The Land of Enchantment is more than just the backdrop for Breaking Bad. It’s a fascinating landscape of mountains and sandstone, with a vibrant mix of cultures, people, and their pets. Relief vets in New Mexico are in an interesting position. 

Becoming a Relief Vet in New Mexico

Becoming a relief vet in New Mexico can be an interesting way to fund a vacation or short-term trip, or to supplement a relocation. Despite high licensing costs, finding relief work in New Mexico can provide a good payoff.

Licensing

Temporary licenses and licensure by endorsement are both available in New Mexico. The temporary license is perfect if you’re going to work in NM to fund a limited-time vacation, as it bypasses the state exam and other paperwork. Best of all, it only costs $250. 

If you’re looking to do relief work in New Mexico for more than 60 days, then licensure by endorsement is the way to go. This will cost $1000 dollars – $500 for the application and another $500 for the state exam. This is one of the highest application fees in the country. 

Other information required for licensure by endorsement includes:

• Certification of Experience
• State exam
• Diploma
• Verification of current state licensure
• Personal recommendation
• Professional recommendation

What you don’t need to provide:

• NAVLE scores
• Transcripts
• Fingerprints

Salary

New Mexico veterinary salaries are the lowest compared to their neighbors at $95,110 annually. NM is on par with Oklahoma and Colorado, making Arizona the outlier. Unfortunately, with the population centers being in the middle of each state, it’s not easy to try to tap into that discrepancy.

State	Salary	Tax	Net
Arizona	$136,780	2.50%	$133,361
Texas	$119,130	0.00%	$119,130
Colorado	$103,700	4.40%	$99,137
Oklahoma	$95,890	4.75%	$91,335
New Mexico	$95,110	4.90%	$90,450

When looking at metro areas, Las Cruces and Albuquerque both surpass $100k annually. Santa Fe comes in just under the $100k mark, and the rural areas are around $82,000. In this case, demand for veterinarian tracks with population density. The dramatic difference between the population centers and the rural areas shows in the pay rates.

Issues Pertinent To Relief Vets in New Mexico

New Mexico has a hot, dry climate and lots of forest fires in the summer. New Mexico relief veterinarians should keep an eye out for:

• Mistreatment and abuse
• Emergency rescues
• Smoke inhalation and breathing issues
• Dehydration
• Heat stroke
• Burned paws
• Trichomoniasis
• Zika virus

New Mexico has euthanasia techs, who specialize in euthanasia. This removes some of the mental pressure on DVMs and allows you to focus on other aspects of veterinary medicine. Not all clinics employ euthanasia techs, so do ask when interviewing potential practices. 

Balancing Work and Life In New Mexico

The nickname “The Land of Enchantment” is well-earned. New Mexico boasts fascinating natural, cultural, and sport areas to allow you to find your balance in a variety of ways.

Let Holiday Vet help you get relief veterinarian work in New Mexico!