<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099531</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VANTAGEMED CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMDC.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237279</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALTINGER RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11060 WHITE ROCK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO CORDOVA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95670</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Mktg and Business Develop</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33842</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53841</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Altinger Family LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A warrant to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Altinger Family LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B warrant to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7168</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Altinger Family LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">10,000 shares beneficially owned directly; 43,841 shares beneficially owned indirectly; reporting person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 33,842 shares of the 107,527 shares issued to the Altinger Family LLC, pursuant to his pro rata membership interests.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person is deemed to be beneficial owner of 7,168 warrant shares of the 21,505 Series A warrant shares issued to the LLC, pursuant to his pro rata membership interests.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person is deemed to be beneficial owner of 7,168 warrant shares of the 21,505 Series B warrant shares issued to the LLC, pursuant to his pro rata membership interests.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Amount of derivative securities beneficially owned following reported transaction is comprised of 7,168 Series A warrant shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Amount of derivative securities beneficially owned following reported transaction is comprised of 7,168 Series B warrant shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Richard Altinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
