the public would also be needed, as you would be responsible for office morale to some extent.
You would be the face the public sees, and would have a big impact on how people perceive the clinic.
