Over the last few years, relief work has exploded in vet med, with good reason. Wage transparency and work flexibility are two of the driving factors. If you've never done relief before, it can be daunting to get started. Here's everything you need to know.

7 Characteristics of an Awesome Veterinary Relief Professional

1. Flexibility. Your schedule, practice environment, available products, staff proficiency, and clinic culture will vary widely from shift to shift. Adaptability is your best friend. Dress to conform to each clinic's standards and always wear a name tag.

2. Confidence and Humility. You may be the only doctor or credentialed tech on staff. Lead confidently. But also recognize and admit when you don't know the answer: consult colleagues, specialists, or the support staff. Listen to technicians and assistants; they are a wealth of information.

3. Meticulous Record Keeping. Document not just what happened but your recommended plan for further diagnostics and treatment. Include the pet owner's goals. Your records become a roadmap for the vet or relief pro who takes over the case next.

4. Reliability. Once you've booked a job, only the most serious situations should make you back out. This is where relief work can actually be more rigid than full-time employment. Your reputation and the reputation of relief professionals as a whole depend on it.

5. Willingness to Help. When your primary responsibilities are done, look for ways to be useful: handle callbacks, assist technicians, fold laundry. These acts of helpfulness will go a long way to building relationships with a clinic.

6. Curiosity and an Open Mind. You'll learn new sedation protocols, new ways to treat ear hematomas, and novel client communication strategies. Your role is to bridge a gap. Offer suggestions, but also learn their processes and fit into their structure.

7. Excellent Communication Skills. Be clear with practice teams so they can work well together. With clients, be approachable and kind. When referencing a patient's history, use their primary vet's name: "I see that Dr. Smith treated Fluffy for diarrhea last month." This conveys familiarity and builds client trust.

5 Steps to Getting Started as a Relief Professional

1. Establish your business structure. Options include sole proprietorship (simplest, no formal setup), LLC or PLLC (protects personal assets), or S-Corporation (potential tax savings). Talk to a CPA about what fits your situation.

2. Decide where you want to work. Practice types include daytime general practice, emergency clinics, vaccine clinics, shelters, and telehealth. Decide your geography: will you work locally, drive two hours, or get licensed in multiple states for a "paycation"?

3. Make sure you're properly licensed. Check individual state licensing websites. For veterinarians: you'll also need a DEA license for each state where you prescribe controlled substances.

4. Get properly insured. Cover yourself with: liability insurance (especially important as an unknown vet to clients), disability insurance, health insurance, and business property insurance if you carry expensive equipment.

5. Structure your contracts. A clear contract outlines your fees, cancellation policy, services offered, and specific policies (e.g., when you perform euthanasia, whether surgeries require your prior approval). Keep it straightforward; overly restrictive contracts can deter practices.

How to Determine Your Rate

Most relief professionals start by finding the going rate in their area. For a more formulaic approach, add up:

  • All veterinary costs: licensing, DEA fees, education loan repayments, liability and disability insurance, memberships, CE, equipment
  • All life expenses: housing, health insurance, child care, transportation, groceries, disposable income
  • Then decide how much you want to work and what income you need

Special skills like surgery, dentistry, or ultrasound carry a premium. Charge accordingly.

For accounting: keep a separate bank account for business income and expenses. Receive a 1099 if acting as an independent contractor, or a W-2 if acting as a relief employee. Talk to a CPA about self-employment taxes and write-offs.

How to Find Relief Shifts

Use a relief work service. Platforms like Relief Rover let practices raise their hand and you to find and secure shifts quickly, without a middleman or penalty for building relationships off-platform.

Attend events and network. Go to local veterinary medical association meetings, national conferences, and state board events. Introduce yourself. Bring business cards.

Use the internet. Stay active on LinkedIn, list yourself as a relief vet with your state board, and reach out directly to practices in your area.