Is Allied Travel Right for You?

As an allied health traveler, you have many career options in front of you. You may work in a private medical office, an outpatient clinic, a rural or metropolitan hospital facility. But have you ever considered becoming a traveling allied professional? If you've heard that travelers often earn at a higher rate than permanent staff, that is correct. Putting the allied travel pay aside for a moment, there are many other reasons to try traveling.

For example, as a traveling radiology tech, you might work in a variety of acute care settings, depending on the assignment. As a Surgical Tech who travels, you can opt to experience a smaller community hospital or a bustling city medical center. You'll have a chance to experience a variety of clinical settings and see which is the best long-term fit for you.

Plus, there's the flexibility of travel. You won't have to negotiate for time off based on an administrative policy. Allied travel assignments typically last anywhere from 8 to 26 weeks, with most falling somewhere in the middle, 13 weeks being the most common. Take as much time off as you like between assignments, or take no time off. Many travelers chain assignments and take maximum advantage of higher travel pay rates.

Many allied travel positions require 1 to 2 years experience in a similar setting. You will also need to secure the necessary certifications and, if applicable, state licensure for the position. Don't worry if you don't have state licensure yet for the location you're most interested in. We will help you with that!

Your first task is to connect with a friendly, knowledgeable recruiter about what you're looking for. Once you've zeroed in on your travel goals, your next task is to get your resume, documentation, and certification or licensing organized. We'll go through your skills and references with you. You may also want to practice interviewing. Be prepared to communicate your strengths, primary areas of practice, and career goals to your recruiter -- and to potential healthcare employers. We find that many clinicians are too modest about their skills. Be candid, but don't hide your light under a bushel basket!

How can travel impact my personal and professional life? You may have opted for a permanent position near your hometown -- or maybe near the educational institution where you learned your skills. For some people that's great, and for others -- there's still a spark of wanderlust. What else is out there? With our help, you can find an allied travel job in a location you've often dreamed of. Do you love to ski or snowboard? We'll look for a position in New Hampshire or Colorado. Want to work on your tan or fish off the deck of a boat? We'll investigate your options in Florida, Texas or Southern California. Whatever you're looking for, we'll help you find it.

Many facilities have a 50-mile radius rule, meaning that they want their travelers' home base to be at least 50 miles from the facility, and they expect the traveler to relocate to their vicinity for the duration of the assignment. However, there are some positions that will accommodate local clinicians. Talk to your recruiter about the possibilities.

There is no doubt you'll meet new people when you travel. Most of our travelers tell us it's one of the best things about the job. As far as learning new skills, that's inevitable. Some of what you will learn will be technical, and some of it will be about quickly accommodating to new situations. By the way, traveling looks great on a resume. It shows you're adaptable, open-minded, energetic and a team player.

Maybe you've been an adventure-seeker your entire life, and the answer is a resounding, "Yes! Born Ready!" Or maybe the answer is, "I'm ready to try, and I won't know until I do." The truth is, your travel career can be as long as you want or need it to be. Many travelers have been with us for years and years, while some have used travel as a way of finding out what kind of clinical settings and locations are best for them long-term. Whether you've been traveling for ages, or you're just starting out, American Traveler is standing by to guide you along the way.

An allied health travel job offers great pay, variety, and flexibility, but also comes with its challenges, such as adapting to new situations. If you're up for new surroundings, new people, and perhaps a career reboot, traveling can be a wonderful choice.