The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN PRAC113-2021: Practice CEnts Module 1: Building Wealth – Basic Accounting Self-Study

This course is a self-paced, non-interactive course.

Presenter: Jon C. Dittrich, MBA
Course Open: January 1-December 31, 2021
Total CE Credit: 4
RACE Category: 4 hours Non-Medical

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Course Information:
Most education geared toward a veterinary hospital is centered on medicine. Although that is very important, we must not forget a veterinary hospital is also a BUSINESS. The financial success of a veterinary hospital has more to do with being a success business man or woman than being a successful veterinarian. This course is designed to help either a veterinarian or practice manager learn how to manage the BUSINESS of the veterinary practice. By doing so, the practice should become more profitable and less stressful for the owner.

This is the first of several planned non-interactive courses in a Practice CEnts management series geared towards improving profits for a veterinary practice and thereby creating wealth for the owner.

In this course, the participant is provided a working knowledge of the accounting that will be used in the future Practice CEnts courses. In the intermediate and advanced courses participants will learn more tools and structures so they can make better management and financial decisions and thus more profitable decisions for the practice.

To earn a certificate of completion the participant must complete all learning modules and score 80% or better on the end-of-course test. Completion of the course will take a minimum of 283 minutes. Participants must complete the participation requirements by December 31, 2021 to be eligible for a certificate.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a non-interactive CE certificate, please refer to Non-Interactive CE Certificate Requirements.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • understand the basic material of this and future courses.
  • understand entrepreneurial traits.
  • understand the importance of financial freedom.
  • realize the language of wealth is Financial Statements.
  • understand the Chart of Accounts.
  • understand the difference between single and double entry accounting.
  • discuss the Five Major Accounting types.
  • understand the terms "Debit" and "Credit".
  • have a greater understanding of the Chart of Accounts.
  • discuss the basics of “T” accounts.
  • work with “T” accounts.
  • begin working with Double Entry accounting.
  • begin working with a General Ledger.
  • produce a Profit and Loss.
  • produce a Balance Sheet.
  • introduce and produce a Cash Flow statement
  • close out their books for a period.
  • get their books ready for a new recording period.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE self-study course is open for enrollment to VIN and VSPN members only. Participants in this course should be a veterinarian, an owner, a potential owner, or in a management position at a veterinary practice. This is an entry level course designed for people who have little or no previous management or financial training. This course is a prerequisite of ALL future courses in the Practice CEnts series.
RACE Accreditation: This non-interactive course is approved for 4 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 22-39838)
This course is approved by VHMA for CVPM credit.

Course Agenda:

Module 1: Introduction
Total Time: 10 minutes
Video: 10 minutes
Polls: 1

Module 2: Lesson 1 Entrepreneurship
Total Time: 28 minutes
Video: 28 minutes
Polls: 4

Module 3: Lesson 2 The Foundation of Accounting
Total Time: 44 minutes
Video: 34 minutes
Activities: 10 minutes
Polls: 1

Module 4: Lesson 3 The Foundation of Accounting 2
Total Time: 19 minutes
Video: 19 minutes
Polls: 4

Module 5: Lesson 4 Recording Accounting Entries
Total Time: 65 minutes
Video: 35 minutes
Activities: 30 minutes
Polls: 10

Module 6: Lesson 5 Putting Together Financial Statements
Total Time: 63 minutes
Video: 38 minutes
Activities: 25 minutes
Polls: 6

Module 7: Lesson 6 Closing the Books
Total Time: 39 minutes
Video: 39 minutes
Polls: 3

Module 9: End of Course Test
Total Time: 15 minutes
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

Module 10: Course Evaluation

To learn more about the requirements for earning a non-interactive self-study CE certificate, please refer to Non-Interactive CE Certificate Requirements.


Enrollment is closed.


Tuition: VIN/VSPN Member $92
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to starting the course. If you wish to withdraw after you have started this self-study course, please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028, ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357