Earn $58-$170/hr
Virginia's capital with steady demand and lower cost of living than NoVA.
FlexVet rates are typically higher than the local average. You set your rate, we match you with clinics willing to pay it.
General Practice
$58-$100
Per hour for GP relief shifts
Specialty / ER
$130-$170
Per hour for specialty/ER shifts
Payment Speed
Weekly Payment
Payments by direct deposit
From signup to your first shift in under a week
Fill out a quick form. We'll ask about your availability, preferred shift types, and where you're licensed.
Our team finds clinics that fit your preferences and schedule. No algorithms, no bidding. A real person matching you.
Show up, do what you do best, and take care of animals. We handle the logistics and paperwork.
Weekly direct deposits. No chasing invoices, no net-30 waiting.
Richmond moves at a different pace than NoVA. Strong city identity (food scene, James River outdoor access, historic neighborhoods) and a smaller, more connected vet community. Short Pump and Midlothian have highest clinic density.
Lower Cost of Living - Richmond housing is a fraction of NoVA or D.C.
Less Competition - Fewer relief DVMs means more shifts and stronger clinic relationships.
James River Lifestyle - River access, hiking, and one of the best restaurant scenes in the SE.
Richmond is the most underrated relief market in Virginia. Good shifts, lower rent, kayaking the James on days off.
Fill out the form and our team will reach out within 24 hours to get you set up. No obligations, no pressure. Just a conversation about what you're looking for.
Get Started in 2 Minutes
Explore shifts in other cities near Richmond
State Licensing
Virginia requires NAVLE passage. Apply through the VA Board of Veterinary Medicine. CE: 30 hours biennially. Many DVMs here also hold DC and MD licenses. For a full directory of state veterinary regulatory boards, visit avma.org/education/ecfvg/state-veterinary-regulatory-boards.
Everything you need to know before your first shift in Virginia.
GP shifts pay $58-$100/hr. ER and specialty runs $130-$170/hr. Short Pump and West End at the high end.
Richmond supports 3-4 days/week for most DVMs. Many supplement with NoVA or Hampton Roads shifts for a full week.
A relief veterinarian - sometimes called a locum vet - is a licensed DVM who works short-term shifts at veterinary clinics on a flexible, contract-free basis rather than as a permanent employee.
No, there are no long-term contracts or minimum shift requirements. You can work as much or as little as you choose.
Relief veterinarians partner with clinics as independent contractors (1099), not employees. That independence is the point: there are no non-compete restrictions, so you can work with any clinic, anywhere you're licensed, and your FlexVet account manager helps you build the clinic mix and schedule that fit your goals. Because taxes aren't withheld from your payouts, plan on setting aside a portion for quarterly estimates - our relief vet tax guide walks through deductions, estimated payments, and how relief vets keep more of what they earn.
Plan on carrying your own professional liability policy - it follows you to every clinic you serve instead of depending on what each hospital's coverage does or doesn't include, and annual premiums are modest relative to relief earnings. Your account manager can tell you what clinics in your market expect from relief doctors. Our relief vet liability guide and insurance guide break down the options and costs.
Joining FlexVet is free and takes a few minutes. From there you'll work with a dedicated account manager - a real person who knows your market - who'll share the details on specific clinics before you commit: production expectations, the support you'll have in the building, and the schedule. You'll need an active state license and your own DEA registration; with those in hand, most vets are picking up shifts within days, and you're paid weekly by direct deposit.
Join hundreds of DVMs earning more with FlexVet. No fees, no contracts, no hassle.
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