How to be a Traveling Therapist Right Out of Grad School

​One of the biggest things that sets travel therapists apart from travel nurses is that, while nurses require at least 1-2 years of experience prior to traveling, therapists can start right out of school as new grads! As travel therapists, you can have freedom and flexibility right out of school to explore the country, try out different settings (inpatient, acute, outpatient, pediatrics, SNF, home health), earn more money, have the option to pay off student loans quicker, etc. But there’s also varying opinions about starting out this way, with many professors and other practicing therapists cautioning against it - things said like: “You won’t have enough experience yet,” or “You won’t get any mentorship”. So, which path should you take? 

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The answer: it depends completely on YOU and what you’re comfortable with! For me and many of my peers, we started as new grads right from the get-go and have no regrets choosing this path. However, this way might not be for everyone. So how do you know if it’s right for you and how do you get started?  

1. Be true to yourself 
Before deciding to take the leap into this lifestyle, take time to self-reflect:

• Are you the type of person who can roll with the punches or do you need a lot of structure? 
• Are you the type of person who picks things up quickly or needs time to adjust? 
• Are you able to handle a caseload independently or would you still need some shadowing/training prior to taking the reins?

These are all things to consider because as a traveler, a lot of times you are coming into an assignment where there is an immediate need, so typically there is not a lot of onboarding/training. What’s more, you are working in a new location, new facility, with a new patient population/caseload and EMR system, so it’s good to be adaptable, a fast learner, and confident in your skill set to be able to hit the ground running from week one.
 
2. Learn from current travelers & join the traveler community
One of the most beneficial things you can do to get started and determine if it’s right for you is to find resources from current seasoned travel therapists and immerse yourself in their tips and advice for all things travel therapy. Some of my favorite go-to’s are: 

• Whitney and Jared (https://traveltherapymentor.com/)
• Julie (https://www.thetravelingtraveler.com/)
• Tyler and Kari (https://roadtrippingpt.com/) 

To get involved in the travel therapy community: 

• The Traveling Traveler Facebook page
• The MedVenture App
• Travel Therapy Mentor Facebook page 
• Med Traveler’s ‘I Need Travel Therapy’ podcast 
• Empowered Nursing, Therapy, and Allied Health Travelers - by Nomadicare Facebook page 

3. Find a recruiter/ agency
Even if you’re on the fence, talking to one or a few recruiters is going to be beneficial for making a decision on whether it’s right for you. As a traveler, your recruiter is your main point of contact when working with travel companies and searching for jobs. Therefore, it is important for you to have a recruiter you trust, who you feel comfortable with, who can answer your questions, and who you feel has your best interests at heart because they can honestly make or break a travel assignment. To find recruiters, you have several options: 

• Go through travel companies you are interested in and they can pair you with one of their recruiters 
• Use a resource like Nomadicare (https://www.nomadicare.com/), who matches you with vetted recruiters based on your preferences
• Use recommended recruiters from current travelers 

I would begin this process a few months in advance before you plan on taking your first assignment so you can talk to several recruiters with plenty of time to narrow it down before your anticipated start date. 

4. Look into mentorship opportunities
As a new grad, mentorship is key to have and, unlike what many people think, there are options available as a traveler. 

• First, look into New Grad Programs that some companies, such as Med Travelers, offer. They will pair you with a current seasoned traveler in the setting you’ll be working in (ex. SNF) to answer any questions you may have about your job or the travel life
• Also, ask about mentorship opportunities during your initial interviews and make sure to mention this is important to you to have on your first assignment. I would not recommend taking a position as a new grad where you are the only evaluating therapist in your discipline

5. Have a plan in place
Here are some helpful tips that you may not think of initially but will be important to have starting out: 

• Make sure to set aside an emergency fund (it will come in handy at some point down the line, trust me)
• If you don’t already have one, get a bank that’s nationwide. I’d recommend joining one like Wells Fargo (I had an experience in Oregon where my landlord wanted a check and I realized there are no PNC banks there. So this could have been avoided if I knew this sooner)
• Make sure you are up-to-date on all your vaccinations, BLS cert, flu shot, etc. You will also be required most places to have a physical, TB test, and drug screen in order to work there so know when those due dates are so your start date does not get delayed
• Create a folder that has your important documents in it like social security card, birth certificate, licensures, vaccination records, etc. so it’s organized and easily accessible. Kamana is a great resource that lets you manage your credentials, resume, and jobs all in one private, secure place
• If you haven’t already, update your resume to give to your recruiter when it’s time to submit to jobs​

If you are considering traveling as a new grad, I hope this info has helped make the decision a little bit easier for you! At the end of the day, whether you decide to travel as a new grad or somewhere down the line, there really is no “right” time to start. What it comes down to is your level of comfort and what’s going to give you the best experience that aligns with your goals.   ​

​Written By: Morgan Lauchnor, Travel Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)