A veterinary receptionist is an integral part of the team at a practice or hospital, they are responsible for being the first point of contact with clients and are vital for keeping communications clear.

In day to day work you may; schedule appointments, greet clients, answer the phone, maintain records, set up files for new clients, admit and discharge patients, print invoices, check-in stock, assess situations and book emergency appointments when appropriate, answer questions regarding the clinic, costs, insurance, payments etc. and general duties including keeping the reception clean and organised.

Key Skills Required:

• Effective team work skills
• Client care skills
• Remain calm under pressure
• Administration and IT skills
• Knowledge of veterinary terms

Key Points to Know:

• Primarily desk-based work.
• May be required to work unsociable hours e.g. evenings and weekends.  
• Although this is a largely desk-based job, you will also need to be comfortable around animals, for example, you may need to weigh pets when they arrive at the clinic.

To be a Veterinary Receptionist you will need to:

There are no specific entry requirements for this role, although it may be beneficial to have an animal/veterinary based formal qualification or diploma as this will strengthen your application and demonstrate your interest in the sector to your employer. You should have; 5 GCSEs including maths and English, a basic understanding of the type of veterinary care provided to companion animals and some previous customer service experience.

Estimated average salary: £15,000 – £21,000 annually.

As a Veterinary Receptionist, you can anticipate employment in a variety of roles including:

• Vet practices
• Animal charities

Being a Veterinary Receptionist gives you a great insight into the veterinary environment and you may decide to progress and study to become a veterinary nurse or assistant, or study additional qualifications and certificates. This is a great job for someone who is organised, efficient and enjoys customer service. It’s also a great starting point when deciding if a career in a busy veterinary environment is for you, if you enjoy the work you can opt to complete further study in order to progress.

Coexistwithmeg ♥
Megan Richards