When you think of who fulfills short-term medical postings, chances are you think of nurses. After all, the demand for nurses out-bids the supply in just about every part of the country. That being said, becoming a traveler is not restricted to just nurses. At Ventura MedStaff, we have job openings for traveling physical therapists as well. All occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and more should reach out to our recruiters if they want to become a traveler, and they will be more than happy to help you find a suitable job offer in no time.
Here’s what you should know about becoming a traveler before you sign up.
You Will Have Great Experiences
There’s one thing that is pretty universal to all traveling medical professionals – they have fun on their assignments. One of the biggest reasons why people apply for these kinds of jobs is the chance to experience life to the fullest.
Becoming a traveler can take you out of your comfort zone. However, this can be exciting! Whether you are looking for a big city adventure or a countryside setting – you can find it by traveling with us.
Your Earnings Will Be Better
Traveling physical therapists are typically paid higher wages, this is because travelers are used to fill a shortage. In some cases, you might earn up to 40% more than a staffer!
That being said, there can be downsides as well. Since you are not a full member of the staff, you don’t get paid time off. You can negotiate some time off before your assignment through your company, but usually not during. With some financial management, you can compensate for that with your higher earnings, but it’s something to be aware of.
Another potential issue is health insurance. Ironically, traveling medical professionals don’t always get health insurance as a part of their compensation. Before you sign up, review your contract well. If health insurance is not on there, look into your options. Ventura MedStaff offers health, dental, and vision insurance to all our travelers.
Expanding Your Professional Experience
Not only can traveling help you experience different places than home, but you can advance your career too. This is because you will experience many different professional settings.
Some of these settings might be great, some might be challenging, but they will all teach you one important thing – work with what you are given. If you end up in a state-of-the-art facility, that’s great, you may work with some amazing tools and familiarize yourself with new practices. If, however, you end up in a location with limited resources, you will also have to apply yourself and make due. This kind of experience can be invaluable for your career.
Do You Have the Necessary Experience?
You may be thinking to yourself “where do I sign up?” But, before you can do that, there are still some pre-requisites that you have to fulfill.
For instance, even though there is no minimum experience requirement for traveling physical therapists, chances are that not all facilities will be willing to take in a complete novice. Accruing a bit of experience in a local medical facility might help you get the job you want. Plus, it will be better for your traveling medical career later on.
Are You Actually Licensed to Work in Your Target Location?
If you’re set on a certain location or a medical facility, that’s great. Knowing what you want and going for it is the kind of go-getter attitude that makes a good traveler. That being said, if your target location (or locations) is out of state, you will need to deal with some bureaucracy.
Just like with traveling nurses, traveling therapists are typically only licensed to work in their own state. Working in a different state requires a license issued by that state’s authority – something that can take a lot of time and money to achieve.
Fortunately, just like with nurses, there is now an option for therapists to get a compact license. This compact, although not ratified by all states enables you to practice physical therapy in a number of states without the need for a completely new license each time you go to a different state. You will have to pay a fee for each state you want to expand your license to, but the process is vastly simpler and easier than getting a completely new license.
Well, there it is – the basics you should know if you’re a physical therapist looking to become a traveler. If this is something you’re interested in, reach out to Ventura MedStaff. We’ll have a recruiter talk to you and find the best possible assignment for you in a flash.
