What Is a Travel Therapist?
A travel therapist is a physical, occupational, or speech therapist who works short-term contracts that are typically 13 weeks long, often with the possibility to extend. To qualify for housing stipends, you must maintain a tax home and take assignments far enough away to require duplicate housing.
Do I Get Free Housing or Money for Housing?
Most agencies pay part of your package as tax-free stipends for housing and meals. This increases take-home pay, which is designed to offset the cost of duplicate expenses a travel therapist incurs, such as rent. Amounts for housing and meal stipends vary by assignment and location.
Can I Take a Contract Close to Home?
Yes, but only assignments requiring duplicate housing costs qualify for stipends. In order to be considered a travel assignment, the commute must be long enough to require an overnight stay, Otherwise, the pay is fully taxable.
Do Travel Therapists Get Benefits?
Yes. Most travel therapists are W-2 employees with health insurance (including dental and vision), 401(k) retirement plans, professional liability insurance, and CEU reimbursement. Preferred’s medical benefits compare favorably with other top agencies, and we also offer a partial employer match for your 401(k) contributions.
Can New Grad Therapists Travel?
Yes. Healthcare staffing agencies can place new graduates in supportive facilities. It’s ideal to feel that you’ve built a solid clinical foundation as a student clinician before pursuing travel therapy. In fact, if you ask your clinical instructors, many will advise becoming a travel therapist after graduating to experience different settings and locations before settling down.
What States and Settings Do You Staff?
Travel assignments are available nationwide in all settings, including inpatient, outpatient, skilled nursing, acute rehab, home health, schools, and more. Preferred has a GSA contract, so we are able to staff federally-regulated government facilities (such as the VA). Some federal facilities are able to accept an active U.S. license from any state.
Additional travel therapy resources:
Everything You Need to Know About the PT Licensure Compact
The Secret to Landing the Perfect Travel Therapy Job
Reasons to Consider Working Per Diem and How to Find a Good Agency