Traveling the Country as an Occupational Therapist

Traveling occupational therapy jobs are just what they sound like: opportunities to see the country while helping individuals who are struggling to get well. If you have taken the time needed to obtain your occupational therapist degree and have been certified in your state to provide these services, you may be able to find employment around the country. Professionals in this field are in extraordinarily high demand. Many hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices are willing and able to contract work from out of state to help fill demand. Positions like this are available throughout the country.

Who Qualifies for These Positions?

There is a wealth of help available to individuals who qualify for occupational therapy travel jobs. If you are hoping to take your knowledge and apply it in a way that is extremely beneficial to others, this position is the right fit. Do you qualify, though? To answer that question, consider the following potential requirements of these types of jobs.

• Do you have the education needed in occupational therapy? This includes at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.
• Do you have the proper licensing for your state? Some states require that occupational therapists sit for an exam and licensing right after school. Many also require follow-up licensing exams every four to six years.
• Do you have the proper license in the state you may travel to? In some cases, you will need to apply for and obtain a license to practice in another state. This is only necessary once you have found out-of-state employment and it is verified that you need this type of licensing to work in the state.

While these may be the overall skills you need, there is more to consider with physical therapy travel jobs. For example, these jobs can take you throughout the country. You could be helping in the southern states, the West coast or even in Alaska (though that is rare). The key here is that you have to be open to traveling, extensively, in some cases. Many people love to travel from place to place, but they may not want to be gone too long or stay in one area for too long. For those entering traveling occupational therapy jobs, traveling and living out of state is going to happen and it is likely you will remain at that location for a few months or longer.

Also keep in mind that occupational therapy travel jobs require a lot of physical strength. You will be working with a range of different people with different types of injuries and therapy requirements. You will need to be flexible in meeting their needs, have patience to work with them to accomplish their goals, and possess the passion for your job that keeps you going. This is a lot to ask, but these jobs can provide excellent benefits.

What to Expect from These Jobs

Occupational therapy travel jobs have excellent benefits. Each position is unique, with most of these jobs providing you with a range of benefits for working there. Here are some items to keep in mind while you look for physical therapy travel jobs.

• One of the best benefits of traveling occupational therapy jobs is that you can travel virtually anywhere in the country. Some areas may have more demand for the position than others. You may have to choose an area that has available positions. Still, if you wish to live in a variety of locations, this is a good way to do so.
• Good pay and health benefits. Most occupational therapy travel jobs are hard to fill. This often requires companies to pay their employees very well. Some positions also include relocation benefits and expenses to help you to make the move to your new home.
• Excellent references for your resume. Physical therapy travel jobs are one of the best types of jobs to have on your resume. It takes a great deal of time to build a successful resume in this industry, but spending a year or so doing this type of work will look very impressive to those companies you apply with later.
  

Traveling occupational therapy jobs also put you in contact with some of today’s most in-need patients. While many people do take on these positions because of the benefits to them, such as pay, great vacation time, retirement plans, etc., many others take them on for what they can do for the people they help. This is particularly true for those who have positions where they will spend a great deal of time with a group of people of lower income or those who are struggling from significant physical loss.

If you are not sure if physical therapy travel jobs are right for you, there has never been a better time to find out. Many companies hire professionals for these positions regularly and they provide excellent training and programs to aid you in determining if this type of work is the right fit for your needs. The rewards for traveling occupational therapy jobs are outstanding and this type of service does not have to be a permanent career choice. For someone just out of school or someone looking for a change, it is an excellent start.