These assignments are contract based and typically last around 13 weeks. Traveling physical therapists typically find positions in acute care, outpatient clinics, and home health settings. Traveling PTs have the added benefit of meeting a more diverse group of people--patients and therapists alike. They are consistently exposed to new ways of doing things and are able to care for a wide range of patients.
This can help them learn to work with all types of people and advance their career as a physical therapist. They also get to experience different cities and new ways of life on a regular basis. Traveling PT is typically an attractive and viable option for those who are early in their careers and eager to pay off student loan debt. For some, the idea of meeting new people, seeing new things, and traveling to new places is exciting.
But, the truth is, once you have a family, or other responsibilities that tie you to one particular location, the constant travel and need to move every three to six months can become more difficult. Traveling physical therapy allows for underserved or understaffed markets to pull in more PT resources. Traveling PTs can feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride serving patients who might not have found the quality of care that they can offer otherwise.
This, however, can also lead to a potential drawback that we will cover next. Because physical therapists are typically needed in underserved areas, most traveling PTs find themselves in rural and remote locations.
In the off chance that an exciting, urban location opens up, the chances of landing the job before someone else is slim. Physical therapists - and their travel counterparts - are in demand, which means positions are plentiful and salaries are competitive.
PT: Physical Therapist. Days 8. Apply for this Physical Therapist Job ». This is a Compact State! Days East Bakersfield Area CA. Variable 8. Flexible 8 Hr Shift. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. Montevido-Willmar Area MN.
And, I was certain that there were zero companies that were vetting recruiters to make sure they were trustworthy and transparent. So, I did it again. I dove head first into another adventure. And I created a solution to those pain points, a resource for unbiased knowledge, a company that vets recruiters BEFORE they talk to travelers. If you have any doubt about this, just check the Instagram hashtags travelptlife travelslplife or travelotlife.
The pictures alone would make anyone want to put in their notice and hit the road ASAP to get to their favorite locations! My goal is to ensure you are empowered in your knowledge—and that means telling you the ups and the downs of picking travel therapy as a career option!
Travel therapists typically earn more than permanent staff, in large part because of tax-free money options. So, as I said, travel physical therapists make bank. A huge perk of a travel assignment is that you can do as the locals do! You can attend local festivals, enjoy the best family-owned restaurant in town, or simply discover the swimming holes or uncrowded hiking trails only locals know.
Personally, I always try to find the best coffee in town as my very first adventure in a new city! It was called the Christmas Market and it had two million Christmas lights not an exaggeration! With travel physical therapy jobs, there is no shortage of opportunities to experience self-growth and development. You will be challenged on the regular. It makes you a stronger and more adaptable person.
Those are some pretty awesome perks. Travel PT jobs give you flexibility. If you want to save up money to travel around Bali for a month, then you can do it! Or if you want to take two weeks off between your contracts just because, then go right ahead. One of the biggest complaints burned out therapists have is lack of agency over their time and decision-making. Not the hospital, and not the healthcare staffing agency. You are free to live a schedule of intention and have true control of work-life balance!
When you travel, you see SO many ways different hospital systems and therapists treat patients around the country. Each travel therapy job will teach you more and more. Physical therapy burnout is a real thing. But getting increased time off, not having to deal with office politics, and enjoying a change of scenery every few months can help loads with feeling burned out. There are so many unique job opportunities and travel positions available to you.
Last, but certainly not least for readers on this website, travel PTs build SO many valuable non-clinical skills. If I were to do it all over again, would I be a traveler? But did I end up in a moldy Airbnb? Have awkward assignments with terrible management? Get tired and lonely being the new girl sometimes? A travel therapist is expected to be clinically competent right away, whereas there might be more training and mentorship in a permanent position.
This might be a deal-breaker for you, depending on how confident you are in your clinical skills. Whether you have questions about travel therapy itself, assignments, settings, or anything else—just ask someone!
That is the quickest way to learn and grow confident within any travel physical therapy job. We travelers only get paid for the hours we work. When I first learned about this, I was not thrilled. I eventually realized that, despite not accruing PTO, we typically make more money with our travel therapy jobs. I would rather make more money for each day I work, but plan ahead so I could cover the occasional sick day. I highly, highly recommend that you find your own housing! That said, I will raise my hand high and admit that doing so might be the worst part of this lifestyle.
The contract gets cancelled. Unfortunately, we have no control over this—and neither do our recruiters. The facilities and hospitals hold all the power on this one. Be ready to roll with it. Also, make sure you have a two-week or four-week notice in your contract.
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