Top 5 Benefits of Being a Travel Therapist

Every year, more therapists show interest in becoming a travel therapist. While this career path may not be for everyone, it can be a perfect fit for some clinicians. With its unique flexibility and opportunities for growth, travel therapy offers both professional and personal rewards that are hard to match. Not only that, but with student debt continuing to rise, the opportunity to earn extra income to pay off those student loans while exploring different parts of the country sounds like a dream come true for those in a position to travel.

I began my travel therapy journey as a newly graduated physical therapist in 2015. Since then, I’ve remained in the field for nine years, mentoring thousands of other travel therapists along the way. Within those years, I have learned a thing (or five) about finding success as a travel therapist and the incredible experiences it offers. Below are some of the key benefits of this career path to help you decide if travel therapy is the right fit for you.

1. Gain experience in new settings

If you’re a therapist finishing up your degree, it’s natural to feel unsure about which setting best suits you. With a limited number of internships or fieldwork opportunities available and so many practice settings to explore, it can be difficult to get a clear sense of what’s right for you and your long-term career goals.

Travel therapy contracts offer you the chance to try out different practice settings for a few months at a time, helping you decide which setting you’d like to eventually settle into permanently. While it’s possible to take travel therapy contracts in the same setting each time, many therapists appreciate the opportunity to gain experience across multiple settings during their different contracts. This provides valuable insight into various environments, helping you make a more informed decision about where you ultimately want to focus your career.

2. Learn from working with new clinicians

One of the biggest opportunities in travel therapy is the chance to work with new clinicians at every facility. This allows travel therapists to continuously learn and grow by collaborating with a variety of healthcare professionals, broadening their skill set and accelerating their career development. 

In each new setting, you’ll encounter different approaches to patient care, enhancing your ability to adapt and thrive in diverse clinical environments. You’ll naturally pick up new techniques, evaluation skills, and strategies to effectively communicate with patients by working closely with clinicians from all over the country. This opportunity for clinical growth is an invaluable benefit of working as a travel therapist.

3. Grow as both a clinician and person by traveling the country

In addition to refining your clinical skills, being a travel therapist helps you grow personally. Traveling and working in different areas of the country exposes you to diverse cultures and patient populations, both in and out of the workplace. 

This exposure broadens your perspective, enhancing your cultural competence. The experience also encourages self-sufficiency, as you’ll be navigating new environments and building connections in each assignment location, often away from the safety net of family and friends, allowing you to grow both professionally and personally.

4. Maximize earning potential as a PT, OT, or SLP

It’s no secret that therapists earn more when traveling than they would working a permanent position. After all, that’s the reason that many physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists consider travel therapy in the first place. 

As a travel therapist, you can expect your net pay to be 1.5 to 2 times higher than in a comparable permanent role. It’s not uncommon for new graduate travel therapists to earn the equivalent of well over $100,000 per year. This additional income can have a significant impact, helping you pay down student loans or build savings for future investments.

5. Enjoy greater flexibility and work-life balance

One of the lesser-talked-about benefits of travel therapy is the flexibility it offers. As a travel therapist, you have the option to take breaks between contracts, allowing you to recharge, travel for leisure, or pursue other personal goals. Unlike permanent positions where time off can be limited, travel therapy gives you more control over your schedule. This increased flexibility can lead to a better work-life balance, helping you avoid burnout and maintain long-term career satisfaction.

Is Travel Therapy Right for You?

While these are some of the key benefits of travel therapy, there are plenty of other reasons why PTs, OTs, and SLPs choose to pursue this path. Traveling the country, learning new skills, and growing both professionally and personally—while earning extra money along the way—can be a rewarding choice for the right individual. Although there can be challenges, I believe the advantages of being a travel therapist outweigh the downsides for many. Ultimately, you’ll need to evaluate your situation to see if this exciting career path aligns with your goals.

Feel free to reach out to me at Travel Therapy Mentor if you have any questions or need advice on starting your journey as a travel therapist.

How Medbridge Can Support Your Travel Therapy Journey

If you’re ready to embark on your journey as a travel therapist, having the right resources at your fingertips is essential. As a travel therapist, it’s important to have access to reliable tools that help you grow professionally and stay compliant with state-specific requirements, no matter where your assignments take you. 

Medbridge is the perfect partner for travel therapists, offering a comprehensive platform that meets all your professional needs in one place. With a vast library of evidence-based continuing education courses, live patient demonstrations, and interactive learning assessments, it’s easy to stay up to date on the latest clinical techniques and maintain your credentials across different states. 

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills or complete required courses for licensure, Medbridge ensures you have the education and support you need—whenever and wherever you need it.