If you’ve ever thought about what it might be like to be a travel physical therapist (PT), our blog has you covered. We’ll be breaking down everything from how to become a travel physical therapist to what to look for in a travel healthcare staffing agency.
Here at Favorite Healthcare Staffing, we place travel physical therapists at leading facilities all across the nation where they’re able to gain experience and take adventures. As experts in the travel staffing industry, we can get you started on your journey to becoming a travel physical therapist.
- What is a travel physical therapist and what do they do?
- Steps to becoming a travel physical therapist
- Pros of becoming a travel physical therapist
- How to know if travel healthcare jobs are right for you
- What to look for in a travel healthcare staffing agency
- Find your next travel physical therapist job with Favorite
What is a travel physical therapist and what do they do?
Travel physical therapists perform the same duties and tasks as other physical therapists; the key difference is that travel PTs fill in temporarily at different facilities when on assignments. The length of an assignment for travel physical therapists can last anywhere from several weeks to several months. However, the most common length for an assignment is about 13 weeks.
On a daily basis, travel physical therapists are responsible for the following tasks:
- Developing treatment plans for each patient’s needs
- Adjusting treatment plans as needed
- Assessing patients' physical conditions
- Monitoring the progress of patients
- Implementing different exercises to improve mobility
- Educating patients on injury prevention
- Showing patients different techniques for at-home physical therapy exercises
When you travel between different healthcare facilities, you’re able to work with a wide range of patients and other medical professionals. Most commonly, physical therapists work directly with physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, physicians, nurses, and surgeons. People of all ages need physical therapists, so the field of rehab and therapy is often in high demand. If you’re looking to pursue a travel physical therapist job, you’ll likely work in the following settings:
- Private practices
- Nursing homes
- Fitness facilities
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Sports facilities
- Outpatient clinics
- Home health agencies
- Research institutions
Steps to becoming a travel physical therapist
Get your education
The first step to becoming a travel PT is to earn your bachelor's degree in a science-related field. This typically takes four years to complete and will set you up for success when completing the next step, which is to earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
A DPT degree takes most people three years to complete. During this time, you’ll learn technical skills and will have a lot of time to practice them during clinicals. Once you’ve earned your DPT degree, you’ll then have to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to become a certified physical therapist.
Obtain and maintain your license
Each state has different requirements for obtaining your license, so be sure to do your research on the states you wish to practice in, especially if you plan to travel to non-compact license states. Most states require you to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to get your state license, but there will likely be additional requirements.
You’ll also want to make sure that you maintain your state license with continuing education. You’ll be notified, but your license will likely expire two years after you get it. If your state is a PT compact, you’ll have the ability to work in other states without having to get a separate license for each state you want to practice in.
Research staffing agencies
Before you start applying for physical therapist travel jobs, make sure you do research on the staffing agency you want to work with. You should ensure that the company is reputable, has decent reviews, has a 24/7 customer service line, and has recruiters who seem like they genuinely want to help you find the right job.
Start applying for jobs
Once you’ve found a staffing agency you can trust, you can start applying for as many travel physical therapist jobs as you’d like. At Favorite, you can apply for multiple travel physical therapist jobs at a time, and one of our recruiters will get in touch to discuss the best options for your personal and professional goals.
Learn more about the field of rehab and therapy
Read our blog to discover more career options in the world of rehab and therapy, such as occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and more.
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