As a PT, you’re already aware of the many reasons you worked hard to earn your title, such as a passion for helping others and the appreciation of job security. However, some of these advantages can take on new depth when you add the word “traveling” to your title. As a traveling physical therapist, here are a few perks you can expect:

• Experience new cities – This one might be obvious, but it deserves to be mentioned nonetheless. Traveling therapists typically spend a few months at one destination before heading to their next position. This gives you enough time to explore each city’s unique culture, cuisine, and sights before choosing another city to check off your bucket list. And if you really connect with a locale’s vibe, you may be able to extend your assignment for up to a year.
• Earn a higher income – According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists in permanent roles earn an average annual salary of $99,710. However, many employers offer competitive hourly wages to travelers willing to fill short-term roles. Additionally, if you maintain a tax home (the place where you spend most of your time for business purposes), you may qualify for tax exemptions. This could boost your after-tax income compared to those in permanent positions.
• Expand your knowledge with constant professional development opportunities – Sure, you can attend professional development courses in a permanent role. But as a traveler, you’re exposed to unique opportunities at each assignment and will often face challenges that require you to adapt and learn different treatment techniques. You’ll also learn from experienced PTs across the country, absorbing their expertise for future practice.

Understanding the Role of a Traveling Physical Therapist

Your day-to-day responsibilities as a traveling physical therapist will be similar to those of someone in a permanent role. You’ll spend your on-the-clock hours conducting patient evaluations, developing treatment plants, implementing interventions to improve your patient’s overall functionality, and adjusting treatment plants as needed. In addition to those tasks, some of your new responsibilities as a traveling therapist will include:

• Adapting to new environments – Each assignment brings a new work setting, from hospitals to rehabilitation centers. Because you’ll experience these changes semi-regularly, it’s important to be comfortable adapting to each environment’s different protocols and physical layout.
• Working with diverse populations – As a permanent PT, you’d likely work with patients on a long-term basis and gain familiarity with a particular specialty. However, as a traveling therapist, you’ll have the chance to work with a wider range of patients, such as orthopedic, geriatric, or neurological patients. This gives you greater exposure to specialties you may identify as areas of interest for future pursuits. It also prepares you to take on a more diverse set of challenges in upcoming assignments.
• Building relationships – With each different location comes a new set of coworkers. Skills, such as collaboration and communication, are essential in helping you build budding relationships with colleagues and patients alike.
• Keeping up with state licensures – Each state requires PTs to have a valid license to practice. If you plan on working in states all over the country, this can become timely and expensive. A more cost-effective solution is obtaining a Physical Therapy Compact, which allows you to work in all states that participate in the compact without requiring separate licenses.