How to Get Your Practice to Pay for CE Travel

By Bethany Weinheimer, DVM · Updated October 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Your CE allowance is part of your compensation, and many practices are happy to put it toward a CE trip. The key is to make approval easy: show that the CE is legitimate, separate the CE cost from the vacation, and show how the practice benefits.

1. Know your benefit

Check your contract or handbook for your CE allowance amount, CE days, what expenses it covers (registration, travel, lodging) and when it resets. Some practices also cover licensing and membership fees from the same pot.

2. Pick a trip with clean documentation

Practice managers approve what they can document. Before you ask, make sure the trip offers:

RACE-approved sessions, with program numbers
A clear CE schedule with hours per session
An itemized receipt that lists the CE value separately
CE certificates after the trip

3. Lead with the benefit to the practice

Connect the topic to your caseload. A specialist-led session on exotics, emergency medicine or dentistry brings skills back to the team. Offer to share what you learned at a team meeting or rounds.

4. Ask early and in writing

Send a short written request with the trip dates, CE hours, cost breakdown and how you'll cover shifts. Asking months ahead makes scheduling easier and shows you're planning around the team.

We wrote a free CE allowance letter template you can copy, fill in and send to your practice manager.

5. Keep the personal parts separate

Bringing a partner? Their ticket, extra nights and optional extras should be on you. Vet Passport prices the Explorer ticket separately so the CE portion is easy to submit.

If you own the practice

CE travel for yourself and your team may be deductible. Read is veterinary CE travel tax deductible? and talk to your accountant.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my CE allowance for a CE trip abroad?

Often yes, if the trip offers RACE-approved CE and an itemized receipt that lists the CE value separately. Policies vary by practice, so ask your practice manager in writing with the CE schedule and cost breakdown.

What should I send my practice manager?

The trip dates, CE hours and topics, RACE program numbers, an itemized cost breakdown and your plan for shift coverage. Vet Passport has a free CE allowance letter template.

Will my practice pay for my partner to come?

Usually not. Keep a partner's ticket and personal extras separate and pay for them yourself.

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About the author. Bethany Weinheimer, DVM. Founder, Vet Passport and The Evolved Vets. Career emergency veterinarian. More about Vet Passport.