Being asked why I chose the travel route as a physical therapist is always naturally brought up among family, friends, colleagues, and patients.
Is it the money? Flexibility? Adventure? Yes, all these things are great. Isn't it stressful, exhausting, and challenging to establish relationships? All of these can be true as well.
Then, one night, it hit me. Saudade - I encountered this phrase while lounging on my bed, scrolling through Instagram reels one night. I've never had one word succinctly describe one particular feeling as much as this Brazilian concept does. Although there is no direct translation to the English language, it's a beautiful word that can be described as follows:
A feeling of longing or deep yearning for something else
I've always had this intense desire and passion for travel. As a traveler, I sincerely feel that there's something more out there. Something waiting to be explored or experienced. If I can make that a reality, then why not?
Sure. We can watch national geographic, live vicariously through travel pages on social media, or even admire the work of elite photographers in our favorite magazines. The point remains that nothing is the same until you experience it firsthand.
In one of my favorite movies, Good Will Hunting, the late and great Robin Williams famously solidifies this notion even further.
"So if I asked you about art you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo? You know a lot about him. Life’s work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientation, the whole works, right? But I bet you can’t tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You’ve never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seen that."I can watch and read all about Alaska all I want, which was my first travel assignment, by the way, and its breathtaking scenery. I still wouldn't be able to tell you how it feels to be on top of the peak of Carlanna Lake and marvel at the vast nature below me. I wouldn't be able to describe the feeling of my heart racing as I kayak with full-grown orcas a mere 20 feet away from me. I couldn't share my excitement about fishing and catching enough fresh salmon and halibut to last me three months.
I can travel the country and possibly the world, all while getting paid to do so. The decision was easy for me when I thought of it from that perspective, and I had a more challenging time considering why I shouldn't do travel PT. So, if this word, saudade, resonates with you as strongly as it does for me, then travel physical therapy might be your perfect career path. If I haven't made it clear enough yet, working as a travel therapist has been a fantastic experience in many ways, more than one.
If you've read this far, you're probably thinking, "what are the pros and cons of becoming a travel PT, and how do I get started"?
Here are my top three reasons why:
Growth
One of the most rewarding aspects of becoming a travel Pt is the professional and personal growth I've undergone as a result. Traveling to a new location, all the way across the country, forces you out of your comfort zone. There's just no way around it. You'll experience plenty of diversity when it comes to culture, demographics, and beliefs. Each assignment you take will offer it's unique challenges and change your perspective on not only your career, but your life.
Whereas you might feel yourself falling into a mundane routine at your permanent PT position, you'll experience the exact opposite as a traveler. As a result of traveling, I've been exposed to many different kinds of clinical presentations, some more complex than others, and it's motivated me to stay up to date with evidence based research as well as expanding my skill set.
As a travel PT, you'll also build up your resume and pop off the page to recruiters and companies. Let's face it- employers love employees who demonstrate outstanding work ethic, the ability to adapt quickly, and those who can communicate effectively. With each assignment you'll be expected to come into any situation and hit the ground running. While this may seem intimidating and stressful at first, you'll quickly adjust and be able to market yourself as someone who has the professional skills that every clinic director desires.
Flexibility
The type and amount of freedom that being a travel physical therapist offers is probably my favorite perk. If you're the kind of person who decides how much time you get off between contracts, the type of job setting you want to take, and of course, where you want to work, travel PT is definitely for you. No one else dictates when you have to start your next assignment but you. Gone are the days when you had to walk up to your manager and ask for PTO weeks or even months in advance just to be turned down.
In addition to exploring many parts of the country, I have the luxury of taking 2-4 weeks off between my assignments to travel abroad. Since becoming a traveler, I've visited Fairbanks, Mexico, Punta Cana, Honduras, Ireland, and Iceland. While you don't necessarily get much time off during your assignment (more on this later), you'll be paid handsomely, and if you save efficiently, you'll find that being able to take up to a month or two off is entirely doable. This brings me to my next point.
Earning potential
If you haven't heard yet, travel PT's get paid. According to Zip Recruiter, the average traveling physical therapists makes $99,947 a year. And, depending on the state, it's possible to earn even more. From my personal experience, I've accepted five travel contracts and my pay packages have ranged from $1,800 to $2,100 a week, after taxes!
So, to answer your question. Is it worth it? My response is a resounding yes, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
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