Just like with any job as a therapist, you will not be allowed to practice without an active license. This means that for every state you are currently working in you MUST have your license up to date. Additionally, if you have other licenses in other states that you plan to return to, you must keep these licenses active as well. So, let’s dive into everything it takes to managing licenses in each state as a travel therapist!

UNDERSTANDING THE LICENSING PROCESS

If you’re unfamiliar with how initial licensing occurs, please reference THE PT COMPACT- HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES. This post covers the difference between getting licensed via examination versus endorsement. This post also mainly covers the PT Compact and how licensing under the compact works.

Now that we’re up to date on how to obtain an initial license in a state, let’s talk about managing licenses in each of those states. 

A LICENSE IS EXPIRING… NOW WHAT??

So, let’s lay out a scenario to give a real-life example of how this process works. Let’s say I obtained my initial license via examination in Missouri. After passing the NPTE, filling out the initial license, and paying all necessary fees, I was granted a Missouri PT license. WOOHOO! 

Every state has its own rules on when their licenses expire. For Missouri, their PT licenses expire on even years on the last day of the month that the licensee was born. That’s on January 31st for me. For most states, their licenses expire every 2 years. However, each state will have its own rules on exactly which day the license expires. This info can be found in the rules, regulations, and laws of each state.

So, January 31st, 2024 rolls around, what options do I have for what I could do with my Missouri license? I could renew my license, let it expire, or in some states, you can make it “inactive.”

OPTION 1: RENEW YOUR LICENSE

For initial licensing, you must fill out an entire application. This typically includes several forms about your personal demographics, school and work history, jurisprudence exams, and paying the appropriate fees. Every state is different with the cost of these fees, which range from <$100-$500+. The cost of these licenses will be directly mentioned on each state license application. Additional costs may also include forwarding your NPTE scores to each state board, verifying other state licenses, notary services, and sending transcripts from your school to the state board. As you can see, this can be a lot to handle and, not to mention, costly. Luckily, as a traveler, most travel companies will reimburse you for initial licensing fees or renewal fees.

As for renewing a license after the 2-year active period, there is much less to do than the initial license described above. For most states, it’s just a matter of sending in your payment to cover the renewal fees. Again, the cost of renewal varies from state to state. This cost may be the same as the original license fee or may be slightly less. But, as long as you make the payment before your license expires then renewing is as simple as paying renewal fees! And unlike initial licensing, there is no delay in this license getting processed. Whenever they receive your payment, you’re license is renewed for the next 2-year licensing period. BOOYAH! However, you also must remember to keep up with all necessary continuing education units required for each state. More on this later.

OPTION 2: LET THE LICENSE EXPIRE

If you accidentally let a license expire, meaning you did not make attempts to pay the renewal fee before the expiration date, then that license will no longer be valid. If payment for renewal is not received before the expiration date then you will not be legally allowed to practice in that state. 

As a traveler, sometimes you’re going to a state to work for 3-6 months and then you leave. There have been multiple occasions where I’ve gotten a license in a state and I have no intentions of returning to that state for work again. It is in these circumstances that one may purposely let a license expire. In those cases, if you were to let the license expire, you would have to go through the entire initial licensing process to re-obtain a license in that state. Thus, I always recommend that if you have ANY intentions to return to a state that you’re already licensed, then you might as well just renew it versus letting it expire to save you the time and energy later. 

OPTION 3: MAKE YOUR LICENSE “INACTIVE” (WHEN AVAILABLE)

There are a select few states where there is an option to put your license in an “inactive” status. In these cases, these states will not require the typical renewal fee each renewal period like an active license. And unlike a license that you let expire, upon activating your license again, there are fewer hoops to jump through. This may mean no jurisprudence exam is required and no full application paperwork process.

Instead, an inactive license could just be reactivated with the normal renewal fee, and boom you’re back into active status. Not many states offer this option. Thus, if there is a state that you may plan to return to in several years but don’t want to pay the renewal fees, it would be beneficial to see if that state offers an “inactive” license status.

WHAT ABOUT COMPACT PRIVILEGES?

Each compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is active. For me, my home state license is in Missouri. I currently have compact privileges in North Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, and Washington. As stated before, I have to renew my Missouri license every 2 years at the end of January. Thus when I renew my Missouri license, I will also have to renew each compact privilege that I still need. The process to do this is just as simple as obtaining the initial compact privilege. Go onto the PT Compact website and purchase the compact privilege that you need. Each renewed compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is active. For those that are not renewed or re-purchased, those are now expired and no longer valid.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS 

Another consideration for managing licenses as a traveler is continuing education units (CEUs). You’ll find that most states require up to 30 hours of CEUs per renewal period. Most states have renewal periods every 2 years, as previously stated. Some states will require CEUs in different categories or delivery methods. This means some states require a certain amount of CEUs in person vs online courses vs other methods (CI, journal club, publishing papers, etc). This is up to you to read through each state’s rules and regulations to determine what they require.

I’ve found that most states are pretty similar. However, some require up to half of your CEUs to be at a live in-person course. I have typically taken one in-person course, like Rocktape or Dry Needling, per renewal period. Each of which satisfies a large majority of the 30 hr requirements. **FYI- With each in-person course, you must verify that this course qualifies for CEUs for each state you need. You can do this by asking the course instructor or reaching out to the appropriate person in the state board.

As for the rest of the CEUs, I usually complete online Medbridge courses. Medbridge is an incredible place to get some relevant up-to-date, evidenced-based CEUs. They have courses in a variety of categories and topics covering multiple settings in the therapy fields (ortho, acute, etc.).

I also love MedBridge for their HEP platform, which has great descriptions and pictures of a large variety of exercises that you can print or send (email or text) to patients, and quickly integrate descriptions into your documentation. So, if you’re looking for a great CEU and HEP resource, you can use my link here to save $150 on your initial annual Medbridge subscription fee!

CEU AUDITS

Be sure to keep track of your total CEUs and keep the certificates of completion saved. Each state has the right to audit you and check to see if you completed the required CEUs. Thus, if you do not have the proof of completion your license may be suspended until proof of completion is submitted.

KEEP IT ORGANIZED

If this all sounds like a lot to keep organized, IT IS!! Thus, I highly recommend keeping an ongoing document or spreadsheet with all the necessary info. Be sure to list each current and past license, renewal/expiration dates, and required CEUs, with a running tab of CEUs completed/needed. The more you travel and the more often you move, the crazier this list will get. So, start it early and don’t let it get out of hand!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON MANAGING LICENSES

Managing all the licenses that compile as you travel can be a daunting task. But if you keep things organized from the beginning, it can be easy. Just keep tabs on all upcoming expiration dates and decide whether you will need that state license in the future again or not. If not, let it expire and move on. If yes, pay the renewal fee and ensure that you’ve completed the necessary CEU requirements in case you get audited. Keep it simple and keep it organized! You’ve got this!

If you have any further questions or insights for managing licenses as a travel therapist, please comment below, contact me through my website, or direct message me via Instagram.

The post A SIMPLE GUIDE TO MANAGING LICENSES AS A TRAVEL THERAPIST appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

HAWAII APPLICATION

First things first when applying for travel contracts is to make sure you can get that state’s license in time. Some jobs are willing to wait for the license to come through, but just to be safe it’s better to already have the contract underway when applying for your next contract.

After changing plans from Alaska to Hawaii, I knew a potential set back in securing a Hawaii travel position would be the fact that I didn’t already have a Hawaii license. Hawaii is not a part of the compact so you must file for a full state licensure. Luckily for me, the Hawaii licensure is one of the shortest and easiest applications I’ve applied for! However, that doesn’t mean it has the quickest processing time.

I was told repeatedly by my recruiter that it would take a bit of “pestering” to get the Hawaii state board to process the license quickly. Since I had a job on the line, I did not mind doing that at all. I updated the board every step of the way. I made sure to email when all appropriate forms where in the mail or important documents were being sent via email.

Unfortunately, the biggest hang up with getting the license approved was needing licensure verification from every single state that I currently or have ever been licensed. Fortunately, many of the states I’ve worked in have been compact states and don’t fall in this category. But even still, that required 6 other states to then send Hawaii a licensure verification or provide instructions on how to verify online myself. This was a tedious process, especially when each state has different rules.

As tedious as this process is, the other states processed things fairly quickly for me and I was able to get a Hawaii license approved and issued in 2-3 weeks. I was originally told to expect 6-8 weeks. You never want to be overbearing when reaching out to state boards for “expediting” your license, but I’ve found that establishing a line of communication early on and letting them know that you have a travel position lined up soon has helped me get most licenses processed much faster than the expected timeframe.

WHAT NEXT?

So, you just got hired for your first Hawaii travel therapy contract and secured your Hawaii license, now what? Do you ship or rent a car? Do you rent a furnished or unfurnished apartment? Should you ship all your belongings or check multiple bags on your flight? What is going to be the most cost-effective strategy? These are all great questions to be thinking about! We didn’t have anyone telling us what the best solutions were. But that’s why I’m here, to help you so you can go into your Hawaii travel therapy contract with excitement instead of stress.

RENT OR SHIP CAR

As soon as I signed my Hawaii travel therapy contract, I started looking at what the best option would be as far as having a car on the island. Because I signed a home health contract I HAD to have a vehicle. That was non-negotiable. I looked into the cost of renting a car for 6 months. The total was near $7000. Ouch. It would have been nice to put miles on someone else’s vehicle, but I couldn’t afford that. Luckily, we were living in California and to ship a car from Long Beach, CA to Honolulu, HI was around $1,500 (one-way). There are a few different companies you could go through, but we ended up booking through Car Shipping Hawaii.

A FEW THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN SHIPPING A CAR:

SHIP YOUR CAR FOR SURE

Working with Car Shipping Hawaii was such a great experience for us! We had absolutely no problems and they walked us through every step of the process. I would highly recommend using them! Shipping our car to the island was a no-brainer. The total cost will be about ~$2,500 (it’s cheaper to ship back to Cali).

WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING SHOULD I RENT?

Oh, the dreaded housing search. This is our least favorite part about signing new travel therapy contracts. Packing up our belongings, finding a new temporary house that is within our budget, reasonably close proximity to work, and makes us feel safe is a lot harder than it seems! Especially when you have to commit to a place before you really get to see it or the area it’s in. This is ultimately one of the big reasons why we purchased our RV, “Georgia”, three years ago. It gave us some sort of stability through this dreaded process. Yes, it’s fun to live in new homes, but sometimes those homes can be cockroach infested, have bad landlords, make the commute to work extra-long, or out of budget. Check out my blog post TRAVEL THERAPY HOUSING PROS AND CONS for more insight. So, what should you do in Hawaii?

UNFURNISHED APARTMENT

The main benefit of renting an unfurnished apartment is that it is going to be the cheapest option. I would hope because there is nothing in it. We played around with the idea of this. We could save more money by signing a 6-month lease on an unfurnished apartment with a full kitchen, bath, gym, pool, extra amenities. The downfall is we would have absolutely no furniture. No bed, couch, tv, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, washer/dryer, you name it. However, we were planning on bringing our backpacking equipment: blow up mattress and sleeping bag. Maybe we could get away with no bed??

The average monthly cost of an unfurnished apartment that we were seeing were around $900-$1,200. There are companies on the island that will rent furniture month-to-month. If you do the bare minimum, you were looking at around another $300/month. Now you’re at $1,500. You can find furnished apartments and not have to sleep on a mummy mattress for $1,500/month. Thank God!

FURNISHED APARTMENT/AIRBNB

Luckily, there are quite a bit of furnished apartments on Furnished Finder, as well as great options on Airbnb. I found that Furnished Finder had cheaper options month-to-month vs. Airbnb. The average cost of a furnished apartment varied depending on location but ranged anywhere from $1,000-$3,000/month. Obviously, there are some really nice homes you could stay at if you wanted to ball out, but I think most of us are going to look for budget-friendly options.

Another thing to consider is are you looking for a shared house or a separate unit? I travel with my wife, and we have done shared housing before, but for an extended period of time we find we will pay extra for privacy. If you are traveling alone, then a shared housing unit really isn’t too bad for cost of living in Hawaii (we just lived in California and Washington, so our “too bad” is relative).

In the end, we went with a furnished beach front studio condo for 6 months at $1,400/month. The apartment complex comes with a pool, small gym, full kitchen (we will have a full-sized fridge which we are very excited for, RV’ers IYKYK). Because we could only move in on July 1st, we still needing housing for 19 days.

Finding housing for that long was turning out to be VERY expensive. I mean its Hawaii, if it was cheap everyone would be here all the time. But we found the cheapest option was to book 1 month on Furnished Finder in a shared housing unit. We have a private bedroom/bathroom and share the kitchen with one other person. There are other tenants, but they have a separate floor/shared living space. And honestly, we are loving it. The tenants/landlords are kind, there are fruit trees in the backyard that we can help ourselves too, we stare at a beautiful mountain out our bedroom window, and we’re just across the street from the beach. For 19 days, $1,200 was manageable.

HOW DO I GET MY STUFF TO HAWAII?

You’ve landed the job, got your license, you shipped your car, you have your housing figured out, now you just need to get there! But how do you pack for 6 months and how do you get it there? Fair question. We struggled with this one because we are both over-packers. If you don’t have too many things and live out of one suitcase you can just skip this part, it’s not for you. But for my over-packers, keep reading.

Honestly, I didn’t even look into what the cost would be like to ship your things via UPS or USPS. I figured those rates would be astronomical. We booked our flights through Southwest, which means you get two free checked bags, a carry-on, and a personal bag. That’s already 4 bags per person! However, don’t get carried away and go over that 50lb weight limit on the checked bags because that will be an extra $100/bag. I would suggest purchasing a luggage weight. It helped us tremendously. We were able to pack our bags to the tenth of a pound and didn’t have to deal with the frantic last-minute “stuff clothes in your carry-on” situation.

Alright, you know you can have two large bags and two smaller bags, that’s still not a whole lot of space for the over-packer, especially when you want to take camping gear, hiking gear, snorkeling gear, and paddleboards. Yes, we could just rent some of those things in Hawaii, but at the rate at which we will be using said gear just doesn’t make sense for us. But also, the rate for each additional checked bag is $125. Getting to Hawaii is adding up quickly and I don’t really want to spend all my money on getting clothes there. I laid out everything I wanted to take and quickly realized there was no way I could take all that. After sifting through and removing more items about 5 separate times I finally could fit what I needed for my Hawaii travel therapy contract.

OUR TRAVEL NECESSITIES

We ended up spending $250 on two extra checked bags. That’s 10 bags total. Honestly, it’s still probably too much and we could have made 8 bags work, but you know, we’re over-packers, it’s what we do.

IS THERE MORE?

Everything I’ve said up until this point are really big items to cross of your list for getting to Hawaii for that travel therapy contract. You will definitely come across smaller expenses you may not have been prepared for, but it happens. You don’t have any food or condiments, so you are starting fresh there. Because Paige doesn’t have a car, she has to get a bus pass which is $80/month. If your car isn’t in Hawaii yet, you may need to rent a vehicle for a while. And I’m sure more unexpected expenses will pop up, they always do. Is it all worth it to be living in Hawaii for 6 months? Absolutely!!

As I said earlier, everyone has a different experience and will do things differently than I did. We planned our entire trip in under two weeks, not because we wanted to but because we had to. I’m sure there are more cost-effective ways to do things and by all means comment below and let future travelers know! If you have any other questions regarding the process of getting to Hawaii for a travel therapy contract, please contact me here. Goodluck and be sure to follow me on Instagram for some epic Hawaii adventures. Mahalo!

The post GETTING TO HAWAII FOR THAT EPIC TRAVEL THERAPY CONTRACT appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

*These 10 tips may not apply to you or your interests. These are our interests and have helped us save thousands over our traveling years!

BUY AN ANNUAL NATIONAL PARK PASS

Buying an annual National Park Pass has saved us hundreds of dollars over the years! To enter most National Parks you will have to pay an entrance fee ranging from $20-$35. Whereas, if you buy an annual pass it will only cost you $80 and is good for one year. Obviously, if you know you won’t be near National Parks during your contract, skip that year and save the $80. However, for us, we base a lot of our contracts on how close we can be to any National Park. Because we spend a lot of our time at the parks nearby we could easily spend $500 a year without having the pass. Therefore, buy the pass and save hundreds!

This doesn’t just go for National Parks. If you happen to take a contract near a State Park and know you will go a handful of times, buy that park pass as well. We haven’t had to do that yet because typically we will only go once or twice and would need to go an average of 8 times before the pass is worth it. This will vary from park to park, but it’s worth looking into!

CAMP/BACKPACK TO SAVE MONEY

Another great way to save hundreds of dollars is to camp whenever you can. Whether that’s primitive camping/backpacking, or camping at a national or state park. If you’re a traveling therapist then you are most likely exploring any chance you get. For us, that’s most weekends! We will drive anywhere up to 5 hours away from our current location in search of awesome spots. If we were to stay at a hotel, Airbnb, Vrbo, etc, that would add up quickly! However, if you are willing to camp then you’re just spending money on gas and food.

If you choose to stay at a State Park or National Park then you could potentially be spending quite a bit of money because these are hot spots. Most times it’s totally worth it and we’ve never regretted it, but if you’re on a budget and looking to cut back, primitive camping is FREE!

*Download the Campendium app to search for campsites near you.

CANCEL SUBSCRIPTIONS

We live in an age now where everything is a subscription. You have to have 5 TV subscriptions to watch your favorite shows, workout subscriptions, retail subscriptions, and so many more. It can be overwhelming and, when it comes to your money, it’s wasteful. The main thing we have learned while traveling on the road is that less is more. By no means are we minimalists, but we certainly try to be as much as we can. This means canceling subscriptions that we don’t need. We’re definitely going to keep up with the latest TV shows, but we will only keep one or two TV subscriptions active at a time. Do you really need to have all five subscriptions going at once?

Be mindful of what you really NEED vs. what you THINK you need. Cancel those subscriptions and save money!

FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

One of the hardest parts of being a travel therapist is finding affordable housing. Sometimes it can make or break your contract, and maybe even your spirit… Everybody’s budget is going to look different, but after three years of traveling, I can still say that most “perfect” housing options are going to be over your budget. So, how do you find affordable housing? Well, you may just have to decide what is most important to you. Is it privacy? Is it amenities? Location? Or is it price? Once you figure out what you can and can’t live without it does help make the process of finding housing easier.

For us, it’s always price, then location, then privacy, and then amenities. Sometimes we lived with strangers for 3 months for an affordable home. Sometimes we lived in unfurnished apartments because the furnished apartments were out of our budget. And sometimes we lived an hour away from work because those homes were more affordable. However, with each move we made it work. And looking back the hard or annoying things that bothered us then are funny memories that we laugh about now.

*Check out our blog post TRAVEL THERAPY HOUSING PROS & CONS for more information regarding potential housing options.

INVEST IN THINGS YOU LOVE

This one is a little tricky because essentially you have to spend money to save money. BUT, if you’re spending money on something you love and enjoy and you know it could save you hundreds/thousands in the future then why not?! For us, it was our paddle boards.

Because we are snowbirds (we live in an RV and need to travel towards the sun) we can be on the water for the majority of the year. We love to kayak, paddleboard, canoe, etc and were spending hundreds of dollars to repeatedly rent said equipment to enjoy a few hours on the lake or river. We enjoy doing those activities, so for us, it was okay to splurge and rent every once in a while. But renting equipment adds up quickly. And sometimes you can only rent for an hour or two when really we wished we could spend HOURS on the water. So, we bought ourselves paddle boards.

It was a hefty purchase but one that, in the end, was so worth it! Now, we don’t have to worry about forking over hundreds of dollars for a few hours on the water, renting beat-up equipment, and sticking to someone else’s schedule. Our paddle boards have paid for themselves multiple times and now we have a FREE activity to go do whenever we want and have saved hundreds because of it!

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR GYM

As a traveling therapist, you have to relocate frequently. This means finding a new job, a new house, new grocery stores, and even new gyms. And gym memberships can be expensive! So try opting for something cheaper to help you save money when you can. One way of doing that is trying out Planet Fitness. They have contracts for just $10/month! One of the cheapest gyms you can find. It may not have everything you want (not having squat racks kills me), but I’m sure it will have everything you truly need.

Another great way is to take advantage of your rental’s gym, if applicable. Not everywhere you move will have a gym on-site, but when they do take advantage of it! Even if it is the dingiest, basic, and equipment-ridden gym you’ve been to. Get creative! There are all kinds of free resources out there to help make home workouts possible. We do this as much as we can! Order some workout bands, a kettlebell, and adjustable dumbbells and I promise you can get a great workout in!

And lastly, make the world your gym! Go for a run at your nearest park, hike a mountain, do pushups on the bench outside, do lunges in your backyard, or find a FREE outdoor gym like here in California. There are so many ways to make working out affordable without having to spend a few hundred dollars on a gym membership where you have to pay a sign-up fee, an early cancellation fee, and an annual fee. Skip the gym, save money.

SAVE MONEY BY CHOOSING FUN & FREE ACTIVITIES

Depending on what interests you, finding fun and free activities to do can be challenging. However, I do believe there’s something out there for everyone that can help you save money. Here are a few ideas of free things that we like to do:

Some other fun and free activities we enjoy are going to the beach and playing frisbee or catch with a football. Reading in a hammock at our primitive campsite, game nights with friends, and exploring murals around our nearest city. Fun activities do not have to be costly. Change your mindset, and romanticize the little things.

TAKE HIGH-PAYING CONTRACTS & SAVE MONEY

An obvious way to save money is to take high-paying contracts. If your sole reason for pursuing travel therapy is to save money, then you can find some GREAT high-paying contracts located all around the country. There’s a catch though. Some of these high-paying contracts are going to be in very remote areas. There won’t be an abundance of fun activities or national parks to visit, but you’ll bring in thousands each week. Is that worth it to you?

*Contact me to get my recruiter information to help hook you up with those high-paying contracts!

USE CREDIT CARD REWARDS

This tip is only for those who are good at managing credit cards. I would never try and convince people to apply for a credit card without understanding the risk that credit cards can bring. For those of you who can manage credit cards, I would suggest applying for credit cards that have great rewards. Our favorite credit cards are the Southwest Credit Card and our Chase Sapphire Credit Card. We put everything we possibly can on those cards alone. We pay it off immediately and then can claim free flights and free hotel stays frequently. This comes in handy when we need to fly home for the holidays, visit friends across the States, or want to book a decent hotel stay once in a while.

WALK/BIKE/PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

I think most people forget that being able to afford a car is a luxury. Keeping up with oil changes, tire rotations, gas, and parking meters is an expensive luxury. Don’t get me wrong, having a car is great and allows us to do so many things, but it’s costly. However, if you can walk, bike, or use public transportation to get to and from work, you could easily save money.

To be honest, most of the time I haven’t been able to do this. I’ve had over a 30-minute commute to work for most of my contracts, or have had home health jobs where I’m required to drive within an hour’s range to multiple people’s houses. Walking, biking, or even using a public bus has been out of the question. However, there was one contract in Fargo, North Dakota, where I lived 5 minutes from work. I could have easily driven there and saved 5-10 minutes but walking 15 minutes to and from work helped me save on gas, and mileage, and, honestly, I just loved it.

If you live in an area where walking, biking, or hopping on public transport is feasible you could save on gas money (which we all know is expensive) and parking meters (which in big cities are EVERYWHERE). So, try it out! It not only helps you save money but could also be a great form of exercise!

These 10 tips have helped us save so much money over the years and I hope maybe you learned a thing or two. Leave a comment below if you have any more great tips you want to share! Always feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding travel pt.

The post 10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHILE BEING A TRAVEL PT appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

Before fully convincing you that this is the road you should take, you should definitely check out some of these other posts to make sure that becoming a Travel PT is right for you!

• The FAQs About Travel Physical Therapy
• Is Travel Therapy Right for You?
• A Student’s Guide to Becoming a New Grad Travel Therapist
• Travel Therapy Recruiters: Choosing Whose Right for You
• Travel Therapy Housing Pros & Cons

#1 LIFE IS SHORT, TAKE THE LEAP!

It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you have been in the same job for 1 year or 10 years, it’s never too late to change gears. Becoming a travel PT lets you see the world in a way you can’t do over 2 week vacation periods in a normal job. You get to live in an area for months at a time and really explore every nook and cranny that place and surrounding places have to offer.

You can choose to live by the ocean, in the mountains, downtown in New York City, or anywhere your heart desires. That’s what is so AMAZING about becoming a travel PT! You can literally go anywhere you have dreamed and soon you’ll find out that this is your reality and it’s pretty incredible to be living your dream life!

#2 FORM GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS

The hardest part about being a travel PT is being away from family and friends from back home. Luckily, I travel with my wife. She’s my best friend and we have so much fun together every day, every weekend, all the time. But as much as I love my wife, it’s nice to have other friendships and relationships outside of my marriage. But how do you meet people and form those relationships if you are leaving in 3-6 months? By the time you finally get to know someone, you have to say bye to them. It was hard in the beginning until I changed my mindset.

It’s very easy to have the mindset that it’s okay to be alone or with your partner all the time. You love them, so why bother meeting new people if you’re leaving soon anyways? Well, that can get a little lonely even when traveling with your partner. But once you switch your mindset to allow yourself to be fully invested in someone else’s life because you know that you won’t get much time with them, you actually can form a deeper connection a lot faster than you think! Having that mindset has allowed me to form countless relationships with co-workers and patients of mine.

Once I made that shift, traveling got exponentially better! I put myself out there in hopes to attract like-minded people. I’ve gone to dinners, special events, birthday parties, etc with co-workers and friends because I truly valued our relationship and our time together. Becoming a travel PT I knew I would meet new people and hopefully make friends, but I didn’t know the impact that those people would have on my life. Even for a short period of time, knowing I may never see them again, I created genuine relationships with people that I will cherish forever. And I’ll be forever grateful for having met them on this journey.

#3 BRANCH OUT OF YOUR NORM

All grad programs are different, but mine consisted of having to take clinical rotations in multiple settings. So ideally you should know what you like and dislike about certain settings before you graduate. However, things change, your interests change, and that’s OK! Coming out of grad school, I knew I wanted to work in an outpatient orthopedic setting. My first three jobs though, mid-pandemic, were in skilled nursing facilities. Those were really the only jobs hiring at the time. At first, I was nervous, and yes I was still itching to get into outpatient. However, looking back it was kind of nice. This forced me out of my comfort zone and this is where the most growth as a person and clinician will take place.

Since then, I mainly work in outpatient settings, but I’ve also done home health. I’ve learned so much more about what I like and dislike about different settings, different companies, and different managerial styles. Not all jobs are created equal and I think that is something that has really played a huge part in a lot of my decisions. I’ve worked in multiple different clinics and seen how a great clinic can be run. So if you’re stuck at a job that you don’t particularly like, just know that your contract will end soon and you can change things up!

That’s another AWESOME thing about becoming a travel PT. If you’re not happy with where you’re at you don’t have to stress about finding another job right away. Your contract will end soon enough and you can change settings, clinics, and even STATES! Now you have even more questions to ask during an interview, things to look for when searching for your next job, etc. And hopefully, your next contract will be better!

#4 IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE

Most contracts start off at 13 weeks long. What do you do when a contract ends? Whatever you want to do! If you’re ready to hop right on into the next contract, great! Do you want to fly home and visit family for a week, great! Or how about taking a month off and going backpacking through Europe, GREAT! The point is, you get to choose! You have complete control over your time off. Depending on what companies you work with, you may even have built up a few days for PTO.

We like to take at least one week off in between our contracts. Most of the time our commutes from one contract to another have been quite a journey anyways. So we take it slow and visit any National Parks, State Parks, popular destinations, or anything that piques our interest! That also then leaves a few days to get moved in and settled before starting work again. It’s just another added benefit that travel PT provides. An exceptional work/life balance that is strictly up to us!

#5 MAKE MORE $$$

Okay, the last one’s a no-brainer, you make more money! Who doesn’t love more money? Whether you are trying to pay off your student loans, save for a future home, or just simply want more money to spend more money, becoming a travel PT will help you do all of that!

A huge factor when it comes to pay is location. Depending on the area that you signed a contract can depend on how much you make. California pays pretty well, but housing will be more expensive there. Contracts in the middle of nowhere Kansas will pay well, but there won’t be anything to do. We try to go with medium pay and a highly rewarding location. Location is everything to us! We want to see as much as we can within a 4-6 hour driving range of an area. So, if that means we aren’t getting paid the most, that’s okay because it’s worth it! And even a lower-paying travel job is typically (not always) more than you’d be making as a permanent employee at that location. But one of these days we may just take a contract in the middle of nowhere, save up, and do nothing. Sounds kind of nice too.

DID I CONVINCE YOU??

I don’t know about you, but I just convinced myself to continue to keep doing travel PT for a few more years! In all seriousness though, there are a lot of things to consider about becoming a travel physical therapist. And hopefully, with the other posts I recommended, this one was the cherry on top for convincing you to take the leap and join us! I would love to help get you started and answer any more questions you might have! Contact me for any recommendations on travel PT or just travel in general! Good luck and have fun!!

The post 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD BECOME A TRAVEL PT TODAY! appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

Getting licensed in each state you practice in is one of the most inconvenient aspects of being a travel therapist. The inconvenience comes with the inconsistency of license processing time frames from state to state. However, if you’re a planner like me, and know approximately how long it will take to get licensed in a particular state, then you can apply early with enough time to avoid delays in starting your next contract. For that reason, I have collaborated with my amazing recruiter, Jessica, at Delta Healthcare Providers, to assemble a post outlining the licensure process and a time frame for how long it takes to process each state license for physical therapists!

Normal PT Licensing

Before we dive into the licensing time frame of each state, we must understand the licensing process as a whole. Normal licensing for PT’s occurs either via exam (a.k.a. via “application”) or via endorsement (a.k.a. via “reciprocity”).

Licensure by Exam

Licensure by exam only occurs for one’s very first license. When applying to take the NPTE (National PT Exam), each candidate must declare which state they intend to get licensed following passing the exam. This ensures that your scores are immediately sent to the appropriate licensing body for the state you intend to be licensed.

**NOTE: This is the only time you won’t have to pay to have those scores transferred to each respective state.

After passing the NPTE, you then go through the normal state licensure application process. Each state will have different requirements and processing times, but overall, with slightly fewer hoops than with licensure by endorsement/reciprocity.

**PRO-TIP: There are some states that allow you to practice on temporary license before you get your board results back!

Licensure by Endorsement/Reciprocity 

Licensure by endorsement or reciprocity is the process that will occur when applying for any other subsequent state license following the very first. As it sounds, you will be applying via endorsement from another state licensing body. First, you will still provide proof that you passed the NPTE, and you will have the extra steps of now going through the normal licensing application process, as well as obtaining licensure verification from each state you are already licensed. As one’s travel career goes along and many licenses are held, this process can be quite cumbersome and time-consuming, as one can imagine.

 Time frame for verifications to another state board

When applying for licensure via endorsement, a majority of the state boards want you to verify your active and/or inactive licenses you have ever held. Each state has a different licensing time frame when it comes to verifying another state license to another state. Each state time frame is listed below:

• 1 week to verify: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT< IA, ID< IN, LA, MD, ME, MO, MS, NC, MD, NE, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV
• 2 weeks to verify: DE, FL, KS, MA, KY, MN, MT, NH, NH, NV, NY, SD, UT, WA, WI WY
  • ****Currently NY is taking about 4 weeks to process their verifications (as of 9/1/22)
• 3 weeks to verify: AK, DC, IL, MI, NJ

**PRO-TIP: Sometimes you can speed up the verification process by asking the following state you are applying to:

• Can you have the state board email them your verification?
• Can you have them look up your verification online?
• Always use certified mailing with tracking so you can always know where your application is when requesting verifications.
• Sometime the state board will take prepaid shipping labels. You can again use these to track where your verifications are, so always ask if they can use prepaid shipping labels.
• Can they take one active verification instead of needing all of them? MD, SC, VT are currently some states that are doing this.

EACH STATES’ LICENSING TIME FRAME

Below is an alphabetical list of how long, on average, the typical licensing time frame is. FYI- Sometimes you want to add verification time frames from other states as well (listed above!). You can also click the link below to download an excel spreadsheet version of these licensure processing timeframes to quick reference in the future!

OTHER RESOURES TO USE

Check out each state board website

You can always try to google and keep up to date with governor rulings or board meetings for each state licensure. Also, remember that each state board will have their own website. So, you may have to do a bit of searching to find the appropriate state board site.

FSBPT

When in doubt, check of the FSBPT (Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy) website for resources and information. FSBPT is who therapists take their national board exam through to become a “board-certified” physical therapist. Their website is kept up-to-date with the latest info on licensing, etc. FSBPT provides licensing contact information and board websites and links for verifications. You will also register for JP exams and check out your score results for NPTE or JP exams through their website. Check it out here.

PT Compact

The PT compact is one of my favorite resources as a travel therapist. As stated on the PT Compact website, “The Physical Therapy Compact is an interstate agreement between member states to provide a state-developed collaborative structure to protect the public by increasing consumer access to physical therapy services by reducing regulatory barriers to interstate mobility and cross-state practice.” In short, the PT compact is a way to bypass the normal individual state licensure process for quick and easy access to practicing in the participating member states. The largest benefit of the PT compact is that the licensing time frame is IMMEDIATE!

I’ve written a whole separate blog post covering all the details you need to know about utilizing the PT Compact. Check out the PT Compact post for more info!

TO WRAP UP…

Just to reemphasize, the licensing time frame of each state are AVERAGES! Sometimes things are processed faster or, as of recently since COVID, things may be slower in some states. The best advice I can give a fellow traveler is look at these average time frames, plan ahead, and get started on the paperwork ASAP! That way if there are any delays in processing then you may still get your license processed in time for your next contract.

**NOTE: For any travel occupational therapist, I do have licensing time frames for you all as well, just not listed in this post!

If you have any questions regarding licensing time frames, travel therapy related questions, etc., please contact us or I would gladly be willing to give you contact information to my recruiter, Jessica at Delta Healthcare Providers.

The post LICENSING TIME FRAME FOR EACH STATE AS A TRAVEL PT appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

As I got over halfway through my 3rd and final year as a PT student, I finally decided that I was going to pursue travel PT upon graduating. At the time, there was no sort of framework on where to get started in this vast, endless world of travel recruiters and recruiting companies. Furthermore, as a type A planner person, I wanted to ensure I was doing whatever I needed to do as a student to prepare myself to become a highly efficient and marketable travel candidate upon graduation. 

Thus, I wanted to create a guide for all PT students who are planning on diving into the world of travel PT as new grads. I want to give readers a perspective on the route I took to prepare myself to secure a travel job as a new grad in the middle of the COVID pandemic, a time when jobs were slim and new grads were being overlooked. Come along with me as we explore how to become a great new grad travel PT. 

TIMELINE OF EVENTS BEFORE BECOMING A NEW GRAD

I personally used the timeline below prior to graduation to become a new grad PT. I will expand on each point below. Remember this is not necessarily the ONLY or BEST way to prepare to become a traveler PT. However, this timeline gave me plenty of time to ease into the process. And it helped me feel very prepared as a new grad traveler. Keep in mind that I graduated in May, thus the months I reference are with the idea that graduation is in May.

• 1st-Most of 3rd year during PT school
  • Get variety with clinical experiences
  • Test out the travel life
  • Get extra certifications
  • Build your network
  • Find a good mentor(s)
• January (4-5months out of graduation)
  • Reach out to recruiters and get your on-boarding done over the next couple of months while you’re prepping for boards
  • Choose which state you’ll be taking your boards through
• April
  • Take boards, dominate, and await results
• May
  • Graduation
  • Become licensed in the appropriate state and begin the job search!!!

WHAT TO DO WHILE IN SCHOOL

As I mentioned, I’m a planner and like having structure in my life. This includes my time as a student. In general, most of your time in school should be dedicated to learning and absorbing as much as you can to become a great PT. But there are some things you can do during your time in school to prep for becoming a new grad traveler, as well.

CLINICALS

My PT program had clinicals spread throughout the program starting at the beginning of the 2nd year. We applied for clinical spots several months ahead of each clinical but did not know where we were going way ahead of time. Many programs dedicate most of the 3rd year to clinical experiences and know exactly where they’re going for clinicals SUPER early. Regardless of how your program is set up, you can follow these guidelines to prepare yourself for becoming a new grad traveler.

TEST THE WATERS AND TRAVEL

When choosing clinicals, I personally wanted to test the waters on what it’d feel like to travel. So, I went out of state for several of my last clinicals to see what they would feel like. To be in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and quickly assimilate to a new environment, is the nature of a traveler.

Now, just based on the extra cost, I don’t think this is completely necessary; however, having done it the way I did, I enjoyed it and it gave me the confidence that I could run with the big dogs as a new grad traveler.

VARIETY, VARIETY, VARIETY

The most important thing when it comes to clinical experiences is just getting as much variety as possible. The more variety of experience you get, the more likely your experience level will line up with some sort of available job opportunities as a new grad. It is harder for new grads to get jobs in general, but there are lots of jobs out there right now and new grads are doing just fine getting jobs for those with good experiences upon graduation.

FYI- Most outpatient settings are a bit more selective than any other setting. They typically want 2 years job experience, but that is not always the case. I got an outpatient job less than 1 year out of graduation because of the great experiences I had in outpatient clinicals. So, never say never!

EXTRA CERTIFICATIONS/SPECIALTIES

Getting certifications beyond the standard education makes you more marketable as a new grad. Examples of certifications to get may be dry needling, Rocktape/KT tape, IASTM/Graston, Blood Flow Restriction, LSVT Big and Loud, Vestibular Rehab, Fall Prevention Specialist, etc. Whatever you’re interested in, get a couple of extra certifications and build that resume. That way when you’re a new grad you can separate yourself from others with similar experience levels. Also, if done during school, you’ll usually get a student discount for CEU’s too vs paying double when you’re a licensed therapist.

As for how I get CEUs now as a practicing PT, I love to use Medbridge. Tons of great applicable online courses to keep me updated on new research and treatment strategies. Use my referral code for 40% off your annual Medbridge membership!

NETWORKING

During school, you will have the chance to do lots of networking. Chances will include clinicals, job fairs, and conferences like CSM. Take advantage of these moments! Establish relationships and get your name out there. The first recruiter I worked with as a new grad was with a group that I met at a job fair.

Networking opportunities allow you to not only establish potentially useful relationships as a new grad, but also allows you to practice marketing yourself. Practicing making a great first impression will be extremely useful as a new grad traveler since you will frequently be interviewing and meeting new people during your travels.

FIND A MENTOR

Let’s be honest. Being a new grad therapist is a bit scary. You’ve put in all the work to finally be licensed, countless hours of studying and working under the supervision of a CI all coming to the climax of FINALLY getting to work as your own independent PT. Furthermore, you no longer have a CI or professor by your side holding your hand through treating your patients. This lack of support can be a scary thought for many new grad therapists, especially those that are new grad travelers.

I’ve been fortunate to have some great professors during my schooling. I’ve also had some extremely supportive CIs. Both of whom now fill the “mentor” role as I travel. Oftentimes, you’ll have some great coworkers you work side by side with during your travel jobs who you will be able to bounce ideas off of; however, many people get great comfort from knowing there’s a consistent mentor there for them when they hit a roadblock on how to treat a difficult case.

MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT

During school, search for those people who can fulfill this role for you in the future. Ask them questions and develop a relationship that can be sustained during your travels. Be direct and ask them if they’re willing to fulfill a mentor role as needed while gaining experience as a new grad PT and beyond. The nature of most people in the therapy world is one of teamwork, compassion, and empathy. So, most people will be willing to fill this need of yours as needed during your travel if you ask. That being said, I’d be more than willing to fulfill this role for anyone in need of a mentor while traveling. Feel free to reach out via our email, DM on Instagram, or comment below.

Lastly, some travel companies boast that they will have a mentor set up for you as needed through the company. This was not a top priority of mine when searching for a recruiter. I feel that a better mentor is someone you’re familiar with that you found and established a connection with already. However, this is an option that is out there for those interested.

GRADUATION APPROACHING

FIND A RECRUITER

As most travelers would agree, finding a recruiter and recruiting company that is right for you is the most important step in beginning your travel journey. There are many ways to find a good recruiter. My first recommendation is to reach out to current travelers (LIKE ME!) on recommendations for travel recruiters. Send me a message, email or comment below and I’ll gladly send you my 2 phenomenal recruiters’ info. You can also search through your network of people you’ve connected with in the past (as discussed above) and move forward on conversations about working with them as a traveler upon graduation. Check out my blog post TRAVEL THERAPY RECRUITERS: CHOOSING WHO’S RIGHT FOR YOU for more info.

After you find a recruiter, they’ll then begin getting you set up within the company. This is called the on-boarding process. Typically it is just lots of online stuff for you to fill out to get set up prior to them being able to start finding you jobs.

WHICH STATE SHOULD I GET LICENSED IN?

Have an idea of what states you may want to work in after graduation. Furthermore, consider taking the boards through a state that may have job opportunities for you when you graduate. DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR RECRUITER WHEN THE TIME COMES. THEY WILL TELL YOU WHICH STATES HAVE THE MOST LIKELIHOOD OF JOBS.

I took the boards before graduation. Little did I know only certain states allow you to take the boards early before graduation. Thus, I highly recommend looking into this super early because you have to declare the state you are testing through way ahead of time. Check out the FSBPT website here to see which states do or don’t allow early testing.

For example, I’m from Missouri. When I was graduating, Missouri did not allow us to take the boards prior to graduation. Thus, I had to take the boards for another state. This doesn’t mean you have to physically be in said state during the exam. This just declares what your first original license will be after you pass the boards.

So here’s what I did…

I knew I was going to want to travel to the state of Maine at some point. And Maine allows early testing. It is super cheap and super quick to get a license in Maine. This makes it a great option for someone just looking to get licensed anywhere. So when I passed the boards I was licensed in Maine. After passing boards, I then immediately applied for a Missouri license so that I could utilize the PT compact.

So, having a MO license then gave me an opportunity to very easily get 20+ other licenses quickly if needed. Therefore, there was a higher likelihood of someone wanting to hire me on short notice if needed.

Remember, you can only use the compact if your home state is part of the compact. Missouri is part of the compact and I maintain a tax home in Missouri so I can claim that as my home state. THE COMPACT IS SUCH AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR TRAVELERS IF YOUR HOME STATE IS IN THE COMPACT. Check out my blog post THE PT COMPACT: HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES covering all you need to know about the PT Compact for more info.

AFTER GETTING LICENSED

Typically ~3-4 weeks after taking the boards, you will get your results on whether you passed or not. After passing your exam, the Board will automatically send you passing test results to the state that you registered for. At that point, you will also have to fill out all other required application requirements for that state. Each state has a different processing time for licenses, but there are several states that are known for being prompt in their licensure processing. Check out my blog post LICENSING TIME FRAME FOR EACH STATE AS A TRAVEL PT for insight into which states process the fastest.

After passing the boards and beginning the licensure process, your recruiter can then begin the job hunt for you! This is when things get exciting! Be sure to make your priorities very clear. My priorities typically include location, setting, and pay, in that order. Everyone’s preferences are different but be sure to be VERY clear on your priorities with your recruiter.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

There are many ways to become a successful new grad travel PT. I hope this at least gives you a general idea of what to get started on while in school. Having a general outline and being able to “check the boxes” on certain preparation aspects certainly would have eased my anxiety. As usual, I am also open to any other questions, concerns, or comments on further insights into what else should be included in this guide. So please comment, email, and check out our Instagram for more travel tips!

Good luck and have fun, new grads!

The post A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO BECOMING A NEW GRAD TRAVEL THERAPIST appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

TRAVEL JOB INTERVIEW PREVIEW

Before giving you interview tips for travel jobs, I wanted to cover what a typical travel job interview and the process of setting up the interview look like.

PHONE INTERVIEWS

First of all, every travel job interview I’ve had has been over the phone. Surprisingly with the growing popularity of video meetings like Zoom, this has never been utilized during a travel job interview. At least not yet in my experience.

For me, these phone interviews can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. It truly depends on the interviewer, the time they have, and what all they’d like to know about you outside of what your resume tells them.

PICK A TIME THAT WILL WORK

Usually, when the time comes to start interviewing, my recruiter asks for the best times that an interviewer may call me. Most interviewers let your recruiter know that they may be reaching out for an interview first, but there’s a chance that certain interviewers may call you during your previously specified time without letting your recruiter know they’re interested. This has seldom happened to me, but it could happen. So make sure you’re being honest when you give your available interview times so you don’t miss a call and miss your chance at a potential job!

I always try to select times either before or after work or during my lunch hour. I always make sure that during the times I request I’m always nearby a quiet and private area with minimal to no distractions. I’ve had to take interviews while driving and find a spot to pull off and that interview didn’t go nearly as well as those that were done in a nice, quiet, private room.

WHAT ALL DO YOU NEED?

Truly all you REALLY need is yourself and your phone to accomplish the interview. However, I try to have my laptop available and open to my checklist of typical questions I ask the interviewer during the interview. The checklist is discussed (and downloadable) below! So, having a place to comfortably have a laptop open is preferable.

Also, there’s been cases where I have difficulty hearing my interviewer over the phone or on speaker. Thus, I typically try to at least have a pair of headphones with a functioning speaker on hand if this occasion may arise. I actually prefer starting with the headphones on and switching to just my phone, if needed. This gives my hands a bit more freedom to scroll through my checklist and make notes about the job, as needed.

GENERAL INTERVIEW TIPS

30-second Elevator Pitch

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received when I was in PT school was to have a 30-second elevator pitch queued up for any moment you may need it. Imagine, you step into an elevator with the rehab director for YOUR ABSOLUTE DREAM JOB. You’re aware there’s an opening for the position and they are actively looking for candidates. You cannot pass up this opportunity to make your first and lasting impression. You have 30 seconds to make your pitch before they get off the elevator. What do you say???

Not only is this useful JUST IN CASE this insane scenario were to play out, but also to dial up what you feel like are the best highlights of yourself for a general job interview. In nearly every job interview I’ve had I’ve been asked, “Okay, first just tell me a bit about yourself.” 

Again, your real answer may be a bit longer than 30 seconds, but this is a chance to quickly make your pitch about what makes you special. I try to include something personal about myself, such as, where I am from, where I went to school, that I’m married, travel in an RV, love the outdoors and hiking, etc. Then, I tread into humbly “bragging” about myself and highlighting the features about myself professionally that makes me stand out, such as certain areas I specialize in, extra certifications I have, etc. This leads me to my next big interview tip.

BE YOU!

Some of the best advice I can give anyone on a job interview is to just be yourself! Seems obvious and redundant, but seriously…RELAX AND BE YOURSELF. The interview is the first and potentially only impression you may get to make, so how do you want the interviewer to perceive you? 

For me, I want my interviewer to know that I’m spirited and energetic, confident in my abilities, and adaptable/coachable. Everyone’s their own person and has different strengths. Thus, prior to an interview, do some true self-reflection on what you bring to the table for a job and try to embody and project those qualities during the interview. 

The interviewer has already read through your resume and if you’ve made it to an interview you’re likely qualified enough to get the job. Now it’s just a matter of holding a conversation, thinking on your toes, and answering any questions they may have about you or your experience. You may not have the perfect answer for every question, but as long as you’re HONEST and attempt to answer all questions to the best of your ability, the interviewer will notice the effort.

I’ve been fortunate to have the chance to ask my interviewers later on down the road some things they are looking for during interviews. A very common consensus is truly just whether you’re a good person and whether your personality would fit with the current team. I actually once had an interviewer say “I don’t know, I really just wanted to make sure you were a cool guy.” 

The interviewers have already read your resume and know your credentials. That’s how you got the interview. So you must show them a side of yourself and your personality that can’t be displayed on your resume.

BE PREPARED FOR GENERAL CLICHE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

I have not ALWAYS been asked these general “cliché” interview questions, but a majority of the time I have been. Thus, it’s good to have somewhat of a framework of how you’d answer these questions. 

Interview questions to be prepared for:

• “Name me a time you had to deal with a difficult patient and how you handled that situation?”
• “Why do you deserve this job over someone else with more experience/more qualified?”
• “What’s your biggest strength and weakness?”

BE PREPARED WITH YOUR OWN QUESTIONS!

Not only are they interviewing you, but it’s also an opportunity for you to conduct your own interview process. It’s just as important for you to be prepared with questions to learn as much as you possibly can about a job prior to accepting the position. Also, the more questions you ask about a job, the more you will be perceived as interested in this position, which may impact the interviewer’s likelihood of offering you the position. 

Having as much info about the job as possible will allow you to make a true assessment of whether it’s a good fit for you. Furthermore, when weighing your options between multiple locations/jobs a few key details that are important to you may help make your decision. But you won’t know these details unless you ASK!! Below I’ve broken down some common questions I ask during an interview.

QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING THE INTERVIEW

If given the opportunity, I always start with an open-ended question to allow them to naturally answer many of your questions, such as, “What will an average day look like for me at this job?”

Caseload and schedule type questions:

• What is the average caseload?
  • # of evals, # of treatments per day
• How much time do I have for an eval? Treatment?
• What is the general patient population I’ll be treating? (Ortho, neuro, post-op, etc., age range?)
• What is the schedule?
  • M-F? Option for working 4 10’s? Weekends? Holidays?
• How many hours per week and are these guaranteed hours? Is Overtime allowed?

At this stage of my travel career, I will never accept a job without guaranteed hrs, the closer to a full 40hrs guaranteed the better!

Orientation questions

• What type of training/orientation is provided?
• Is there a ramp-up period? What does this look like?

Facility questions

• What does the team look like? # therapists, assistants, aides?
  • How many of each will I be supervising?
• What equipment is available at the facility for therapy?
• What is the facility size/number of beds? (for acute/inpatient)
• What is the average length of stay (for inpatients)?

EMR/Documentation Questions

• What EMR do you use?
  • Will I have my own computer or tablet? Desktop?
• Will someone be able to train me on the documentation system or is there online training?
  • Is documentation performed at the point of service or is time allotted for documentation?

Miscellaneous

• What is the dress code?
• What are the productivity standards?
• What is the director/supervisor’s profession?
• Is there any mentorship available?
• Are there any places nearby for lunch? Or cafeteria? Any discount for employees? 
• What’s the area like? Are there fun things to do? Restaurants? Hiking? 
  • I try to look up the surrounding area on Google Maps to have a basic understanding of what’s around the area prior to the interview
• I typically do not discuss pay during the interview since they often make the official pay offer following the interview based on experience level and geographic area and setting norms
• *I always end with- “What else can I tell you about myself? Or “Is there anything else I can tell you about myself to help secure this position?”

To make things easier on you, click below to download either a printable Word and/or PDF Job Interview Question Checklist!

GOOD LUCK!! YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Like I said before, as a traveler you will get well-versed in the job interview process. Armed with these tips, you will feel more prepared, come off as more confident and competent, and more likely to secure that travel job you’re looking for! 

If you have any questions about the job interview process that were not answered in this post, please feel free to reach out and Contact Us. Or if you have any tips of your own to add to the list please comment below!

The post THE BEST INTERVIEW TIPS FOR TRAVELING THERAPISTS appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

If you are a traveling therapist, a physical therapist in particular, you will want to familiarize yourself with the PT Compact. As stated on the PT Compact website, “The Physical Therapy Compact is an interstate agreement between member states to provide a state-developed collaborative structure to protect the public by increasing consumer access to physical therapy services by reducing regulatory barriers to interstate mobility and cross-state practice.” In short, the PT compact is a way to bypass the normal individual state licensure process for quick and easy access to practicing in the participating member states. 

Normal PT Licensing

To fully understand the benefits of the PT Compact, one must understand how typical licensing occurs. Normal licensing for PTs occurs either via exam or via endorsement/reciprocity.

Licensure by Exam 

Licensure by exam only occurs for one’s very first license. When applying to take the NPTE (National PT Exam), each candidate must declare which state they intend to get licensed following passing the exam. This ensures that your scores are immediately sent to the appropriate licensing body for the state you intend to be licensed. Note this is the only time you won’t have to pay to have those scores transferred to each respective state. After passing the NPTE, you then go through the normal state licensure application process. Each state will have different requirements and processing times, but overall with slightly fewer hoops than with licensure by endorsement/reciprocity.

Licensure by Endorsement/Reciprocity 

Licensure by endorsement or reciprocity is the process that will occur when applying for any other subsequent state license following the very first. As it sounds, you will be applying via endorsement from another state licensing body. First, you will still provide proof that you passed the NPTE, and you will have the extra steps of going through the normal licensing application process, as well as obtaining licensure verification from each state you are already licensed. As one’s travel career goes along and many licenses are held, this process can be quite cumbersome and time-consuming, as one can imagine. 

So, that is how someone would typically get licensed, that is until the PT Compact was introduced.

Who Can Utilize the PT Compact?

As amazingly beneficial as the PT Compact is, not everyone is eligible to use it. There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met before obtaining any compact privilege. 

PT Compact Eligibility Requirements

In order to purchase and maintain a Compact Privilege, you must meet each of these requirements:

1. Hold a current, valid PT or PTA license in your home state, as defined in Commission Rules.
   1. Your “home state” is the state you are claiming as your place of permanent residency. Furthermore, you must have a valid driver’s license proving permanent residency in your home state. (Flexibility for active duty military and their spouses only). 
2. Your home state must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges. (see map below for participating member states)
3. You cannot have any active encumbrances against any PT or PTA license.
   1. An encumbrance is any action taken by the Licensing Board that limits the practice of the PT or PTA. An encumbrance may be disciplinary or non-disciplinary in nature as stated by the PT Compact website. 
4. You cannot have any disciplinary action against any PT or PTA license for a period of two years.
5. The state where you are seeking a Compact Privilege must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges. (again see the map below for participating member states)

Remember- Home State must = Member State 

I think the biggest misunderstanding for most people who’ve never used the PT compact is listed under #1 and #2 above. #1 you must have an active license in your “home state,” and #2 your home state must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges. 

Just to reemphasize, the PT compact is an “interstate agreement” between PARTICIPATING MEMBER STATES. This can only be utilized by the states that are members of the compact, including your HOME STATE, or place of permanent residence. This is typically the state where one would have their driver’s license and the place that one would be traveling away from on a travel contract.

So, curious if your home state is a member state?? Check out the PT Compact map below to see!! If your home state is not currently a participating member state, fear not. The compact legislature is frequently being introduced or proposed in many states, so never say never! I would recommend joining the PT Compact email list here to stay up to date on current announcements from the PT Compact including new member state legislature.

The current map taken directly from http://ptcompact.org/ptc-states, Taken as of 2/27/22

Now that you understand what the PT Compact is and who can utilize it, what are the benefits of using it??

Benefits of the PT Compact 

There are SO many benefits to utilizing the PT Compact as a traveler. I have used the PT compact for over half of the travel contracts I’ve done thus far. The two biggest benefits I see are the shortened processing time and decreased cost. 

Processing Time

To me, the biggest benefit of using the PT Compact vs normal state licensing is the short processing time. Every state is different, but oftentimes it takes WEEKS sometimes MONTHS for state licenses to be processed and issued. Between all the documents that must be submitted, potential background checks to be run, and outside licensure verification from the states you are already licensed in, there’s a lot to be processed for licensing!

When I had to apply for individual state licenses, I applied way ahead of time. This way I already have obtained the license in the desired state early to avoid potential delays. However, with the PT compact, the processing time is a matter of how quickly you can click through the application. Oftentimes, this only takes a matter of minutes, 10 minutes or less. 

So, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements (see above), you go onto the PT Compact website, purchase your PT compact privilege, take the jurisprudence exam (if required) and it is immediately issued following payment. No background checks, no waiting on licensure verification, no NPTE score transfers, and no sending over transcripts from your alma mater. All quick and painless. And to your recruiter’s delight (who typically pays for licensure costs), PT compact privileges are much more affordable than typical state licenses. 

Cost

The cost of normal PT state licensing can range anywhere from just over ~$100 up to $300-400+ depending on the state. Most states require an initial application fee, which is where the biggest cost comes from, but when applying for licensure by endorsement, you will also have to transfer your NPTE scores (~$90 fee) as well as send your transcripts from the school you graduated from, which typically also comes with a small fee (~$12 for my school). These fees as well as those associated with a potential background check, fingerprints, mailing cost, etc all add up quickly! 

With the PT Compact, there is a one-time processing fee. This fee is typically a fraction of the cost of the normal licensure application fee. See each state processing fee here. Luckily, most travel recruiting companies will reimburse any licensing cost as a benefit of each new travel contract; however, when applicable, it’s nice to avoid the upfront cost of a new state license. 

Other FAQ’s about PT Compact Privileges

“How long does each compact privilege last?” – Each compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is valid. For me, my home state license is in Missouri. I currently have compact privileges in North Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, and Texas. I have to renew my Missouri license every 2 years. This is the case for most state licenses. When I renew my Missouri license, I will also have to renew each compact privilege I still need with the same processing fee as mentioned before. And again each renewed compact privilege is valid as long as your home state license is valid. 

“Can PTs and PTA’s both obtain PT compact privileges?” Yes, PTA’s or physical therapy assistants can also obtain compact privileges to practice PT in a state outside their home state. 

Summary

As you can see, the PT compact is an INCREDIBLE resource, particularly for travelers who are practicing in different states frequently. When eligible, I highly recommend utilizing the PT Compact. It will make your life MUCH easier and will save you time and money that you can spend enjoying your current travel adventures. If you have any other questions about the PT Compact, please feel free to reach out and Contact Us. Or Check out the PT Compact website.

The post THE PT COMPACT- HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

Recruiters/Recruiting Companies Explained

So, first off, for those unfamiliar with how the travel world works, recruiters and recruiting companies must be explained. Recruiting companies find or are notified of travel job openings by clients who need outside assistance. Each recruiter, in particular, reaches out to the travelers they work with and notifies them of these job openings. And for each opening ask whether or not you’d like to apply for that opening. For each job that you then get hired for, the recruiting company gets a portion of the reimbursement you receive. This is how the recruiting company/recruiters make their money. Essentially, they are the middlemen/women between the job pool or travel jobs across the country and you, the aspiring traveler. 

With that said, one might ask, “Well can’t I just get these jobs on my own as a traveler?” The answer is no, not typically. Most of the clients looking for travelers prefer to hire from a trustworthy and qualified recruiting company vs searching through THOUSANDS of individuals. Also, many of these jobs are only sent out to recruiting companies and may not be publicly announced. There are many reasons why working through a recruiting company is beneficial, but from my perspective, the biggest reason is–>TIME. 

For me, the moment I move to a new area, I begin planning the free time I have with adventures, such as exploring National Parks nearby. With a recruiter, you can go about your business between working and enjoying your travel contracts all while the heavy lifting of finding jobs that align with your priorities is being filled by your recruiter. So, again, the question is, WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

How I Got Started

I began getting interested in becoming a travel PT through my travels for clinical rotations during school; however, I did not begin the process of searching for recruiters until ~ 5 months before graduating from PT school. Upon beginning the search of finding a recruiter in ~January 2020, I very quickly found out that the number of choices of travel therapy recruiting companies out there is extremely overwhelming! A quick Google search will pop up with countless recruiting companies. Many of these offer very similar benefits and such, thus it’s hard to find one that truly stands out. The options of paths to take were seemingly endless but I started with some recommendations online.

Online Recommendations

Luckily for this particular circumstance, we live in the era of social media. Months before this I had already begun following many travel therapists and travel therapy couples on social media. These individuals were more than willing to help out, as they had already likely done for other aspiring travelers. With a quick DM, they shared specific recruiters they worked with and shared their respective contact info. This gave me a pool of recruiters to choose from who were “battle-tested” and recommended by those who were seemingly really enjoying their travel experiences. 

After receiving all the contact info I needed, I began reaching out to all these different recruiters. Each recruiter then set up a phone call to discuss what their company had to offer/what made them unique. This gave me a chance to make enough small talk and conversation to get a feel for whether I was getting a “good vibe” from each recruiter individually. The more recruiters I spoke with, the more I realized that there are really small minute differences between recruiting companies. The most important aspect is all about the recruiter and the individual and how well they work together. This was confirmed by my online social media travel therapy mentors, as well. 

Utilizing Past Networking

Around this same time that I was reaching out to recruiters recommended to me online, I also perused through contacts that I had met months before at a university-hosted job fair at my school. At the time, the job fair was more of a chance to practice my networking skills than it was truly searching for permanent contacts; however, I did make one meaningful connection with a recruiter at a travel therapy company. This relationship outweighed a few other recruiters I had spoken to on the phone. This was mostly due to getting to have a face-to-face conversation with them, which, in today’s society, cannot be overstated when it comes to developing relationships, professional or personal.

On this same note, I know others have developed contacts through old-school colleagues and companies they worked with on school clinicals. Therefore, there are many ways to find recruiter contacts. You just have to find what’s right for you and what makes you feel the most comfortable jumping into the travel therapy world. 

After many phone calls and trusting my gut, I had made my decision. I decided on choosing to work with one recruiter who was recommended online, and the other who I had already personally met at the job fair. Yes, I decided to work with two recruiters, again based on recommendations from more experienced travelers. Not all recruiting companies have the same job pools (though there definitely is some overlap). I wanted the best chance at finding the best jobs out there for me. 

FAQ: Is there an interview process for getting “hired” by a recruiting company?

No, not really. As I stated above, you will have some sort of phone call or another form of conversation to determine whether you and the recruiter will be a good fit and to give you a chance to ask any questions about the recruiter, the company, or travel therapy in general. After this phone call, if you are still interested in working with this company, they will begin the next steps of the “onboarding process.” This is a series of online forms to create a profile with the recruiting company and as soon as you are able they will begin finding jobs for you! The only “job interview/hiring process” only truly happens when you begin applying for actual travel jobs.

Recruiter Communication Tips

After you’ve chosen the recruiter you plan to work with and you begin the onboarding process it is ABSOLUTELY essential that you and your recruiter are on the same page when it comes to communication and your priorities. 

With my recruiters, I make sure to let them know exactly how I’d like to be contacted when upcoming jobs arise. This makes things quick and efficient for replying and submitting to jobs ASAP, which is very important. Before coming into each new round of “job submission time”, I sent my recruiters a list of “My top priorities”. This is obviously going to vary from person to person. Priorities can include just looking for the highest paying jobs, looking for a specific location, preference on job setting, etc.

For us, we are traveling to immerse ourselves in areas of the country that we may never travel to again. Thus, location is always high on our list. So, I list out preferences on states, cities in those states, and even areas we are trying to avoid as well. This way I know my recruiter has a very clear picture of what kind of job I’m looking for next; however, no matter how clear you try to make yourself sometimes your recruiter may not be as good of a fit as you anticipated. This was unfortunately the case for me.

Changing Travel Therapy Recruiters

After a few travel contracts, I realized one of the two recruiters I had chosen was not a good fit. This recruiter had actually landed me my first travel gig. A job as a new grad in the middle of the COVID travel market drought, thus I was very thankful for this recruiter. Unfortunately, I had come to realize that no matter how much I liked this recruiter personally, it was not a good fit. They were not communicating with me as I had clearly stated I preferred. This “miscommunication” was limiting my efficiency in submitting for jobs quickly. At this time I was not on contract through this company. Which gave me the freedom to end all connections with this recruiter.

After cutting ties, I decided to again reach out to my online mentors searching for another recruiter recommendation. I immediately found a great fit with a great company. I have since secured several travel contracts in a row with my new recruiter. She has time and time proved she understands what I’m looking for in my travel experiences. So, even if you happen to misjudge your initial recruiter “partnership”, it’s easy to cut ties and find a better fit. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my travel career.

Summary

That is an overview of the framework of how I’ve gone about choosing (and re-choosing) a travel recruiter(s). I am always open to questions that one might have diving further into this topic. So PLEASE feel free to CONTACT US with any questions! I’d be happy to share my own personal recommendations for recruiters that I work with! Or check out the FAQs page for quick answers about travel therapy.

The post TRAVEL THERAPY RECRUITERS: CHOOSING WHO’S RIGHT FOR YOU appeared first on Trails of a Travel PT.

We have officially been traveling for over 1 year now and have stayed in just about every housing option you can think of. North Dakota-> Apartment. Maine-> Airbnb. Colorado-> Extended Stay Hotel. Georgia-> Condo. And now we live full-time in an RV! Throughout all of our stays, we have realized what our priorities are when we travel, as well as what we like/dislike about each housing option. The main thing is we had a roof over our heads and that’s all that really matters!

NEEDS

When searching for housing we have to understand the difference between what we need vs. what we want. Our “needs” are non-negotiable and absolutely necessary for how we want to live. “Wants” are nice to have but not completely essential to live how we want to live.

The first factor in the “needs” is the cost. We want to make sure we are staying within our budget and saving as much as we can for fun adventures. We want to make the most of our time while traveling and that means doing new and exciting adventures, such as dog sledding or whale watching! But that doesn’t mean we don’t also plan for our future and put money away for savings/retirement.

Secondly, it is very important for us to have a kitchen. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but we need someplace with a stovetop, microwave, and fridge. Originally when all we traveled with was our two cars we had to make sure we were able to cook meals every night instead of being dependent on going out or eating prepackaged meals. Investing in an air fryer and/or instant pot can save you a lot of room/capability to do without an oven (like we had to in Colorado)!

WANTS

The first factor in our “wants” category is personal space. After living with a couple in an Airbnb for 3 months in Maine (which wasn’t that bad!) we realized personal space was a higher priority than we thought; however, it isn’t completely necessary! We definitely would have done it again, but maybe not on back-to-back contracts.

The second “want” is having a furnished place. Since we do not travel with any of our furniture, we don’t have a bed, couch, table, washer/dryer, etc. However, there is a nationwide company, CORTS, that you can rent as much or as little as you want! It is an extra cost month to month, but sleeping on a mattress is kind of nice.

Next is location. We are willing to drive within an hour of our job locations if that means housing will be cheaper further away. Depending on where your contract is you might have to drive a ways to even find a housing option. Or you may just want to because the city you are in is way over your budget. Either way, the location is totally flexible!

And last but not least, amenities. This would include a pool, gym, laundromat, free wifi, utilities included, coffee bar, and more. These are all just an added bonus! Staying somewhere with a gym that is free to use is so nice, but it isn’t necessary. I can guarantee you there is probably a Planet Fitness nearby that you could pay ~$10/month and get a great workout in!

PRIORITIZE

Once you decide what your priorities are, finding housing that suits your needs will be faster! But, that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Most of the time you will be finding out where your next assignment is ~4-6 weeks out of your selected start date. Sometimes you will find exactly what you want right away, but that’s not always the case. You may be searching for days and weeks until finally, you give up and just buy an RV…(like we did). But seriously it will likely take time and a lot of phone calls and/or online messaging.

One reason we haven’t gotten a dog yet is because that would cut our already limited housing options down even more due to pet restrictions in certain housing situations! And even where they do allow it, typically there’s at least an extra fee we’d have to pay at every place. We love pets (especially dogs), but for us, it’s just not a high priority.

Traveling with a partner also eliminates some options. Especially if you are booking through Furnished Finder, a friendly traveling nurse website that is best suited for solo travelers. I’ve reached out to several places that were willing to take me alone if I were a solo traveler but denied me since I travel with my wife and she’s not a healthcare worker.

Finding an option that fits all your wants and needs is NOT impossible, but may happen. Therefore, before searching for your next home away from home make a list of your priorities so you won’t be disappointed if all your wants are not met. 

PROS & CONS

APARTMENT LIVING

PROS

• PERSONAL SPACE
• FUN AMENITIES, SUCH AS A POOL & GYM
• FULL KITCHEN
• APARTMENTS ARE EVERYWHERE

CONS

• NOT ALL HAVE UTILITIES INCLUDED (POTENTIALLY)
  • HAVING TO SET UP ELECTRIC/WIFI EVERY 3 MONTHS SOUNDS LIKE A PAIN
• NOT ALL ARE FULLY FURNISHED
  • CAN RENT THROUGH CORT THOUGH
• NOT ALL OFFER SHORT-TERM LEASES
  • SHORT-TERM LEASES ARE ALSO WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN MOST PRICES LISTED ONLINE
• NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE
• NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT IF YOUR CONTRACT FALLS THROUGH AND YOU HAVE TO BACK OUT
  • MAY NOT EVER HAPPEN TO YOU, BUT HAS HAPPENED TO US (ON OUR FIRST CONTRACT!)

AIRBNB’S/FURNISHED FINDER

PROS

• DISCOUNTS ON MONTHLY STAYS
  • WE LOVE A GOOD DISCOUNT
• MOST ARE GOING TO BE FULLY FURNISHED
  • THIS INCLUDES WASHER/DRYER, KITCHEN, ETC
• UTILITIES ARE INCLUDED
• LOTS OF FUN AND CUTE HOMES

CONS

• CHEAP ONES WILL LIKELY BE ROOM-ONLY
  • ARE YOU OKAY WITH LIVING WITH STRANGERS?
• YOU WILL LOSE THE FIRST MONTHS RENT IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL
• NOT ALWAYS, BUT WILL USUALLY EXCEED YOUR BUDGET
• HARD TO FIND LONG-TERM STAYS
  • THIS MEANS POTENTIALLY MOVING MORE FREQUENTLY

HOTELS

PROS

• FREE BREAKFAST!!!
• MAID SERVICE!!!
  • THEY WASH YOUR SHEETS, CLEAN YOUR BATHROOMS, ETC
    • BE SURE TO TIP THOUGH
• PERSONAL SPACE
• FURNISHED
  • & SOMETIMES KITCHENETTE
• AMENITIES, SUCH AS POOL, LAUNDROMAT, GYM, SNACKS, ETC
• UTILITIES INCLUDED
• PULL OUT COUCH FOR GUESTS
• DISCOUNTS ON LONGER STAYS/AAA

CONS

• THIN WALLS/DOORS
• COST DEPENDING ON THE AREA
• SOMETIMES UNSANITARY
• DON’T ALWAYS HAVE A KITCHENETTE

RV FULL TIMERS

PROS

• PERSONAL SPACE
  • BUT WAY LESS
• SPENDING MONEY TOWARDS OWNING A HOME
• DECORATING OUR HOME HOWEVER WE LIKE
• NEVER HAVE TO UNPACK EVER AGAIN!!!
  • THIS IN ITSELF IS WORTH IT
• MEETING FUN & FRIENDLY RV/CAMPER PEOPLE WHEREVER WE STAY
• HAVING A CONSISTENT HOME WHEREVER WE GO
• FEELING CONNECTED TO NATURE MORE
  • MANY CAMPGROUNDS/RV PARKS ARE MORE IN SECLUDED AREAS

CONS

• THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF OWNING ANOTHER VEHICLE/HOME
• TRAVEL TIME INCREASES
• CAMPGROUNDS CAN BE BUSY/LOUD
• ADDITIONAL COST OF CAMPGROUND/RV PARK SITE
• NOT HAVING A SAFE PLACE DURING NATURAL DISASTERS

Additional Websites or Apps for Housing:

• VRBO
• Apartment List
• Zillow Rentals
• rent.com
• Hotpads
• Trulia
• apartments.com
• extendedstayamerica.com
• Marriot

There are many pros & cons when searching for your next home while traveling and I’m sure your priorities will be different from ours. However, be sure to do your research and find the best fit for you! We have been very fortunate thus far to have stayed in very decent places. We have loved every single one, and we were able to make each one feel like home. Moreover, we are absolutely loving our RV and can’t wait to see where it takes us on future contracts. If you have any questions or would like to know more about our experiences contact us and we’d be happy to help you out!

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