How to Plan for Jumping into Travel PT as a New Grad
So, you’re in your final clinical rotation, staring at the light at the end of the tunnel—except that light is actually just the glow of your laptop screen as you try to figure out what comes next. Travel PT is calling your name (as it should), but before you can pack your bags and start working in beach towns or big cities, you’ve got some groundwork to lay. The good news? Your final clinical is the perfect testing ground to set yourself up for success.
Choose a Clinical That Works for Your Future (Not Just Your Schedule)
Sure, it’s tempting to pick a clinical site based on location alone. Who doesn’t want to spend 12 weeks working next to a brewery or a national park? But if you’re planning on traveling right out of school, think strategically. You want a placement that pushes you toward full independence—not one where you’re just an extra set of hands. Talk to your clinical coordinator early and ask for a clinical instructor and setting that will challenge you with a full caseload, diverse patient populations. You want a clinical instructor who understands your goal of walking into a travel contract ready to roll.
Shift Your Focus: You’re Training for the Real World Now
Your final clinical isn’t just about passing competencies—it’s your chance to fine-tune the soft skills that make the difference between feeling overwhelmed in your first job and stepping in with confidence. Patient care? Obviously a priority. But efficiency? That’s the game-changer.
Start treating your clinical like a real job. Practice getting notes done quickly so you’re not drowning in documentation at the end of the day. Learn the ins and outs of scheduling, referrals, timesheets, and workplace policies (many clinics operate similarly). Ever wonder why your CI is sprinting to the fax machine or side-eyeing their productivity metrics? Ask about it! Understanding how a clinic functions behind the scenes will make your transition to travel PT so much smoother.
Get Comfortable with Independence (Before You’re Forced Into It)
Your first travel contract is going to throw a lot at you—new clinic, new city, new coworkers, and about ten different versions of “we do things a little differently here.” The best way to make sure you’re ready? Push for full independence before you graduate.
Toward the beginning of your final clinical, talk to your Clinical instructor about your travel PT goals and ask for more autonomy. By your last few weeks, you should be treating a full caseload and completing notes independently. The more responsibility you take on now, the easier it will be to hit the ground running when you start traveling.
Final Thoughts
Your final clinical isn’t just a box to check—it’s your last chance to fine-tune your skills before stepping into the real world. If you use this time wisely, you won’t just survive your first travel contract—you’ll crush it. So take the lead, ask the questions, and get comfortable managing a full caseload now. That way, when you’re walking into your first assignment (preferably somewhere with a killer food scene or epic hiking), you’ll feel ready for whatever comes your way.
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