Imagine being able to work as a physical therapy assistant — while also having the freedom to work whenever and wherever you like.
When you’re a travel PTA, that dream is your reality.
Travel PTA jobs mean you have the unique opportunity to do the job you love and grow your career, all while helping meet the staffing needs of physical therapy providers throughout the country.
Find out what it takes to hit the road as a traveling PTA and how Trusted Nurse Staffing can help you find the perfect travel PTA job.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Travel PTA?
- 3 Benefits of PTA Travel Jobs
- How To Become a Travel PTA: A Look at Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential
- Commonly Asked Questions About Travel PTA Jobs
- Start Your Travel PTA Job Journey With Pronto
What Is a Travel PTA?
Traveling physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are allied health professionals who provide rehabilitative services to patients under the supervision of certified physical therapists. Their goal is to help patients recover from injuries or surgery and improve their physical function.
They do this by:
- Providing excellent patient care
- Implementing and assisting in the execution of treatment plans
- Teaching and guiding patients through exercises
- Administering therapies, including heat, cold, and electrical stimulation
- Making modifications in treatment interventions as needed
- Helping patients improve mobility
- Keeping a record of patient progress
Travel PTA jobs may be in remote destinations away from the traveler’s home, or they may be contracted positions in their local area.
Explore the exciting career of a traveling PTA with Trusted Nurse Staffing with a Pronto job search!
3 Benefits of PTA Travel Jobs
#1: You Have Flexibility
One of the great perks of PTA travel jobs is the ability to choose both your assignment and the medical facility where you’ll work.
Do you prefer to work in a large hospital? It’s likely an option. There are also usually assignments available in smaller medical facilities as well, like physical therapy clinics, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and sports and fitness facilities, just to name a few.
Another great thing about travel PTA jobs is getting to choose where you want to work and the time frames you want to work in. Is your best friend getting married in August? No problem. You can choose to take the month off.
Is your family traveling over the winter holidays? Just take a break between assignments. PTA travel jobs allow you to schedule time off any time you need to so your job fits into your life — not the other way around.
#2: You Get to Travel
We live in a big, beautiful country, so why not take the time to explore it? With a travel PTA job, you’ve got the opportunity to choose exactly where you want to work.
Have you always wanted to see the Rocky Mountains? Look at assignments in Wyoming or Colorado.
Want to relax your weekends away on a sunny beach? Check out the available positions in California or Hawaii.
If you decide you want to stay a little closer to home for a month or two, you can even take an assignment in your hometown.
#3: You’ll Pad Your Resume
Traveling PTA jobs allow you to explore your profession in settings you might not otherwise get to experience if you’re working as a staff PTA — and your resume will thank you for it!
You’ll be offered the chance to work in a variety of healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, and residential facilities. You’ll have opportunities to network with other professionals and acquire valuable skills in dealing with a variety of physicians, patient populations, and specialists.
How To Become a Travel PTA: A Look at Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential
Skills
To be successful in traveling PTA jobs, you’ll need to possess the following skills:
- Physical strength and stamina – PTAs will be lifting and moving patients and spend much of their day on their feet. For example, school PTAs need to be able to support students as they test their balance or use adaptive equipment.
- Oral and written communication – PTAs interact with patients and their families as they provide support and teach them how to perform exercises and routines. They also must keep meticulous patient records.
- Attention to detail – PTAs must be able to assess their patients’ needs and progress and thoroughly document treatment sessions.
- Compassion and empathy – PTAs need to be understanding, especially when they’re dealing with patients with painful injuries.
- Interpersonal awareness – PTAs need to be able to develop a strong rapport with their patients and colleagues.
- Detailed understanding of anatomy – PTAs need to be able to understand the physical dynamics of their patients’ limitations.
- Therapeutic exercises – PTAs must have a wide repertoire of therapeutic exercises so they know which exercises to recommend to their patients.
Qualifications
To apply for traveling PTA jobs you must:
- Obtain your degree – You’ll need to have an associate degree from an accredited PTA program or a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as kinesiology or exercise science.
Bachelor’s degree programs generally take four years to complete, while PTA programs take two years and include coursework, clinical observations, hands-on clinical experience, and lab work.
You will also be required to obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS) certifications.
- Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam and receive your license – Once you graduate, it’s time to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). Offered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, this test is a national requirement for all states, except Colorado and Hawaii.
Once you pass the NPTE, you’ll receive your PTA license. However, keep in mind that every state has additional licensure requirements that may include:
- A criminal background check
- Proof of liability insurance
- Jurisprudence assessment
- A copy of transcripts from your PTA program
- State-specific exams
Most states require license renewal every two years.
- Gain relevant work experience – With the other requirements under your belt, you’ll now be ready to hone your skills by working at a PT clinic or other facilities that hire PTAs.
Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reports that overall, employment of both physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 19% from 2022 to 2032, significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
This increase in demand is driven by:
- The rise in healthcare needs of the aging U.S. population, particularly Baby Boomers
- Increased technological advancements that permit a higher survival rate of trauma victims and children born with birth defects.
Earning Potential
According to salary.com, the average physical therapist assistant salary is $102,432 per year. The average annual salary can vary widely, however, based on factors such as:
- Years of experience
- Area of specialization
- Geographical location
- Type of employer
Where Are the Highest Paying Travel PTA Jobs Located?
If you’re looking for the top-paying traveling PTA jobs in the U.S., you’ll definitely want to check out assignments in these locations:
Highest paying states:
- District of Columbia – $114,007
- California – $112,983
- New Jersey – $112,266
- Alaska – $111,549
- Massachusetts – $111,446
Highest paying cities:
- San Jose, CA – $128,553 per year
- San Francisco, CA – $128,040 per year
- Oakland, CA – $124,967 per year
- New York, NY – $119,641 per year
- Queens Village, NY – $118,822 per year
Commonly Asked Questions About Travel PTA Jobs
How Long Is a Typical Travel PTA Job Assignment?
A typical travel PTA job assignment lasts 13 weeks, but positions ranging from between 8 and 26 weeks are also common.
Where Do Traveling PTAs Work?
Traveling PTAs have the opportunity to provide care for people in a wide variety of settings that include:
- Hospitals
- Physical therapy clinics
- Private practices
- Outpatient clinics
- Home health agencies
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Schools
- Sports and fitness facilities
- Work settings
- Nursing homes
Start Your Travel PTA Job Journey With Pronto
Are you ready to jump into an exciting career as a traveling PTA?
With Trusted Nurse Staffing, it’s easy! Simply:
- Sign up for Pronto.
- Get connected with a recruiter, who will be there to help and answer any questions 24/7.
- Search on Pronto for travel PTA jobs that meet your specific qualifications, needs, and interests.
As an Allied Health travel PTA with Trusted Staff Nursing, you’ll be matched with your very own dream team of experts to assist you with:
- Payroll – While this is often a huge hassle for many PTAs at larger agencies, at Trusted Nurse Staffing we have a dedicated payroll team on call to answer your payroll questions.
- Compliance – Your team will keep you up-to-date on all necessary facility-specific testing and licensing requirements — and they’ll also take care of your licensing and testing costs!
- Ongoing support – We’ll answer questions and advocate for you throughout your travel PTA job and help you land your next assignment when the time comes.
When you make the choice to travel with Trusted Nurse Staffing, you’ll also get exciting perks like:
- A welcome box
- $1500 bonus for referring your friends or a facility we aren’t already working with
- Ambassador program where you can get rewarded for creating content
- And so much more
Search today for travel PTA jobs with Trusted Nurse Staffing!