Switching Your Career to Relief Vet in North Carolina
The Tar Heel State is a great place to be a relief vet. From the beautiful beaches to the rolling hills and world-class cities, relief veterinarians are needed everywhere. Let’s get you started as a North Carolina relief vet.
Becoming a Relief Vet in North Carolina
North Carolina relief veterinarians can earn great money, regardless of whether they act as independent contractors or as employees of a veterinary relief service. Chain clinics like Banfield and privately-owned hospitals all need relief vet support.
Licensing
If your NC relief vet work is planned to support a vacation, then you may want to look at a 60-day temporary permit. These cost $150, and only require a few standard pieces of information.
If you want to do relief work in NC for longer than 60 days, then you’ll need to go through the full licensing process.That means sending in your NAVLE results, proof of graduation, letters from other states where you have been licensed, and taking the state exam. The exam is online every Tuesday and can only be accessed once all your application paperwork has been received by the state.
The cost is $300 in total for the process, and renewals are annual at the end of the year. If you’re thinking about doing vet relief work in NC for the holidays, get your license in the summer. That way, you can pick up some extra shifts and get CE done before the renewal period hits.
Salaries
North Carolina boasts the highest average veterinary salary of its neighbors at $116,930. Tennessee nets out a bit more on average, due to not having an income tax.
| State | Avg Salary | Tax Rate | Net Annual |
| North Carolina | $116,930 | 4.75% | $111,376 |
| Tennessee | $116,100 | 0.00% | $116,100 |
| Georgia | $112,390 | 5.38% | $106,349 |
| South Carolina | $109,390 | 6.40% | $102,389 |
| Virginia | $102,110 | 5.75% | $96,239 |
Inside the state, where you practice has a direct impact on your earnings. The highest metro areas are Durham (but not Raleigh), Charlotte, and Winston-Salem. The lowest earnings are on the northern coast and the most interior point of the state.
Veterinary Issues in North Carolina
North Carolina has a mild temperature, so extreme heat and extreme cold are relatively rare. Some government agencies are concerned about the following diseases:
- West Nile Virus
- Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC)
- Canine Influenza
- Canine Distemper Virus
- Feline Distemper-Feline Panleukopenia
Relaxing in North Carolina
North Carolina has a great variety of natural and cultural highlights for every interest. We’ve picked out a few of our favorites to help you maintain your work-life balance.
Outer Banks
Whether you’re a fan of teen dramas or relaxing seashores, the Outer Banks are a great place to get away from it all. A chain of islands makes for dramatic scenery, cute fishing towns, stunning lighthouses, and even the Wright Brothers Memorial!
Blue Ridge Parkway/Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the prettiest drives in the nation runs through North Carolina on the way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Take a weekend to cruise past waterfalls, dramatic views, and sleepy mountain towns. In the park, hiking, birdwatching, and cycling, and historic buildings await.
College Basketball at Raleigh-Durham.
In most places, the pro sports teams take the lead. But in North Carolina, college basketball is king. Michael Jordan played at UNC-Chapel Hill, creating a lasting legacy of basketball excellence. One of the deepest rivalries in sports, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University, creates a culture of well-natured ribbing, loud and exciting games, and a bevy of parties for those that couldn’t get tickets.
Let Holiday Vet help you get relief veterinarian work in North Carolina!