Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

What Veterinary Hospital Managers Association does

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1981 and headquartered in Alachua, Florida, serving more than 5,000 veterinary practice management professionals across North America. VHMA's core product is the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) program — the only NCCA-accredited credential for the veterinary practice management profession — supported by the Certified Veterinary Office Manager (CVOM) certification, a Test Preparation Study Program, and continuing education requirements. The association operates a Higher Logic-powered MemberConnect community platform with discussion forums, a sample document library, and member directory, alongside proprietary resources such as the Organizational Diagnosis and Design (OrgDD) Toolkit, the Leadership Through Partnership Workbook, and monthly Insiders' Insight KPI benchmarking reports.

VHMA monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue mix: recurring annual membership dues, one-time certification and recertification fees, paid educational programs (on-demand learning, webinars, certificate programs), annual conference and Management Exchange registration, a multi-tiered sponsor program (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Supporting) with major industry partners such as CareCredit, Nationwide, Vetsource, and IDEXX, and an online store selling toolkits, workbooks, and compensation reports. Distribution occurs primarily through direct digital channels (vhma.org, MemberConnect, career center), in-person events (Annual Meeting, regional Management Exchanges), and partnerships with educational institutions (Penn Foster, UCWV) and community organizations (The Bridge Club). The association is led by Executive Director Christine Shupe, CAE, and President Leslie Boudreau, RVT, CVPM, and is governed by a member-elected board with no parent company or external equity ownership.

Name

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

Legal name

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

Website

https://vhma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VHMA is a 1981-founded nonprofit professional association serving 5,000+ veterinary practice managers in North America through NCCA-accredited CVPM and CVOM certifications, the MemberConnect community platform, continuing education, annual conferences, and benchmarking reports, funded by membership dues, certification fees, and a tiered industry-sponsor program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Practice Management Education

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-site/Corporate Group Operations Platforms (Franchise/MSO Tools, Standardization) (HLAMAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise & Multi-site Veterinary Operations (Corporate/Group Practice) (HLAMAMAI)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Veterinary management certification
• Continuing education programs
• Veterinary practice management
• Membership organization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alachua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to MemberConnect, member resources, discussions, the online store, and member pricing on events and programs.
2. CVPM Certification and Testing Fees: Fees for CVPM certification application, examination, and recertification. Test prep program registration is $595 for members. Re-examination fee is $575 for members.
3. CVOM Certification Fees: Fees for Certified Veterinary Office Manager certification examinations and programs.
4. Education and Training Programs: Revenue from certificate programs, rising manager training, on-demand learning, webinars, degree program partnerships (Penn Foster, UCWV), and the VHMA Test Preparation Study Program.
5. Annual Meeting and Conference: Registration fees for the VHMA Annual Meeting and Conference (e.g., 2026 conference in Reno, NV). Includes complimentary registration for award winners.
6. Sponsorship Programs: Platinum, Gold, and Silver Supporting Sponsorship tiers allowing industry vendors to align with VHMA for access to its member base of over 5,000 veterinary practice managers.
7. VHMA Online Store: Sale of publications, toolkits, workbooks, job descriptions, compensation reports, and other professional resources for members and non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Veterinary Hospital Managers Association is a professional membership association for veterinary hospital and practice management professionals. It provides membership, CVPM and CVOM certification programs, continuing education, conferences, networking through MemberConnect, career resources, practice-management toolkits, and benchmarking reports.

Product overview

The Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) is a professional membership organization that provides training, education, certification programs, and resources to over 5,000 veterinary management professionals. The organization operates as a platform-plus-services model, offering credentialing programs (CVPM and CVOM certifications), educational offerings (webinars, on-demand learning, conferences, training programs), industry benchmarking (Insiders' Insight KPI reports), practice management resources (Organizational Diagnosis and Design Toolkit, Strategic Pricing Tools), and career services (Career Center). The certification programs are NCCA-accredited and support professional development through continuing education requirements and examination preparation resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VHMA Membership
• CVPM Certification
• CVOM Certification
• Test Preparation Study Program
• Organizational Diagnosis and Design Toolkit
• VHMA Career Center
• Emerging Leaders Program
• VALUE-BASED Strategic Pricing Tools
• Rising Manager Training Program
• Training Expert Certificate
• Client Service Certificate
• VHMA Insiders' Insight KPI Report
• On Demand Learning
• Annual Meeting & Conference
• Leadership Through Partnership Workbook

Quantifiable outcome

• 110 CVPM certifications were awarded in 2025, with a 66% examination pass rate.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• pute.usminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026pute.us, a nationwide, veterinary-exclusive Information Technology (IT) partner, signed on as a Silver Supporting Sponsor. Provides end-to-end IT solutions including managed services, cybersecurity, hardware procurement, low-voltage design, and VetChat AI-driven communication platform for veterinary teams.
• Pawsitive Pet Health CertificatesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Pawsitive Pet Health Certificates (PPHC), a team of veterinary professionals helping pet owners with international travel documentation, signed on as a Silver Supporting Sponsor. PPHC provides veterinary consultation, travel checklists, pre-export testing coordination, and health certificate exam guidance for USDA Accredited Veterinarians.
• CareCreditcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCareCredit is a Platinum Supporting Sponsor of VHMA, providing healthcare credit card financing solutions for veterinary services.
• Nationwide (Pet Insurance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNationwide is a Platinum Supporting Sponsor of VHMA, offering pet insurance solutions.
• epiq Animal HealthcoreGTM or Marketing Partnerepiq Animal Health is a Platinum Supporting Sponsor. Founded in 2017, epiq is a value-added distributor and solutions provider delivering innovative products into the hands of veterinarians and pet owners.
• Instinct SciencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInstinct Science is a Platinum Supporting Sponsor. The company behind Instinct EMR practice management system, ScribbleVet AI platform, Plumb's, Clinician's Brief, and Standards of Care.
• VetsourcecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVetsource is a Platinum Supporting Sponsor providing data insights for veterinary practices.
• IDEXXcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIDEXX is a Gold Supporting Sponsor providing diagnostic and practice management solutions for veterinary practices.
• Boehringer IngelheimcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoehringer Ingelheim is a Gold Supporting Sponsor, providing animal health pharmaceuticals and solutions.
• NaVetorcoreTechnology or IntegrationNaVetor, a premier cloud practice management software offered by Patterson Veterinary, is a Gold Supporting Sponsor. In 2025, Patterson acquired full rights to NaVetor.
• Penn FosterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn Foster partners with VHMA to offer degree programs for individuals and employers in veterinary practice management. Programs available through VHMA's Degree Programs section.
• University of Colorado West (UCWV) — Leadership ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCWV partners with VHMA to offer a leadership degree program accessible to VHMA members.
• The Bridge ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bridge Club is a veterinary community that elevates the profession through conversation, connection, and recognition. VHMA supports The Bridge Club's 2027 ICON Award, which will honor a CVPM for excellence in practice leadership. The Bridge Club has 30,000+ subscribers and has hosted 250+ conversations.
• Brakke ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrakke Consulting presents the 2026 Animal Health Industry Update webinar to VHMA members, covering animal health industry performance, pet care market trends, veterinary labor, consolidation, and innovation. Speakers: Robert Jones, Ph.D. and John Volk.
• Veterinary Career Network (VCN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVHMA Career Center is a proud partner of the Veterinary Career Network, which extends the reach of VHMA job postings across multiple veterinary career sites.
• Veterinary Medical Association Executive (VMAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHMA collaborates with VMAE to present educational webinars, such as the Clinical Communication Tools for Contextualizing Spectrum of Care webinar (August 2026).
• ACT (Online Training)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT is an initiative sponsor for the Organizational Diagnosis and Design Toolkit, supporting VHMA's workforce initiatives.
• Merck Animal HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerck Animal Health is an initiative sponsor for the Organizational Diagnosis and Design Toolkit.
• AVMA TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAVMA Trust is a Gold Supporting Sponsor providing insurance and trust products for veterinary professionals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• IDEXX: IDEXX is a major veterinary diagnostics and practice management software vendor and VHMA Gold Sponsor. It is an industry partner/ecosystem player rather than a peer, but its PIMS and practice analytics offerings intersect with VHMA's audience needs and certification domains.
• VetStrategy / NVA-style consolidator (e.g., NVA / Mars Veterinary Health): Corporate veterinary consolidators own and operate large networks of practices, employing VHMA's target persona (practice managers) as key staff. They are adjacent ecosystem participants — not direct competitors — but their growth increases demand for VHMA's standardized management resources and certifications.

Direct peers

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): AAHA is a veterinary membership and accreditation organization serving companion animal hospitals with standards, CE, and practice resources. It is a direct peer to VHMA as both target veterinary practice decision-makers with overlapping educational, accreditation-adjacent, and benchmarking offerings.
• Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE): VMAE is a professional association of veterinary medical association executives that co-presents educational webinars with VHMA. It operates in the same executive/professional development niche for the veterinary industry and shares VHMA's audience of practice and association leaders.
• VetPartners (US): VetPartners is a US-based professional association of veterinary practice consultants and advisors. It is directly comparable to VHMA as both serve the professional/business side of veterinary practice with continuing education, peer networking, and certification-adjacent credentials.

Broad incumbents

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): AVMA is the largest veterinary professional association in the US, representing veterinarians broadly. While VHMA focuses narrowly on practice managers, AVMA's practice management CE, resources (including AVMA Trust sponsorship at VHMA), and advocacy represent overlapping value to a similar audience, making it a broad incumbent competitor.

Emerging players

• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA): NAVTA is a professional association for veterinary technicians/technologists that includes practice-relevant CE and credentials. It is comparable to VHMA as a parallel veterinary profession membership body, although it serves technicians rather than managers.
• VetSuccess: VetSuccess provides data analytics, benchmarking, and consulting services for veterinary practices. It is an emerging player in the practice management intelligence space where VHMA also competes via its Insiders' Insight KPI report and benchmarking surveys.

Regional players

• Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA UK): VPMA is the UK professional association for veterinary practice managers, providing education, networking, and a CertAVP qualification. It is a direct peer to VHMA in mission and offerings, but operates exclusively in the United Kingdom.
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS): RCVS is the UK veterinary regulatory and professional standards body. Comparable to VHMA in its credentialing and professional standards role, but operates as a regulator in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VHMAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/veterinaryhospitalmanagersassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vhma

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Veterinary Hospital Managers Association