Are you a physical therapist with a passion for helping children thrive? Do you dream of exploring new places while making a meaningful impact? If so, Travel Physical Therapy Jobs, particularly in pediatrics, might be the perfect career path for you. Imagine combining your expertise in physical therapy with the adventure of travel, all while focusing on a population you love – kids! Many aspiring travel therapists wonder about the variety of settings available, especially if they are passionate about working with children. This guide, inspired by the experiences of pediatric travel physical therapist Emily, will delve into the world of “travel physical therapy jobs,” with a special focus on opportunities in pediatrics and valuable insights for those eager to embark on this rewarding journey.
Exploring Pediatric Travel Physical Therapy Jobs: Emily’s Journey
Let’s hear from Emily, a seasoned pediatric travel physical therapist who has dedicated her career to this fulfilling niche. Like many, Emily’s interest in travel therapy sparked during her time in physical therapy school. From the outset, her heart was set on pediatrics. The initial question was: could she pursue her passion for pediatric physical therapy while embracing the nomadic lifestyle of a travel therapist? Initially, the prospect seemed challenging. Finding consistent, back-to-back travel contracts specifically in pediatrics outside of school settings appeared limited. However, Emily discovered a game-changing avenue: school-based travel physical therapy jobs. This realization opened up a world of possibilities, allowing her to combine her love for pediatrics with her adventurous spirit.
Emily embarked on her first school-based travel PT contract in the fall of 2019, shortly after graduating and passing her board exams. Navigating the unknown, she relied on limited prior knowledge, mainly from another traveler in the school system. While she had a general understanding of caseload expectations, the number of schools she would serve, and the collaborative nature of school-based therapy, much of the experience was a new adventure. Starting in New York, Emily has now accumulated over four years of exclusive experience in school-based travel physical therapy jobs, traversing the country and gaining invaluable insights into this unique career path.
Emily Cormier, a pediatric travel physical therapist, smiling outdoors.
Diverse Settings for Travel PT Jobs in Pediatrics
While school-based settings have become Emily’s niche and a cornerstone of pediatric travel physical therapy jobs, it’s important to recognize the broader landscape of opportunities. Aspiring pediatric travel PTs aren’t limited to schools alone. Other settings do offer travel contracts, including pediatric hospitals, outpatient clinics specializing in pediatrics, early intervention programs, and home health care agencies serving children.
However, the availability and consistency of these non-school-based pediatric travel physical therapy jobs can differ. Emily’s research indicated that while these settings exist, securing back-to-back pediatric contracts year-round in these environments might be less predictable compared to school-based roles. It’s crucial to understand that the travel therapy world, in general, doesn’t offer guarantees. Yet, the demand for school-based travel PTs has shown remarkable consistency, offering a more stable stream of opportunities, a trend not always mirrored in other pediatric settings.
For those considering pediatric travel physical therapy jobs outside of schools, flexibility becomes paramount. This might involve being open to contracts that include a mix of pediatric and adult patients to ensure consistent work. Location flexibility is also key. Limiting your search to very specific geographic areas can significantly narrow down pediatric-focused opportunities, especially in specialized settings. While pediatric travel PT jobs exist across the nation, school-based positions often represent the majority of available contracts. Emily’s own experience, spanning coast to coast and from northern to southern states, predominantly revolves around school-based assignments, highlighting their prevalence in the travel pediatric PT job market.
School-Based vs. Other Pediatric Settings: Pros and Cons
Choosing the right setting is a significant decision for any travel physical therapist. When it comes to pediatric travel physical therapy jobs, understanding the distinct advantages and disadvantages of school-based versus other settings is crucial. Emily, a self-proclaimed “list person,” meticulously weighed the pros and cons. Let’s delve into a more detailed comparison:
| Pros of School-Based Pediatric Travel PT Jobs | Cons of School-Based Pediatric Travel PT Jobs |
|---|---|
| Rewarding and Impactful Work: Working with children is inherently rewarding. School-based PT allows you to be part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with educators, parents, and other specialists to create supportive environments for children’s development. You directly contribute to a child’s educational journey and overall well-being. | State-Specific Role Variations: The role of a school-based PT can vary significantly from state to state, and even between districts. Navigating these differences requires adaptability and a willingness to learn new guidelines and procedures in each assignment. This regional variation can sometimes lead to initial confusion and a steeper learning curve at the start of a new contract. |
| Job Stability and Predictability: School contracts typically align with the academic year, offering 9-10 month assignments. This provides a greater sense of stability compared to shorter contracts in other settings. Knowing your contract duration allows for better planning and financial forecasting. | Longer Contract Commitments: While stability is a pro, the longer contract duration might be a con for therapists who thrive on frequent changes of scenery and prefer shorter assignments (e.g., 13 weeks). School-based contracts require a commitment for a significant portion of the year, potentially limiting the frequency of location changes. |
| Schedule Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: School calendars often include numerous breaks, holidays, and professional development days, in addition to summer breaks (1.5-2 weeks for Winter Break and 2-3 months for Summer Break are common). This built-in time off provides ample opportunities for personal travel, pursuing hobbies, or simply recharging. This schedule flexibility can be a major draw for travel therapists seeking work-life balance. | Unpaid Breaks and Financial Planning: While the time off is a perk, it’s important to note that these breaks are typically unpaid. Travel therapists in school settings need to budget and plan their finances accordingly to account for these periods without income. Careful financial management is key to maximizing the benefits of the school schedule. |
| Summers Off and Diverse Options: The extended summer break offers a unique advantage. Travel PTs can utilize this time for personal travel, take short-term contracts in different settings or locations, pursue continuing education, or simply enjoy an extended period of rest and personal time. This flexibility to choose how to spend the summers is a significant benefit. | Potentially Lower Pay Rates: School-based travel PT jobs may sometimes offer slightly lower pay rates compared to settings like Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) or home health, particularly in certain high-demand areas or specialized roles. However, this is not always the case and pay rates can vary widely based on location, experience, and the specific school district. It’s essential to compare pay packages holistically, considering benefits and overall cost of living in the assignment location. |
| Team Collaboration and Community Engagement: School settings foster strong interdisciplinary collaboration with teachers, OTs, SLPs, counselors, and administrators. This team-based approach enhances patient care and provides a supportive professional environment. Longer school-year contracts also allow for deeper integration into the school community and the local area. |
Emily working with a child in a school setting.
Navigating Contract Environments and Length in Travel PT
Emily emphasizes that each school system presents a unique contract environment. Orientation programs, caseload sizes, and levels of support can vary significantly. Some assignments offer comprehensive onboarding, while others provide minimal orientation. Caseloads, while generally manageable, can fluctuate. Despite these variations, Emily consistently highlights feeling supported in her school-based travel PT roles, attributing this to strong collaborations with occupational therapists, teachers, and support staff.
However, she also notes a subtle difference compared to permanent therapists. Travelers might occasionally feel slightly less integrated into the long-term team, especially in schools with predominantly permanent staff. Building rapport and proactively engaging with the team can mitigate this.
Regarding contract length, Emily expresses a preference for longer, school-year contracts. These extended assignments allow for deeper immersion in the community, providing ample time to explore the region across different seasons. Experiencing the full cycle of seasons in each location offers a richer understanding of the area and helps in assessing long-term suitability, should settling down ever become a consideration. For Emily, the longer contracts alleviate the pressure to rush exploration and allow for a more balanced experience. While short-term contracts appeal to many travelers seeking frequent location changes, Emily finds the longer contracts better suited to her personal style and preferences. Ultimately, the ideal contract length is a matter of individual preference within the realm of travel physical therapy jobs.
Expert Advice for Aspiring Travel Pediatric PTs
For pediatric-focused therapists contemplating travel therapy jobs, Emily’s advice is a resounding “go for it!” She passionately advocates for embracing challenges and stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Her travel therapy career has fostered immense personal and professional growth, enriching her life with invaluable experiences, connections, and explorations. While acknowledging that challenging assignments and situations are inevitable in any career, travel therapy offers inherent flexibility and a supportive network to navigate those hurdles.
Emily underscores the paramount importance of finding a good company and recruiter, a critical factor in any travel therapy job search. A dedicated and supportive recruiter acts as your advocate, providing guidance, support during challenging assignments, and striving to match you with the best travel therapy job assignments aligned with your experience and preferences.
When pursuing pediatric travel therapy jobs, the key questions to ask during job interviews will vary depending on whether you are considering a school-based contract or a position in another setting. Thorough preparation and targeted questions are essential to ensure a successful and fulfilling travel assignment.
Emily warmly encourages open conversations about pediatric therapy, travel therapy, and navigating the nuances of “travel physical therapy jobs.” She welcomes inquiries and offers clarification to those seeking further insights into this dynamic career path.
In conclusion, choosing to become a traveling school-based PT has provided Emily with stability, favorable work hours, abundant travel opportunities during breaks, and a profound understanding of regional variations in the field. While challenges exist, the rewards and learning experiences gained over her four years as a traveling school-based PT have been immeasurable. Emily wholeheartedly endorses the travel therapy path and eagerly anticipates future opportunities in the upcoming school year, a testament to the fulfilling nature of travel physical therapy jobs.
For further information on school-based travel therapy jobs, including essential questions and expectations, explore this resource: Working in Schools as a Travel Therapist
About Emily:
Emily Cormier headshot smiling warmly.
Emily Cormier is a passionate travel physical therapist specializing in pediatrics, primarily accepting school-based contracts. Originally from a small town in Maine, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree from American International College and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the same institution through an accelerated 3+3 program. Interestingly, Emily initially envisioned returning to her home state and hadn’t considered travel therapy until attending the National Student Conclave in Providence, RI. This event sparked her interest, and she fully embraced the travel therapy lifestyle. Having lived in seven different states, she humorously notes that her home state is now the least appealing to her! Emily enjoys exploring new regions, hiking, visiting breweries and wineries, spending time at the beach, and soaking up the sun. You can connect with Emily on social media via Facebook or Instagram: @ecormier07.
