Rivard returned to the QJHL in 1964-65 for a fourth year, this time as a member of the Thetford Mines Eperviers. Even though he played in 19 games with Thetford Mines, Rivard did spend some time with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Hockey League.

After spending some time in the OHA Junior "A" League the previous year, Fern Rivard spent the entire 1965-66 season as a member of the OHA-Jr. Peterborough Petes. The 1966-67 season saw Rivard join the Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League where he played in a career high 68 games, before having his NHL rights transferred to Philadelphia after the NHL club purchased Quebec's AHL franchise.

Rivard returned to the Aces for the 1967-68 season and was claimed by the Minnesota North Stars at the end of the season in the Intra-League Draft. Although he spent the majority of the 1968-69 season with the Memphis South Stars of the Central Hockey League, Rivard made his NHL debut with Minnesota and played in 13 games that season.

When the 1969-70 season came around, Rivard played in 14 more games with the Stars, even though he spent the better part of his season with the CHL's Iowa Stars. Unable to warrant a call up to Minnesota in the next three years, Fern Rivard became a member of the AHL's Cleveland Barons (1970-72) and Jacksonville Barons (1972-73) before getting his next NHL start during the 1973-74 season.

During the 1973-74 season, Rivard played in 13 games with Minnesota after being called up from the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks before making 1974-75 his last year of professional hockey.

Fern Rivard played in 55 career NHL games and finished with nine wins, 26 losses and eleven ties and a career 3.98 GAA.