Are you still deciding whether travel therapy is the right fit for you? There are plenty of reasons to pursue travel therapy opportunities! The following information will answer your questions. We have compiled a list of the pros and cons of travel therapy to help you feel confident and start traveling!
The Pros of Travel Therapy
The Ability to Travel Around the Country
This is an obvious pro! Not only are you able to travel to new places, but you are also able to live and work there for an extended period of time. There isn’t a better way to get to know a place than by living there. Most assignments are usually for a few weeks or months. This allows you to travel to new places multiple times a year! If you find a location you love, you can even continue to look for assignments there!
Meeting New People
As you travel, you will meet different people in every location. You can have the opportunity to make friends around the country. You will also be able to meet various therapists and learn from a variety of people! This is important because at a standard practice you are always surrounded by the same coworkers.
Flexibility and Independence
As a travel therapist, you have control over when and where your work assignments are. This allows you to take time off in between assignments and decide how often you will be on assignment. You will also gain independence through traveling and living alone! Use this time to get to know yourself a little better. Keep a journal, take lots of pictures, and enjoy your alone time.
Money
You will usually make more money traveling than you would in a traditional therapy position! Facilities will pay travel therapists more than the average therapist because they are fulfilling the facility’s need. With this extra money, you can afford to take a few weeks off in between assignments.
The Cons of Travel Therapy
State Licenses
Processing time to get state licenses varies state by state. This can put a damper on your plans if you want to start working immediately. However, if you are a physical therapist, you can avoid this with the PT Compact. It won’t be a problem to obtain a license in a different state if you plan ahead!
The Unknown
Though it might be fun to take risks, it’s also scary! You don’t know if you will like the people you are going to work with or the facility. You could also not like the location of your assignment. The benefit of being a travel therapist is that if you are unhappy with one assignment, you do not have to remain there permanently!
Future Plans
Sure, it’s exciting to delve into the unknown, but what about planning ahead? As a travel therapist, it’s often difficult to cement plans for the future, from plane tickets to an RSVP. Your friends might be frustrated with you. You will learn to prioritize your time and plan your assignments around important events, if you can.
The pros and cons of travel therapy are important to consider if you are thinking about this path. Now that you have more information about life as a real travel therapist, you can start your search! There are even more pros and cons relating to possible assignment locations. Do some research on where you would like to work and start browsing our travel therapy jobs today!
Guess what? We have even more exciting information about the pros and cons of travel therapy! Watch the video below and weigh your options.
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