If you are currently working as a occupational therapist, speech therapist, or physical therapist, or if you are interested in becoming one of these in the future, you might want to consider a position in travel therapy.
Travel therapy offers working therapists an exciting blend of providing therapeutic care to patients and exploration of the country. Travel therapists fill different positions around the country for a set term before moving to a new location. This means travel therapists get to experience all sorts of different cities, states, and new experiences every few months.
What Does a Travel Therapist Do?
Travel therapists bring their expertise to different healthcare facilities nationwide, addressing a wide range of cases and working alongside professionals from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, depending on their specialty, a travel therapist will typically perform their normal duties, albeit in new healthcare facilities, every few months. The typical contract for a travel therapist is 13 weeks.
While the role may differ slightly depending on the exact needs of the opening, travel therapists can largely expect to perform their typical daily duties. Ultimately, being a travel therapist is more than just a job – it offers therapists the opportunity to broaden their horizons and positively impact the lives of others.
What are the Different Types of Travel Therapy?
When it comes to travel therapy, there are typically three roles that need filling. These include:
- Travel occupational therapists
- Travel speech therapists
- Travel physical therapists
What is Travel Occupational Therapy?
A travel occupational therapy is a specialized field within occupational therapy where therapists travel to different locations to provide their services. These therapists typically work on a temporary or contract basis, moving from one assignment to another in various settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, or rehabilitation centers.
Travel occupational therapists help individuals of all ages with physical, mental, or developmental challenges to improve their ability to perform daily activities and acquire greater independence. This unique career path allows therapists to gain diverse experience, work in different environments, and often receive competitive compensation and benefits.
What is a Travel Speech Therapist?
A travel speech therapist is a speech-language pathologist who travels to different locations to provide speech therapy services to clients. They may work in various settings such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or private practices and travel to different locations based on the needs of their clients or job assignments.
Travel speech therapists help individuals with communication and swallowing disorders improve their speech, language, and swallowing abilities through assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
What is Travel Physical Therapy?
Travel physical therapy is a specialized branch of physical therapy where therapists travel to different locations to provide their services. This could involve working in various healthcare facilities, clinics, or even providing home-based therapy to patients who are unable to travel to a clinic.
Travel physical therapists often work on short-term assignments or contracts in different locations, allowing them to gain diverse experience and work with a variety of patients. This type of therapy can be beneficial for both the therapist and the patients, as it provides flexibility and access to care in different settings.
What is a Travel Physical Therapy Assistant?
A travel physical therapy assistant is a licensed healthcare professional who works alongside physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries or illnesses. They provide hands-on care to patients, assist with exercises and treatments, and help monitor progress during therapy sessions.
The “travel” aspect refers to the opportunity for physical therapy assistants to work in various locations, such as hospitals, clinics, or rehabilitation centers, on a temporary or contract basis. This allows them to gain experience in various settings and work with a diverse group of patients.
If a role as a travel therapist sounds like it might be right for you, explore our travel therapy jobs page to learn how to apply.