Do you have a passion for ensuring that animals are well taken care of?
Perhaps you have thought about a career in veterinary medicine but would prefer to remain on the administrative side.
If this sounds like you, a career as a vet office manager may be ideal.
If you reside in Illinois and are interested in learning how to become a vet office manager, this guide will help you.
Continue reading to learn about what vet office managers do, their salaries, and programs in Illinois that offer training to start your career.
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Vet Office Manager Duties in Illinois
So now you may be wondering what exactly a vet office manager does.
The duties of a vet practice manager are somewhat like those of an office manager for any other company or an administrative assistant.
Duties can change daily, but they mostly consist of the following:
- Overseeing employees in the office
- Making sure that the office is fully stocked
- Managing billing
- Scheduling appointments
Overall, vet office managers are in charge of administrative processes within the clinic.
They are to report directly to the owner of the practice.
If you’re looking for a job as a vet office manager for the first time, you typically will need to have anywhere from one to seven years of experience, depending on the employer.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Vet Office Manager
Illinois doesn’t require vet office managers to be licensed.
Typically, the path to becoming a vet office manager starts with earning a high school diploma.
Once you have your high school diploma, you may consider enrolling in a program available through the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA).
Here, you’ll be able to obtain certification.
The program is 18 semester hours.
To earn the certificate, you must pass an exam available at many testing centers throughout Illinois.
You’ll have to pay a $675 exam fee if you are a VHMA member or $825 if you are a non-member.
But education doesn’t end there.
You may then choose to pursue either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any field related to business administration.
As mentioned earlier, most employers prefer to see candidates with at least one to seven years of experience in managing an office or in the veterinary field.
Vet Office Manager Programs
Here are several schools in Illinois that offer training programs for aspiring vet office managers:
University of Illinois at Springfield
If you prefer a program that allows you to take courses online for a vet office manager, consider enrolling at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
The vet office manager program here lasts about 18 months, where you’ll complete a total of 450 hours of coursework.
You’ll also receive several vouchers for three different exams, including:
- Microsoft Excel Exam
- Microsoft Word Exam
- QuickBooks Certified User Exam
You will have to take the Excel and Word exams separately.
However, knowledge of these programs is critical for any office setting.
The total cost of this program is $6,170, with the option of monthly installments via Affirm.
Illinois Valley Community College
Another option for an online program for aspiring vet office managers is a program at Illinois Valley Community College.
This program will provide you with the skills you need to be successful in your career.
There are various aspects you will cover within this program that will help prepare you, including:
- Veterinary dentistry
- Animal restraint
- Working with exotic animals
- Lab procedures
- Pharmacy procedures
- Emergency care
- Anatomy & physiology
You will also be taught how to engage professionally with clients.
You will be skilled at discussing various pet care topics such as vaccinations, nutrition, and more.
Completion of this course will help you land a job within 120 days.
ProTrain
Last on the list is ProTrain. ProTrain is another school based out of Illinois that offers a program to earn a certificate that will help you land a job as a vet office manager.
This program gives you the option to study whenever and however you’d like, but you’ll only have 12 months to complete it.
During the duration of the program, you will receive 400 hours of training covered over more than nine lessons.
The total cost of this program is $2,595.
Top 3 Schools in Illinois
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Springfield | One University Plaza, Springfield, IL 62703, USA |
| Illinois Valley Community College | 815 N Orlando Smith St, Oglesby, IL 61348, USA |
| ProTrain | 2621 Bradford Grove Place Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 |
Salary
The salary for a vet office manager in Illinois can vary, but on average it’s around $88,370 per year.
Certain additional factors can impact your salary, such as experience, skills, education, and certification.
Additionally, your exact location can influence your salary.
For instance, the average salary for vet office managers in Chicago is $90,615, while in Aurora it’s $89,838.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Vet Office Managers in Illinois
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Arlington Heights | $86,330 |
| Aurora | $87,491 |
| Bloomington | $81,228 |
| Evanston | $88,139 |
| Peoria | $81,160 |
| Palatine | $86,339 |
| Orland Park | $86,219 |
| Springfield | $82,406 |
| Waukegan | $83,916 |
| Schaumburg | $87,320 |
Regional Salary in Illinois
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 200 | $123,610 | $59.43 | $168,790 | $62,600 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | 60 | $102,440 | $49.25 | $132,150 | $52,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 160 | $104,930 | $50.45 | $165,170 | $63,450 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 10,180 | $123,410 | $59.33 | $189,930 | $64,940 |
| Danville, IL | 40 | $73,640 | $35.4 | $103,540 | $51,240 |
| Decatur, IL | 70 | $103,380 | $49.7 | $158,260 | $63,450 |
| Kankakee, IL | 60 | $93,070 | $44.74 | $148,070 | $51,500 |
| Peoria, IL | 180 | $110,440 | $53.1 | $173,990 | $55,720 |
| Rockford, IL | 190 | $96,330 | $46.31 | $139,460 | $49,510 |
| Springfield, IL | ** | $109,520 | $52.65 | $135,750 | $69,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vet practice managers make a good income in Illinois?
Yes, it’s possible to make six figures every year working as a vet office manager in Illinois.
However, several factors can impact your earnings, such as:
- Location
- Size of your clinic
- Experience
- Education
- Reputation of your clinic
What skills are required to work as a vet office manager in Illinois?
Just like vet office managers, other careers require you to have a certain level of valuable skills.
For vet office managers, you’ll need to make sure you have staff retention skills, motivational skills, and interpersonal skills.
Other important skills are attention to detail, administrative skills, reading and writing skills, and managerial skills.
With this type of training, what are some career options available in Illinois?
Regardless of where you went to school and completed training, there are several career options available, such as:
- Lab Animal Care
- Vet Office Management
- Vet Assistant
- Animal Boarding and Grooming
