Be prepared for an overload of information when searching the Internet for information on travel companies serving physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. It isn’t a question of whether you’ll find the needed information, but how to determine the legitimate firms from the fly-by-night entities.

Sifting through the myriad of services is less burdensome if you ask some key questions. How well does the company understand the needs of therapists? Do therapists hold key positions in the travel company? If so, there is a greater chance that such an agency is sensitive to the particular needs a traveling therapist is likely to encounter when on assignment.

This is not the time to short-change yourself. Do the necessary homework so you can be confident that the agency you are dealing with is interested in you and your needs rather than their bottom-line.

Look at a travel service’s website. Does it look professional? How thorough is the information it provides? Does it appear the firm knows what it’s talking about? And while you should not judge a book by its cover, one is more likely to gravitate towards a well-built and attractive website. It is probable that the more professional a site appears, the more likely it is that the service is the real thing and one with which you’d like to do business.

Once you have identified a potential travel therapist service, don’t be afraid to ask about pay and benefits. This is a competitive industry and firms seeking good therapists are willing to make it worth your while. Don’t be surprised to be earning as much as 20 percent or more than your stationary€ peers. Of course, this is dependent on your particular placement and the skills you bring to the position. Still, an attractive salary is to be expected.

Higher pay is not the only enticement. Traveling therapists also enjoy free and fully-furnished apartments or housing stipends, access to exercise facilities, travel expenses, health benefits, retirement benefits, and other amenities.  Often service-sponsored housing facilities are located in good neighborhoods and not far from your assignment.

If a particular benefit is attractive to you, then by all means seek out a firm that outpaces the competition in that particular area.

Before signing a contract, make sure your needs are being met. Feel the firm’s representatives out on how well they listen to your concerns, and how well they want to help you satisfy your needs. If the list of pros and cons leans too far in the negative column, then seriously consider taking your therapist skills to another service.

In the end, it should be a good fit for you and the placement firm.  And who knows, it may be one that has the potential of establishing a long and lasting relationship.

Centra Healthcare Solutions wants to build long-lasting relationships with skilled and reliable occupational, physical and speech therapists. If you’d love to see the country and serve patients in a wide variety of rehab settings, contact one of our recruiters. We look forward to hearing from you!