What I Wish I Knew Before My First Travel Therapy Contract

12 min read

Before your first travel therapy contract, set up your tax home, start your state licenses early, compare offers from more than one agency for the same job and read the entire contract, not just the offer summary. My first contract was in a SNF, and the job itself was fine; what I got wrong was the preparation around it and the adjustment to a new city.

1. Set Up Your Tax Home BEFORE Your First Contract

This is the single most important financial step, and most new travelers get it wrong or do it too late. A tax home is, in the IRS’s words, generally your regular place of business; for a traveler without one, it is the main home you keep up and return to, if it passes the IRS’s three factors. Without one, your stipends become taxable, and you lose the entire financial advantage of travel therapy.

Consult a travel therapy-specific tax professional before signing your first contract. Not a regular CPA — someone who understands the IRS guidelines for itinerant workers. A consultation costs far less than a tax home mistake. See our full tax home guide.

2. Interview Multiple Agencies

I signed with the first agency that called me back. That was a mistake — not because they were bad, but because I had no comparison point. Talk to at least three agencies, and get familiar with how travel therapy agencies work with therapists before you sign. Ask the same questions to each. Compare pay packages on the same job posting. You'll be surprised how much they vary.

The key questions: What's the contract rate for this position? What's your markup? What does your health insurance actually cover? Do you offer a 401k with matching? How quickly do you respond to texts? What happens if a contract gets cancelled? Read reviews at TravelTherapyReviews.com before signing.

3. Start Licensure Early

Begin the licensure process months before the start date you want; each state board sets its own processing time. The PT Compact helps if both your home state and destination state are members, but it's not instant — you still need to apply for compact privilege.

4. Your First Contract Will Feel Lonely

Nobody talks about this enough. The first weeks of your first contract are genuinely hard. You're in a new city with no friends, no familiar faces, and a clinical environment you're still figuring out. This is normal. It gets better as you build routines and make connections. Read our guide on handling the emotional side. If you're ready for that first contract anyway, tell a recruiter what you're looking for: Find my next contract.

5. Negotiate Everything

The first pay package an agency offers is almost never their best. Politely push back. Even a small increase per week adds up over a full contract. Travel therapy pay is negotiable — don't leave money on the table because you feel grateful for the opportunity.

6. Read the Entire Contract

Especially the cancellation clause, the guaranteed hours clause, and the housing provisions. Know what happens if the facility cancels your contract at week 4. Know whether you're guaranteed 40 hours or if they can float you to 32 without notice. These details matter more than the headline pay rate.

7. Pack Light, Buy Local

You don't need to bring your entire life. See our detailed packing list, but the short version: two suitcases, your clinical essentials, your pillow, and your kitchen knife. Buy cleaning supplies, toiletries, and pantry staples when you arrive.

8. Budget for the Transition

Your first paycheck may take a while to arrive; ask your agency when it lands. You'll need first month's rent, a rental car deposit possibly, groceries, and gas. Have savings set aside for these costs before your first contract starts. The financial advantage of travel therapy is real, but it doesn't materialize instantly.

9. Document Your Clinical Competencies

Before your first contract, create a skills checklist. Know what you're confident in and where you need support. Being honest with yourself and your CI at the new facility builds trust faster than pretending you know everything. Travel therapists are expected to be competent from day one, but good facilities understand there's a learning curve with their specific protocols.

10. It Gets So Much Better

The first contract is the hardest. The second is dramatically easier. By the third, you'll wonder why anyone stays permanent. Give it a full 13 weeks before making any judgments about whether travel therapy is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions