Relief Veterinarian Jobs
Relief Veterinarian jobs are open across private practices, emergency clinics, corporate veterinary groups, and shelter medicine organizations, at every level from new-grad associate to experienced multi-specialty relief provider, with specializations in small animal medicine, exotic and exotic species care, and emergency and critical care. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Description
We are looking for relief veterinarians to help cover shifts at our UrgentVet Hospital. Weekday shifts are 3-11pm and weekend shifts are 10am-8pm. We are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No surgery or dentistry required at our hospitals. We are an urgent care clinic with cloud-based electronic medical records and an online queue system.
Key Responsibilities
- Veterinarian’s role in the Clinic is a position of leadership, trust, and respect and shall conduct themselves accordingly
- Promote the human-animal bond through exceptional client experience
- Manage multiple patients and varying priorities within allotted timeframes
Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
- DVM/VMD degree from an AVMA accredited college (or successful completion of the ECFVG or PAVE program)
- Active license in good standing to practice in the state in which candidate will be working
Overview of UrgentVet
UrgentVet bridges the gap between daytime general practice and emergency/overnight care, offering after-hours care for canine and feline patients without the additional expense of emergency clinic fees. Our single-doctor shifvs offer care for common urgent cases, including wound management, ear infections, vomiting/diarrhea, and euthanasia. Each of our paperless clinics is specially designed to deliver efficient care and equipped with cloud-based EMR, digital x-ray, and a full suite of IDEXX in-house lab equipment.
Click here to take a virtual tour of one of our hospitals!
About UrgentVet
Description
We are looking for relief veterinarians to help cover shifts at our UrgentVet Hospital. Weekday shifts are 3-11pm and weekend shifts are 10am-8pm. We are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No surgery or dentistry required at our hospitals. We are an urgent care clinic with cloud-based electronic medical records and an online queue system.
Key Responsibilities
- Veterinarian’s role in the Clinic is a position of leadership, trust, and respect and shall conduct themselves accordingly
- Promote the human-animal bond through exceptional client experience
- Manage multiple patients and varying priorities within allotted timeframes
Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
- DVM/VMD degree from an AVMA accredited college (or successful completion of the ECFVG or PAVE program)
- Active license in good standing to practice in the state in which candidate will be working
Overview of UrgentVet
UrgentVet bridges the gap between daytime general practice and emergency/overnight care, offering after-hours care for canine and feline patients without the additional expense of emergency clinic fees. Our single-doctor shifvs offer care for common urgent cases, including wound management, ear infections, vomiting/diarrhea, and euthanasia. Each of our paperless clinics is specially designed to deliver efficient care and equipped with cloud-based EMR, digital x-ray, and a full suite of IDEXX in-house lab equipment.
Click here to take a virtual tour of one of our hospitals!
About UrgentVet
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Find Relief Veterinarian JobsRelief Veterinarian Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Vetco125
- Thrive Pet Healthcare88
- VIP PetCare37
- VEG ER for Pets28
- VCA Animal Hospitals23
Top Industries Hiring
- Animal Care & Pet Services59
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
- Consumer Goods1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in relief veterinarian jobs.
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with an active state veterinary license
- DEA controlled-substance registration for all states where you will practice
- Proficiency with common practice management software such as Avimark, Cornerstone, or eVetPractice
- Minimum two years of clinical practice experience in a small animal or mixed-animal setting
- USDA veterinary accreditation for health certificate and export health documentation
- Professional liability malpractice insurance coverage maintained by the candidate
Tips for Your Relief Veterinarian Job Search
Tailor your resume for relief work
Highlight adaptability, breadth of species experience, and comfort working without a dedicated support team. Relief roles reward candidates who list the specific practice management software systems they know and the clinical environments they've worked in independently.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists relief veterinarian openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your USDA accreditation before applying
Many relief postings require Category I or II USDA accreditation for health certificate work. Completing accreditation before you apply removes a common contingency and makes your application competitive the moment you submit it.
Target your state DEA registration gaps
Relief contracts frequently cross county and state lines. If your controlled-substance registration only covers one state, you'll be screened out of multi-state relief networks. Identify the states where you want to work and confirm your DEA registration covers each one.
Prepare a short equipment and skill inventory
Interviewers for relief positions often ask which diagnostic equipment you can operate independently, from digital radiography to in-house analyzers. Write out your confirmed competencies before the interview so you answer precisely rather than estimating on the spot.
Negotiate day rate and mileage before accepting
Relief contracts separate daily rate, mileage reimbursement, and lodging allowances as distinct line items. Confirm each term in writing before your first shift, since verbal agreements on travel costs are frequently misremembered once the contract starts.
Relief Veterinarian Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most relief veterinarians?
Vetco, Thrive Pet Healthcare, and VIP PetCare are hiring the most relief veterinarians right now, with openings concentrated in California, Texas, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Corporate veterinary groups and emergency hospital networks tend to post the highest volume of ongoing relief needs.
How many relief veterinarian jobs are remote?
About 4% of relief veterinarian openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most remote opportunities concentrated in veterinary telehealth triage, behavior consultation, and medical records review roles. The majority of relief positions remain on-site because hands-on patient care cannot be performed remotely.
How do you become a relief veterinarian?
Earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited program, then obtain a full license in your target state through that state's veterinary medical board. Build at least two years of independent clinical experience, secure your DEA controlled-substance registration, and get USDA accreditation if health certificate work is part of your plan. Once those credentials are in place, you can apply to relief contracts directly.
Can you get hired as a relief veterinarian with limited experience?
New graduates can enter relief work by targeting lower-acuity settings such as wellness-only practices or shelter medicine programs, which typically provide more procedural support than emergency hospitals. Completing an internship or spending at least one full year in a supervised associate role first makes relief contract applications significantly more competitive, since most practices expect you to work without a supervising doctor present.
What does the relief veterinarian interview process look like?
Most relief interviews start with a phone or video screen where the practice manager or medical director confirms your license status, species experience, and equipment proficiencies. A second conversation with the clinical team often follows, covering case volume expectations and your comfort with common procedures. Some emergency and specialty practices also request references from recent supervising veterinarians before extending a contract offer.
Where can I find and apply to relief veterinarian jobs?
You can find and apply to relief veterinarian jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from practices, emergency hospitals, and veterinary networks across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your species experience, state licenses, and schedule, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 380+ Relief Veterinarian Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Relief Veterinarian Jobs