Can New Grad Physical Therapists Do Travel PT?

There are plenty of travel PT jobs that are open to new graduates, but that doesn’t mean every travel assignment is a good fit if you are fresh out of school.

Here are some things to consider when going into travel physical therapy as a new graduate PT.

Focus on Your First Contract

Your first travel contract is probably not the time to put yourself in the most challenging situation. You are already learning how travel PT works, so having a supportive clinical environment can make a huge difference.

During the interview, ask about things like:

• How many other PTs are on staff?

• Will a specific PT be my mentor?

• What does the typical caseload look like?

• Are there productivity expectations?

• How much orientation will you receive?

• Is there a gradual ramp-up period?

• What is the documentation system?

The documentation system will probably be the biggest learning hurdle. Even if you’re comfortable treating patients, getting used to a different EMR can take some time. We created an outpatient documentation guide to make the transition easier. You will find out a lot about whether an assignment is actually a good fit for you during the interview. Be sure to ask specific questions, especially about what your first few weeks will look like as those tend to be the most challenging.

Do not get too caught up in earning the highest possible weekly pay on your first contract. Getting a solid first contract under your belt, gaining confidence, and learning how travel PT works can be more valuable than squeezing every dollar out of your first assignment.

You will find that a lot of jobs offer new grads less money than experienced travelers. You should still negotiate your pay. Being a new grad doesn’t mean you have to accept the first offer you are given.

Pick a Setting You’re Comfortable With

For your first contract, we generally recommend choosing a setting where you felt the most confident during your clinical rotations.

If you spent your outpatient clinical treating patients one-on-one and felt comfortable doing that, an outpatient 1:1 travel job could be a great place to start instead of a high volume outpatient clinic. You may not want your first contract to be in a setting you have never worked in before while also learning all the logistics that come with travel PT.

After one or two contracts, you will have a much better understanding of housing, contract specifics, recruiters, company benefits, licensing, and everything else that comes with being a traveler. At that point, branching out into a less familiar setting should be more manageable.

You’re Not the Only Inexperienced Traveler

It’s also worth remembering that you don’t need years of experience before becoming a traveler. There are plenty of new grads and less-experienced travelers, with most travel PTs being only a few years out of school. There are facilities that regularly hire newer travelers, which is why finding a new-grad-friendly assignment is very realistic.

That said, some jobs will require previous experience. Your recruiter should be able to tell you which positions are realistic for your experience level and what the facility is looking for.

The goal with your first contract is probably not the time to prove that you can handle the most challenging setting or find the highest pay. It is to find a position where you can build confidence as a clinician while learning how travel PT works.

Choose the right first contract, negotiate your pay, and use the interview process to make sure the facility is going to be the right fit for you.

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