Traveling isn’t just for nurses! Especially since the pandemic, pretty much everyone knows what travel nursing is. But fewer people are aware that allied health professionals travel too — and in numbers that are getting bigger every year. Here’s a rundown of what are allied travel careers, where they’re available, and how to find them.
> Seeking a new career path? See open allied travel jobs here
Allied Travel Careers: The Basics
Travel nursing may be more famous, but in reality, some allied clinicians are in even higher demand than nurses. And some employers are willing to pay more for travelers to come work in their facilities. That includes PTs and OTs, PTAs and OTAs, SLPs and RTs, and all sorts of technologists and technicians, too. (Check open positions here to see if there are travel opportunities in your chosen career.)
Each travel job is usually a temporary position designed to meet a short-term need. This can be a for a number of reasons, including a surge in patients, a need to expand services or bed space, planned and unplanned staff absences (like sickness, vacation, or maternity leave), and others. And given the many shortages in many parts of the country, the number of travel assignments is only increasing.
Usually 13 weeks long, travel nursing assignments can be worked all throughout the year. In fact, given how high demand is — and the benefits it offers — more and more healthcare professionals are choosing to work travel jobs all year ‘round. And as you’ll see below, there are some pretty good reasons for doing so, too.
Get Paid to Travel: The Benefits of Working an Allied Travel Career
From the chance to earn more to getting the flexibility to work where and when you want, traveling offers many benefits to allied clinicians, including:
- The chance to earn more than standard jobs — much more, in some cases
- Freedom of choice, and getting to work when and where you want to
- The career flexibility of taking a season or two off for personal reasons without having to quit a full-time job (or find another one)
- The opportunity to get paid to travel, whether to explore the country, visit friends or family, or scout new places to live
- The chance to boost your career value by learning skills and gaining experience in new settings, units, or facilities, and with different technology and equipment
- Potentially helping your emotional wellbeing with a more rewarding day-to-day experience
- Offering the job security of adopting a job lifestyle with plenty of demand
How Can You Start an Allied Health Travel Career?
For the most part, landing an allied health job is the same as any other. You’ll need to have the necessary qualifications — for instance, a license and degree, and certification, depending on what type of job you’re applying for. You’ll then need to pass a background check and possibly a drug test.
Some travel jobs may also require experience in certain settings, or additional certifications. So, when you’re looking for jobs, make sure to use a jobsite that offers full transparency.
> Pro tip: When applying for a travel job, make sure to mention the soft skills that every good traveler should have: flexibility, adaptability, and self-sufficiency.
How to find allied health travel jobs
The first step in finding allied travel opportunities is finding a company that specializes in placing travelers. For instance, HealthTrust offers nationwide opportunities, top pay, and exclusive opportunities that aren’t available from any other company.
With a constant source of travel jobs opening up each month, a dedicated company like HealthTrust can also help you maintain an active career in allied travel, smoothly lining up one assignment after another to ensure constant employment.
Find Your Next Allied Travel Career Opportunity at the HealthTrust Jobsite
Best of all, our jobs are always available at the HealthTrust jobsite, where it’s easy to search open positions by specialty, location, or other key criteria. Check it out now to see what travel jobs are available, as well as local and per diem assignments.
And stay tuned to the HealthTrust blog for more details on how to sustain a successful allied travel career, where to find the best new opportunities, and much, much more!
