Travel Therapy FAQ
Thank you for considering Therapeutic Resources for your next travel assignment. Below is a list of questions commonly posed to our staff. If you have an additional question that is not addressed below, please feel free to contact us.
We highly recommend that a therapist to work with only one recruiter. It is to your benefit and we encourage you to interview different agencies carefully and then select one recruiter whom you feel comfortable representing you. Most travel companies receive the same travel jobs. If you are submitted for the same job by my more than one agency, this may lead to the clinic passing over your submission. Our experience has been that therapists, who chose to be represented by multiple agencies, will find it to be a frustrating experience.
Therapists choose travel careers for a multitude of reasons. Therapists with significant loans find that traveling is a great way to pay off their debt, as typically the compensation for travel therapy is higher than a permanent job. Other therapists travel to visit family or explore the country.
Yes, Therapeutic Resources received the Gold Seal of Approval through the Joint Commission’s Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification Program in 2012. This means that we adhere to all of the standards and requirements set forth by the Joint Commission regarding the placement of temporary rehab staffing.
Getting started as a travel therapist is easy. Just contact one of our recruiters and they will walk you through the basic paperwork required to apply, or you can complete on online application on this website.
Therapeutic Resources receives travel jobs from every state in the U.S, so pick your destination and go! From small towns to large cities we have available jobs from east coast to west coast. All jobs do require that the employee hold an active license in that state. Let us know your preferences and we will assist you with finding a job that meets your criteria.
Therapeutic Resources offers permanent, per diem and travel jobs for allied health professionals including: physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapist assistants (PTAs), certified occupational therapy assistants (COTAs) and speech language pathologists (SLPs).
To work as a travel therapist, you must hold a valid degree in your area of practice from an accredited healthcare professional program in the United States or Canada and have passed the national licensure exam for your profession. In addition, to work in a specific state you must hold a professional license from that state. Most (but not all) travel jobs do require a minimum of 6 months to a year of experience in the job setting.
The industry standard for traveling assignments is thirteen weeks. However, they can vary depending on the facility and client needs. We frequently receive requests for assignments shorter than the standard 13 weeks. Also, if the position has been open for an extended period, the client may be open to a shorter term.
Therapeutic Resources contracts with acute care hospitals, extended care units, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, outpatient orthopedic clinics, assisted living facilities, adult day care clinics and school districts. Just let us know what type of setting you prefer and we will find the position for you.
Once we have received your application documents and have narrowed down your desired job location you could obtain a therapy job in as little as a week, as long as your credentials are up to date and you have a license in the state. The typical turnaround time is two to three weeks.
Yes, you can accept a temporary travel job even if you live in the city of the job. In these cases you will not be eligible for the tax-free reimbursements that therapists who live outside of the area may be eligible for.
Assuming you have met all of the prerequisites for employment, your recruiter will evaluate your employment preferences, career goals and desired locations in order to find the ideal travel therapy job for you. You will then be presented with a list of options, including location, pay rate, and background information on the facility. Once you have determined that a particular job is right for you, your recruiter will submit you for the opening. If the facility is interested in moving forward they will contact you for a phone interview.
Yes, we will do our best to find a position for you in your preferred geographical location. The needs of our clients change daily. If we do not have a position immediately available in your desired location, we will notify you when a position becomes available.
Yes, you can. We offer multiple bedroom options for housing and will do our best to find housing where pets are accommodated. See Housing section for additional details. A pet deposit may be required.
Absolutely. This is a great option we provide to travelers. You can receive a monthly housing subsidy instead of paid housing if you so desire. The subsidy varies, depending upon the city you will be living.
Therapeutic Resources is a nationwide travel placement agency. We receive hundreds of nationwide job listings. Please let us know where you would like to work and we will do our best to make it happen.
Yes, we are happy to have you speak with past and present employees of Therapeutic Resources. We pride ourselves on building long-term relationships and our employees trust us. Just let us know and we are happy to connect you with another Therapeutic Resources Traveler.
We pay our employees on a weekly basis. We offer direct deposit that begins as soon as your form is on-file and employment begins.
Most of our facilities require traveling employees to have a minimum of six months experience in the setting they will be employed. Occasionally, a clinic may be open to placing an employee with less experience. We can also work with you in obtaining a permanent position.
We would never place an employee in an area where we would not feel safe. We make every attempt possible to place our employees in housing which is comfortable, professional and safe. We will always contact the local clinic manager to get insights into the local housing market and housing options.
As a traveler you can enjoy the freedom of setting your own schedule. You choose when and where you want to work. At Therapeutic Resources we do not require any type of annual contract.
Many factors will determine your rate of pay. Those factors include experience, hiring client pay rate, location, housing costs and length of assignment. Please contact us for specific pay information.
At Therapeutic Resources, we offer “round-the-clock” support to our employees. We make every effort to ensure that a new assignment goes smoothly; if there are bumps, we will be available to provide support as needed.
Therapeutic Resources reimburses travel costs up to a designated amount defined in your assignment agreement. Most therapists do drive their own personal vehicles to the job, so that they have a means of transportation once in their new location. Where appropriate Therapeutic Resources can arrange to provide a rental car as part of your work contract.
Therapeutic Resources will reimburse for mileage up to the maximum defined your work agreement. Your reimbursement is typically based on IRS mileage reimbursement rates and is a tax-free reimbursement.
Yes. Once you complete a 13-week assignment in a new state, we will reimburse you for the direct costs associated with obtaining the license in that state.
Yes, many therapists travel with family members or spouses.
Many therapists travel because of the tax-benefits they incur. We are not qualified to give tax advice, however we recommend that you speak with a qualified tax advisor to properly understand the tax implication of your travel assignments.
If both parties are in agreement, assignments can be extended for a contracted period of time. If you or the facility does not wish to extend the assignment, your recruiter will work with you to find a new travel therapy job. Should you decide to take a break, that is OK as well.
Yes, many therapists work as travelers so that they have the freedom to travel and take time off between assignments. Just let us know when you want to start working again and we will work to procure your next job.