Workers' comp class code · Health & Care
Class code 8831 — Veterinarian & Clerical
Veterinary care staff and office personnel treating animals.
This classification covers veterinarians and the clerical staff supporting them in treating animal patients, encompassing exams, vaccinations, minor procedures, and consultations conducted in a clinical setting.
A typical day includes physical exams, administering medications or vaccines, drawing blood or samples, and performing minor surgical procedures, alongside front-office tasks like scheduling and client communication. Handling animals introduces a distinct hazard not present in human medical offices, since even well-behaved patients can bite, scratch, or struggle during treatment.
Payroll includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians assisting with procedures, and receptionists or office staff. Injury frequency is driven largely by animal bites and scratches, along with strains from restraining larger animals, distinguishing this from the clerical-heavy risk profile of a comparable human medical office code.
An underwriter reviewing this class often asks what species and procedure mix the practice handles, since a clinic seeing mostly small companion animals for routine wellness visits carries a different bite and restraint exposure than one handling larger animals or emergency cases. Payroll records should clearly separate veterinarians and clinical staff from kennel or boarding employees, since those roles fall under different classifications despite working in the same building. Training staff in low-stress animal handling and restraint techniques is one of the more effective ways practices reduce bite and scratch claims.
What code 8831 typically includes
- Veterinarians performing exams and procedures
- Veterinary technicians assisting with treatment
- Front-desk and scheduling staff
- Staff administering vaccines and medications
- Billing and client-communication personnel
Codes this one gets confused with
8837 — Veterinary — All Other Employees
Covers kennel and support staff handling animal housing and care rather than the clinical and clerical work captured here.
See code 88378832 — Physician & Clerical Staff
The equivalent classification for human medical offices, which doesn't carry the animal-handling exposure found in veterinary care.
See code 8832What this code means for your premium
The exposure to bites and animal-handling injuries typically places this classification somewhat above a comparable human medical office code.
Estimate your premiumClassification is not final until a carrier assigns it. Code numbers, wording and exceptions vary by state and rating bureau — several states run their own bureaus. This page is general reference written in our own words; your carrier's underwriter assigns the code based on your actual operations and payroll records.
Questions about code 8831
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