So you've decided travel therapy might be for you — great choice. This guide walks you through every step from where you are right now to arriving at your first assignment, with practical timelines and actionable advice.
Step 1: Build Your Clinical Foundation
This isn't just a preference — it's practical. As a travel therapist, you'll need to hit the ground running with minimal orientation, often in settings and with patient populations you haven't seen before.
Use your first year to build confidence across different patient types, develop strong documentation habits, learn to work independently, and identify which clinical settings you enjoy most. If you're a new graduate, don't let this discourage you. Some agencies and settings are new-grad friendly, particularly SNFs and outpatient clinics in high-demand areas.
Step 2: Research and Choose Your Target States
Before you start applying, decide where you want to work. Consider factors like pay rates (which vary significantly by state), cost of living in potential assignment cities, licensing requirements and processing times, climate and lifestyle preferences, and proximity to family and friends if that matters to you.
🔎 Research Tools
Use our License Lookup to check requirements and our Cost of Living Map to compare pay across states.
Step 3: Start the Licensing Process
This is the step that trips up most first-time travelers. If you're a PT or PTA, check if your state is part of the PT Compact, which can dramatically speed up the process. For OTs, COTAs, and SLPs, you'll typically need individual state licenses. Gather all required documents such as transcripts, verification of other state licenses, background check results, and exam scores.
Step 4: Establish Your Tax Home
You need a permanent residence you maintain while on assignment. This could be a home you own, an apartment you rent, or even a room you rent from family (with a formal lease agreement). The key requirements are maintaining duplicated living expenses, returning between assignments or periodically, and having clear documentation of your tax home expenses.
🏠 Check Now
Our Tax Home Checker helps you determine if your current situation qualifies.
Step 5: Connect with Staffing Agencies
When evaluating agencies, ask about their pay transparency (will they show you the full bill rate breakdown?), housing support, health insurance options, CEU reimbursement, and recruiter responsiveness. A good recruiter will feel more like a career partner than a salesperson. They should understand your clinical interests, respect your location preferences, and be upfront about pay.
Step 6: Review and Accept Your First Contract
When you receive a contract offer, review it carefully. Don't be afraid to negotiate. Many first-time travelers accept the first offer without realizing there's often room to improve the package.
🔍 Before You Sign
Run your contract through our Contract Red Flag Checker to make sure you're not missing anything important.
Step 7: Prepare for Your Assignment
With your contract signed, it's time to prepare. Arrange housing (through your agency, Furnished Finder, or independently), plan your travel route, gather your clinical essentials (comfortable shoes, documentation tools, your favorite evaluation forms), notify your current employer if applicable, and set up any required compliance documents (drug screens, background checks, immunization records). Many agencies handle compliance requirements as part of the onboarding process.
Your First Day and Beyond
Your first travel assignment will feel different from any permanent job. Within a month, you'll feel like you've been there much longer. After your 13-week assignment, you'll face an exciting choice: extend at your current facility, move to a new location, or take some time off. That's the beauty of travel therapy — you're always in control.