Travel therapy is one of the most accessible ways for a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist to earn more, see the country, and grow clinically faster than a staff role allows. But the path in can feel murky — how much experience do you need, how does the licensing work, and how do you actually land the first assignment? The good news is that it follows a clear sequence. Do these steps in order and you can go from "curious" to "packing for your first contract" in a couple of months.
Step 1 — Make sure you clear the experience bar
Most facilities want a travel therapist who can walk in and carry a caseload with minimal ramp-up, so the common expectation is at least one year of clinical experience in the setting you want to travel in. That's a norm, not a law — some outpatient and SNF roles will take a strong new grad, especially in high-demand markets — but a year of experience dramatically widens the jobs you'll qualify for and strengthens your negotiating position.
If you're a new grad set on traveling, the fastest route is usually a year in a busy outpatient, SNF, or inpatient rehab setting to build speed and confidence, then transition. If you already have a year or more, you're ready to start the licensing and agency steps now.
Step 2 — Sort out your licensing early
Licensing is the single biggest thing that determines how fast you can start — and it's the step new travelers underestimate most. PT, OT, and SLP each have their own interstate compact, and if your home state is a member, you can practice in the other member states without filing a separate full application in each one. That's the difference between booking an assignment next month and waiting a full quarter for a license to clear.
If a state you want isn't in your profession's compact, you'll apply for a license there directly — which can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months depending on the board. The move is to start this before you have an offer in hand: know your compact status, and pre-apply to one or two non-compact states you'd genuinely go to.
Check your compact and state requirements
Luvo's licensure pages show the current compact member states for PT, OT, and SLP, plus what each state board requires — so you can plan your licensing before you apply.
Browse licensure by stateStep 3 — Learn how travel pay actually works
Travel pay looks bigger than staff pay because it's built differently: a taxable hourly base rate plus non-taxable stipends for housing and meals that reimburse the cost of living away from your tax home. The headline weekly number bundles both, so two offers that look identical can leave you with very different take-home once you account for the taxable/non-taxable split and the local cost of housing.
Before you talk to a single recruiter, learn to convert any offer into a blended hourly rate — total weekly pay divided by hours worked. It's the only apples-to-apples way to compare assignments, and it keeps you from being wowed by a big gross number that's mostly stipend in an expensive city.
Run any offer through the pay calculator
Plug in the hourly rate, stipends, and weekly hours to see your blended rate and estimated take-home before you commit.
Open the pay calculatorStep 4 — Pick your setting and your first destination
Travel therapy spans outpatient ortho, SNF and inpatient rehab, home health, acute care, schools, and pediatrics. Your first assignment is easiest if it matches the setting you already know — you'll have enough new variables (new city, new EMR, new team) without also learning a new practice area cold.
For location, most experienced travelers advise making your first contract low-difficulty on purpose: same time zone, drivable if possible, and a setting you're fluent in. Save the cross-country, brand-new-setting adventure for your second or third contract, once the logistics feel routine.
Step 5 — Choose an agency (and what to look for)
Your agency shapes your entire experience — the jobs you see, how your pay is packaged, and who picks up the phone when something goes wrong at 7am. Look for pay transparency (they'll show you the full breakdown of taxable rate and stipends without a fight), recruiters who answer specific contract questions directly, and support for licensing and credentialing.
Red flags: a recruiter who quotes only a weekly gross and dodges the breakdown, pressure to sign before you've read the contract, and vague answers on guaranteed hours or cancellation terms. A good agency treats your first contract as the start of a relationship, not a one-time placement.
Step 6 — Line up and lock in your first assignment
When you're licensed and ready, apply to several assignments that fit your criteria rather than pinning everything on one. Multiple options give you leverage to negotiate and a backup if a facility fills a role or an offer stalls in credentialing. Read every contract for guaranteed hours, cancellation policy, float terms, and the exact requirements for any completion bonus before you sign.
Once you accept, credentialing and compliance move fast — health documents, licenses, certifications, and facility modules all need to clear before day one. Keep digital and physical copies of everything, and give yourself a few days in the new city before your start date to settle in.
See travel therapy jobs with full pay transparency
Every position on Luvo shows the complete pay breakdown up front — filter by profession, setting, and state, including compact-license states.
Browse open positionsStarting in travel therapy isn't about a leap of faith — it's a checklist. Build your year of experience, get your licensing sorted early, learn to read a pay package, pick a familiar setting for the first contract, choose an agency that's straight with you, and apply broadly. Work the steps in order and the hardest part turns out to be the smallest: deciding to go.
