Becoming a Travel Therapist as a New Grad PT or OT
So you’re about to graduate from PT or OT school, and you’re considering travel therapy. You may wonder, is it ok to start a travel career right out of school?
The answer will depend on a few key factors that could make all the difference in your success as a new travel therapist. Keep reading to learn how you can thrive as a travel therapist right out of school.
Keys to Success as a Travel Therapy New Grad
First, Forget the Stigma
Many therapy students are told to look for a permanent job, rather than a travel job, after graduation. In fact, many PT and OT programs deliberately funnel new grads into permanent jobs while glossing over potential opportunities in travel therapy.
Although it’s uncommon to do travel work right out of school, it’s totally possible and may even be beneficial for your career. If you’re up for the challenge, love to travel, and want to pay down debt, then travel therapy could be right up your alley.
So, to answer the titular question, YES, new grads can—and should—consider becoming travel therapists right out of school. For optimal success, however, here are a few ways you can accelerate your growth as a new travel PT or OT.
Find a Mentorship Program
Graduation is the culmination of years of training, but you don’t have to go it alone just because you’ve finished school. To help you ease into a bustling travel career, your best first step as a new therapist is to get a mentor.
More than a travel recruiter, a travel mentor is a fellow therapist who can help guide you through common challenges you’ll face on the field and answer your travel therapy questions, clinical and non-clinical.
To get started, check out the New Grad Mentor Program at AMN Healthcare. As one of the nation’s top staffing agencies, AMN has a host of therapists from which to find the mentor meant for you.
Take Charge of Your Continuing Education
More than likely, any new grad considering travel therapy isn’t afraid to learn new things. And if that’s you, great—because as a travel therapist you’ll need to quickly adapt to a new work environment and learn new clinical skills.
The state you are licensed in or traveling to may require particular continuing education units (CEUs), such as a state-issued jurisprudence exam or human trafficking identification course. However, aside from these specifics, you will likely have a lot of freedom in choosing the other courses you take.
The New Grad Mentor Program from AMN Healthcare offers a generous $5,000 sign-on bonus and free access to unlimited CEUs every year. Their CEU library boasts over a thousand hours of course content, from pre-recorded classes to live seminars.
Be Humble and Ready to Adapt Quickly
One of the biggest challenges new grads face in any setting is figuring out how to be a part of a new team while managing a weighty caseload. And that’s no wonder—PT and OT schools generally don’t teach problem-solving, stress management, interpersonal communication, and other soft skills vital to your success.
In truth, soft skills take time to develop, but you’ll earn them much faster if you stay humble and open to critique. Your supervisor and co-workers will likely have feedback for you early on in your assignment, and your willingness to listen and adapt will greatly determine how well you do as a new travel therapist.
When you do make mistakes or start to feel overwhelmed, remember to lean on your mentor and recruiter for support.
Summary: It’s Not All About Years of Experience
In sum, the right mentor, right continuing education, and right attitude will set you up for success as a travel PT or OT, no matter how recently you finished school.
Whether you stay close to home or go coast-to-coast, travel opportunities are absolutely available for new PT and OT grads. And if you enjoy a good challenge, you can thrive in a travel career.
To connect with a recruiter and find thousands of jobs in the palm of your hand, download our AMN Passport app to make the travel process a seamless experience.
Tim Fraticelli is a Physical Therapist, Certified Financial Planner™, and founder of PTProgress.com. He loves to teach PTs and OTs ways to save time and money in and out of the clinic, especially when it comes to therapy documentation or continuing education for therapists. Follow him on YouTube for weekly videos on ways to improve your physical and financial health.
Additional Allied Travel Resources
While you continue your search for the perfect allied healthcare position, AMN Healthcare provides great resources to keep your career moving in the right direction. Begin the application process now, and then learn more about how AMN Healthcare can help you keep your career on the move.
- EAP: Our allied travelers gain access to a valuable set of Employee Assistance Program benefits.
- Allied Travel Jobs by Specialty: Explore allied jobs and learn about hourly salaries and the benefits of working in travel jobs.
- Search All Allied Jobs: Uncover new possibilities in your allied career by exploring both short and long-term options.
- Allied Healthcare Jobs: Learn how we can help move your career in amazing directions, both professionally and geographically by exploring opportunities by each state.
- More Allied Resources: Use the content here to learn everything you need to know about our allied recruitment process, including information on salary and benefits.
