First, before we discuss the joys of travel therapy, let’s talk about what that is exactly. A traveling therapist is someone who signs up with a company that works in placing physical therapist into a job where there is a need of a qualified therapist, but there is a lack of qualified candidates locally. The physical therapist can choose jobs to be assigned to temporarily, usually around 13 weeks long.
Travel pt jobs (physical therapist) can have a lot of rewards for the therapist and their family. First, there is the traveling aspect of the job. This can be a great way for the family to see the country with very limited expenses.
A 2nd advantage of doing travel therapy is the opportunity to work in many world class facilities. This experience is valuable to improve their skills and expand their knowledge in the physical therapy field.
Against some more common beliefs concerning the lack of insurance in a travel pt job, insurance is one of the benefits received as a traveling therapist. Health insurance is usually offered through the “referral company” that the therapist is working with. In addition, life insurance and long term disability insurance can be a part of the insurance packages offered, making it competitive with more traditional forms of medical employment.
Another advantage of a travel pt job is the ability to make extra money without any extra hours or effort. There is a possibility of bonuses for just signing up for a job as well as for the completion of a job. Referral bonuses are another way therapist can make extra money.
A therapist on the road will always have an allowance for their meals and incidentals. This can be a big money saver for the therapist and their family. This can also help a therapist get ahead or to catch up on old debt.
Another advantage for a traveling therapist is the ability to have education paid for. Some programs will reimburse as much as $1000/Year for continuing education. This can help to increase the knowledge and skill of the physical therapist as well as help them to save even more money.
There are many advantages to becoming a traveling physical therapist, as we have discussed. Perhaps none is more important for the long term success of a therapist than the chance to build their resume with the experience. Travel therapists have the ability to add a long list of experiences on their resume in a much shorter amount of time than typical. This can make them stand out in any jobs that they apply for in the future, giving them a leg up on long term stability.