Tera moved to New York City and her career as a runway and catalog model began. At 18, she left the world of modeling and enrolled at Boise State University. Tera has appeared in Playboy and Penthouse, where she was the "Pet of the Month" for February 2000[3] and was selected as "Pet of the Year" runner-up. In 2003, Patrick became the masthead publisher of Genesis.
In an interview with the Adult Film Database in February 2007, Patrick stated she will only continue to work in front of the camera for two more years, but plans on releasing her starring adult titles over the next decade. The March 2007 DVD release 'inTERActive' set the record as the fastest selling Hustler release ever.
In 2008, Patrick began hosting the Playboy TV erotic instructional show, School Of Sex.
In march 2011, Tera Patrick and Black Angel worked together for Digital Playground in Légendes X Interdites, with Kristof Cale as their male counterpart.
Released in june 2005, Jesse & Tera - Fièvre des îles (Digital Playground) brings together Jesse Jane and Candee Licious on-screen.