✈️ Real stories from the road

What It's Really Like to Be a Travel Therapist

The adventures, the challenges, the freedom, the packing lists. Everything you want to know about life as a traveling PT, OT, or SLP.

🗺️

Explore

New cities every 13 weeks. Mountains, beaches, or somewhere in between.

💰

Earn More

Higher pay, tax-free stipends, and the ability to save aggressively.

🎯

Grow

Diverse clinical settings make you a stronger, more adaptable therapist.

Freedom

Take breaks between assignments. Work where and when you want.

A Typical Day

Day in the Life of a Travel PT

What a regular workday looks like when you're on a 13-week assignment in Denver, CO.

6:30am

Morning run at a new trail

One of the best parts of traveling — exploring new running routes, hiking trails, and coffee shops in every city.

7:45am

Commute to the facility

12-minute drive to the outpatient clinic. You picked housing close to work intentionally.

8:00am

Treat patients

Same clinical work you'd do anywhere — evals, treatments, documentation. The difference is you're doing it in a new setting.

4:30pm

Clock out, adventure starts

No committees, no mandatory meetings. Tonight it's tacos at a spot a local coworker recommended.

Weekend

Explore the area

Rocky Mountain National Park is an hour away. Every assignment is a mini life somewhere new.

The Essentials

What to Pack for a 13-Week Assignment

Experienced travelers learn to pack light.

🧳 Clothing

  • 2 weeks of work clothes
  • 1 week of casual clothes
  • Workout gear
  • One nice outfit
  • Season-appropriate layers

💻 Work & Documents

  • Laptop & charger
  • License copies
  • BLS card
  • Immunization records
  • Compliance docs folder

🏠 Housing Essentials

  • Sheets & pillow
  • Instant Pot or kitchen gear
  • Favorite spices
  • Streaming device
  • Comfort item from home
The Full Picture

Pros & Cons of Travel Therapy

It's not all sunsets and beach assignments.

The Good Stuff

  • Significantly higher pay
  • Tax-free stipends worth $15k–$25k/year
  • Explore new cities and states
  • Diverse clinical experience
  • Freedom to take breaks
  • No long-term commitment to a bad job

The Real Challenges

  • Finding housing every 13 weeks
  • Being away from friends and family
  • Starting over at a new facility
  • Maintaining a tax home
  • Some assignments disappoint
  • Loneliness can be real early on
From the Community

What Travelers Say

★★★★★
"I've lived in San Diego, Portland, and Asheville over two years. ProTherapy made every transition seamless — my recruiter had my next contract lined up before the current one ended."
Lauren B. — Travel PT, 2 years
⭐ Top Rated: ProTherapy Staffing
★★★★★
"The freedom is addicting. I take a month off every summer to travel internationally, then pick up a fall contract wherever sounds interesting."
James R. — Travel SLP, 4 years
Host Healthcare
★★★★★
"Was nervous about leaving my permanent job but ProTherapy walked me through everything. Now I'm making $900/week more and I've explored 8 states."
Kayla T. — Travel OT, 1 year
⭐ Top Rated: ProTherapy Staffing

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