Become a Certified
Veterinary Office Assistant
Versatile career skills to jumpstart your animal care career
Veterinary Office Assistants make a difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them. Their dedication to positive experiences is paramount. They balance exceptional customer service with a wide range of administrative duties allowing veterinarians and technicians to focus on animal care. If you have the ambition to support a team while cultivating relationships, becoming a CVOA may be an ideal career path for you.
Program Fees
Your tuition is tailored to your situation:
- grant-eligible students benefit from fully-funded tuition
- out-of-pocket students may qualify for reduced rates.
Class Info
- 100% online
- complete coursework from anywhere
- Self-paced
- start anytime and move at your own speed
9 out of 10 Students Qualify for Full Tuition Assistance
*based on 2023/2024 enrollments
Start Dates
This program is available year-round. Enroll when you're ready and begin at your own pace.
About our certificate program
Benefits of Our Certificate Program
The Certified Veterinary Office Assistant (CVOA) program at Saint Joseph’s College prepares students to balance exceptional customer service with a range of administrative duties. You’ll master the skills required to be successful in a variety of animal medical practice settings and you’ll graduate as a qualified professional.
Upon completion of this course, students will be eligible to sit for their CVOA national certification. The certification is through the National Career Certification Board (NCCB).
Who is Drawn To This Career Path?
If you have a compassionate attitude and are a natural communicator, you may already be well-suited for a career as a Veterinary Office Assistant.
Why This Career Is Important
A Veterinary Office Assistant makes the first interaction in an animal care office. They spend a great deal of time interacting with clients and relaying information to the veterinarian and vet technicians. They promote a peaceful, positive environment for the animals and their owners and leave an everlasting impression. They also have the ability to provide comfort during difficult or heartbreaking situations.
What A Typical Day At Work Is Like
As a Veterinary Office Assistant, multitasking is key. You’ll be helping the office run smoothly while also fostering client relationships and relaying information to the veterinary care team.
You will be the first point of contact for every client that visits the animal clinic. It is imperative you create a welcoming, friendly environment so superb customer service is required. Greeting all clients with a smile and conversing with a friendly tone is of the upmost importance.
Typical administrative tasks include scheduling appointments, preparing invoices, processing payments, and maintaining records. You may be asked to help prepare prescriptions or provide home-care instructions to pet owners. Many animal clinics also offer retail items such as food and toys which you may be asked to sell and manage inventory for.
At times, you may need to control emotional expressions and remain poised and focused during difficult situations. Showing compassion during times of bad news or outcomes including euthanasia of companion animals.
Can The Course Accommodate My Busy Schedule?
At Saint Joseph’s College, we understand you have a lot on your plate, which is why we offer the Veterinary Office Assistant class fully online. Our flexible, asynchronous format allows you to access lectures and complete coursework on your own schedule, so you can balance school with work and other commitments.
Asynchronous instruction means you are not required to log in at specific times. Instead, you can move through the material at the pace that works best for you while still staying connected through assignments, discussions, and instructor feedback.
Potential Opportunities For Program Graduates
Earning a Veterinary Office Assistant certificate can be a great introduction into the veterinary field. You can find great careers at private animal clinics, veterinary hospitals, humane societies, animal shelters and kennels.
Educational opportunities to advance your career are abundant. You can stack your certifications by also enrolling in our veterinary assistant program. This will give you an edge during your job search as you’ll be trained in both the front office and examinations that occur in the back office.
Why Pursue A Career in Veterinary Office Assisting
Achieving the National Career Certification Board’s Certified Veterinary Office Assistant (CVOA) certification will demonstrate individuals have mastered the required skills to be effective as part of the reception staff in addition to the abilities to work directly with animals to keep them safe and healthy. The benefits to becoming a Certified Veterinary Office Assistant (CVOA) may include more job opportunities, higher wages, and increased job security.
Course Topics
In the Certified Veterinary Office Assistant program, the skills and topics you will learn include:
- Veterinary Health Care Team Members
- The Leadership Team
- The Receptionist Team
- The Veterinary Technician Team
- Human Resources
- Veterinary Ethics and Legal Issues
- Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Suicide Awareness
- Professional Development
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing Management
- Financial Management
- Client Leadership
- Appointment Management
- Medical Records Management
- Inventory Management
- Controlled Substance Management
- Safety in the Veterinary Practice
- Calculations and Conversions
- Abbreviations
How to Apply
The application and enrollment process for our Veterinary Office Assistant Certificate Program must be completed at least 30 days prior to requested program start date.
Required documents for our Veterinary Assistant Office Certificate Program are:
- Photo ID
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate