How Nurse Practitioners Can Earn Extra Income with Telehealth

The demand for telehealth in Canada has exploded — and it is not slowing down. Over 6.5 million Canadians lack a family doctor, and provinces are actively expanding NP scope of practice to fill the gap.

This creates a massive opportunity for nurse practitioners who want to earn extra income without taking on a second full-time job. Platforms like MedRelay connect NPs with patients who need asynchronous and video consultations, allowing you to work as little or as much as you want.

The earning potential depends on the type of consultations you take. Here is a breakdown of projected rates on MedRelay:

• Async reviews (ED, hair loss, skin): $25-30 per review, taking 3-5 minutes each. That is an effective rate of $300-450/hr.
• Async reviews (weight loss, HRT): $30-40 per review, taking 5-8 minutes. Effective rate of $225-360/hr.
• Video consultations (ADHD): $75-100 per session, 45-60 minutes. Rate of $75-100/hr.
• Video consultations (mental health, menopause): $50-75 per session, 20-30 minutes. Rate of $100-150/hr.

The most lucrative opportunity is async reviews. A nurse practitioner doing 10 async reviews per evening — roughly 30-50 minutes of work — could earn $250-400 per session.

Unlike locum shifts or part-time clinic work, async telehealth offers unique advantages:

• No fixed schedule: Review patients at 6 AM, 10 PM, or during lunch breaks. You choose when to work.
• No commute: Work from your couch, your home office, or a coffee shop.
• No overhead: No clinic lease, no staff, no equipment costs. MedRelay handles the platform, billing, and patient intake.
• No minimums: Do 2 reviews this week, 20 next week. There are no quotas.
• Stack with your day job: Most NPs on telehealth platforms work full-time elsewhere and do reviews in the evenings or on weekends.

To practice telehealth with MedRelay, you need:

• Active NP license in at least one supported province (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, or Nova Scotia)
• Professional liability insurance covering telehealth/virtual care
• A computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection
• A quiet, private space for video consultations (if you choose to do them)

That is it. No special equipment, no additional certifications, no startup costs.

MedRelay is Canada's first NP marketplace for telehealth. Here is how it works:

1. Create your profile: Add your credentials, provinces of licensure, and areas of interest.
2. Get verified: We verify your license and credentials. This takes 1-3 business days.
3. Start reviewing patients: When patient consultations come in for your categories and provinces, you can claim them and complete the review.
4. Get paid weekly: Payments are processed through Stripe and deposited directly to your bank account every week.

Income from telehealth is typically classified as self-employment or independent contractor income. A few things to keep in mind:

• You will receive payment as an independent contractor, not an employee
• Track your income and expenses for tax purposes
• Home office expenses, professional fees, and insurance premiums may be tax-deductible
• Consider setting aside 25-30% of your telehealth income for taxes
• Consult an accountant familiar with healthcare professional income