Thinking about leaving a traditional OT job for travel work? You’re not alone. Thousands of occupational therapists are exploring travel assignments to gain flexibility, boost their income, and expand their clinical experience. But with big opportunity comes big questions: How do you get licensed? How does pay really work? Where will you live? And most importantly—how do you set yourself up for success on your very first contract?
This guide answers it all:
- How to get licensed and find housing
- How to calculate your pay and benefits package
- How to avoid costly rookie mistakes
- How to absolutely crush your first week
- How to work with a solid agency like Avantis Medical
Whether you’re brand-new to travel therapy or just testing the waters, this roadmap will help you start strong in 2025.
Why Travel OT in 2025?
Traveling as an OT gives you freedom that staff jobs can’t match. Here’s why more OTs are choosing to travel:
- Higher pay: Travel OTs often earn more than staff therapists once untaxed stipends are factored in.
- Variety of settings: Instead of being tied to one clinic or hospital, you can rotate through different settings and patient populations.
- Flexibility: Choose where you want to work, when to start, and how long to stay. Many contracts run 13 weeks, with options to extend or move on.
- Resume growth: Exposure to multiple populations, documentation systems, and teams accelerates skill development and makes your resume more competitive.
- Adventure: Live in new cities, experience new communities, and fit travel into your professional life without losing income.
If you’re ready to build a career that’s both rewarding and adventurous, travel OT can be the perfect path.
Mastering Licensure
Before you can accept your first travel contract, you need to hold a valid license in the state you want to work in. Licensure can feel like a big hurdle for new travelers, and it can slow you down if you’re not prepared.
What You’ll Need for Most States
- NBCOT certification
- Official university transcripts
- Fingerprint/background check
- Proof of identity (driver’s license, passport)
- Current BLS/CPR certification
- Jurisprudence exams or continuing education credits (state-specific)
- Professional references (in some cases)
Processing times vary by state. Some states approve applications in a week or two. Others take six to eight weeks—or longer.
Smart Strategy: Apply Early to Multiple States
Don’t wait until you find your dream job to begin licensure. Pick two or three states where you’d like to work and begin those applications now. Even if you don’t accept a job in all of them, you’ll have flexibility when opportunities arise.
The OT Compact: Progress in 2025
The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact) is a major development that will eventually make licensing easier by allowing you to practice across member states with a single “compact privilege.”
As of mid-2025:
- 31 states have enacted OT Compact legislation.
- Compact privileges are not yet operational. You still must apply for individual state licenses.
- Implementation is expected to begin late 2025, though rollout depends on each state’s readiness.
- You must maintain your home state license in good standing to use the compact once it launches.
Main takeaway: The OT Compact is coming, but it won’t help you for your first assignment in 2025. Plan to apply state-by-state for now, and keep an eye on otcompact.gov for updates.
Understanding Pay Packages for New Travel OTs
Travel OT pay can be confusing at first glance. You may see a lower taxable hourly wage than staff jobs, but when stipends and reimbursements are added, your weekly and annual take-home pay often exceeds permanent positions.
You’re probably thinking, “Wait, why is the hourly rate so low… but the weekly pay looks high?”
That’s because your paycheck as a travel OT is split into a few different buckets.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Base rate: Your hourly wage. Sometimes appears lower than a staff OT’s, but only part of the package.
- Stipends: Non-taxable stipends for housing, meals, and incidental expenses. This is where you will find most of the extra take-home pay.
- Reimbursements: Many agencies reimburse travel costs, license costs, certification fees, or CE credits.
PRO TIP: Familiarize yourself with pay package breakdowns to avoid common mistakes when negotiating your rate. Take into account cost of living, benefits, transportation, and location.
Example Pay Package
Here’s how a real travel OT pay package might look:
In this package, the taxable hourly rate looks modest at $41.65, but the non-taxable stipends add more than $1,200 each week. That’s why the total gross weekly pay comes out to nearly $2,900—well above most staff OT paychecks.
Some agencies may advertise using a blended hourly rate instead of weekly pay. That’s just the weekly pay divided by the number of hours you’ll work.
Now that you understand how to calculate your pay package, let’s move on to housing.
Housing Options
Where you choose to live during your assignment affects both your lifestyle and the amount of money you take home.
When comparing agencies, you’ll find that some offer agency provided housing while others provide an untaxed stipend for housing.
Option 1: Agency-Provided Housing
- Fully furnished, ready to move in, close to your assignment.
- Zero hassle—just show up.
- Downsides: You don’t choose the property, and you don’t pocket extra money if it costs less than the stipend.
Option 2: Housing Stipend
- You find your own short-term housing (Airbnb, Furnished Finder, extended-stay hotels).
- If your rent is lower than the stipend, you keep the leftover as tax-free income.
- Requires research and planning, but maximizes flexibility and savings.
If you’re not sure what makes more sense, that’s where your Advantis recruiter steps in. They’ll help you run the numbers, look at housing options, and make sure your pay package is optimized.
And they’ll break it all down so you actually understand where your money’s going.
No hidden fees. No fine print. Just clear, honest info.
Surviving (and Thriving) Your First Week
The first week of a travel assignment sets the tone. You’ll be expected to adapt quickly, often with limited orientation.
Day One Checklist
- Meet your supervisor and clarify expectations
- Complete onboarding paperwork and EMR training
- Tour the facility and learn protocols
- Get access to supplies, therapy gyms, and scheduling systems
Pro Tips for Week One
- Arrive early: Show reliability from the start
- Take notes: Logins, protocols, key contacts
- Connect with staff: Introduce yourself to nurses, aides, and other therapists
- Stay flexible: Every facility does things differently
- Prioritize rest: Long days + new environments = fatigue
By week two, most travelers start to feel settled and integrated into their team.
Here’s how to reduce stress:
- Pack your meals so you’re not scrambling on your break
- Do a “dry run” of your commute the day before
- Get extra sleep that first week (seriously)
- Keep your evenings low-key and screen-free
- Remind yourself: you don’t have to impress anyone, just be reliable and open
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even the most prepared travelers trip up sometimes, especially on that first assignment. Here’s how to sidestep the stuff that tends to sneak up on new travel OTs.
- Waiting to apply for licensure → Apply early to avoid delayed start dates.
- Budgeting as if contracts never pause → Build a savings buffer for gaps between assignments.
- Locking into long contracts right away → Thirteen weeks is standard, but if you’re not 100% sure about the location, facility, or just the travel lifestyle in general, ask about shorter contracts. Try eight or ten weeks. You can always extend if it’s a great fit.
- Not asking questions → Don’t assume you’re supposed to know how everything works. Managers would rather clarify something early than fix a mistake later.
- Forgetting about taxes → Non-taxable stipends lower your tax burden, but consult a tax professional to avoid surprises.
Growth and Advancement for Travelers
Travel assignments push you into new protocols, gear, clients, and teams. The experience you gain while traveling build your resume for the future and helps set you up for long-term success. The more variety, the faster you grow.
Being a travel OT helps with:
- Resume Strengthening: Each assignment adds diversity—new patient populations, treatment models, and documentation systems.
- Specialty Development: Target contracts in pediatrics, neuro, hand therapy, or geriatrics to expand your skillset.
- Professional Networking: Build relationships across facilities and regions. These can lead to mentorships, references, or future job offers.
- Leadership Opportunities: Many travelers grow into senior or mentor roles as they gain experience.
Document every new skill, certification, and EMR system you master. Over time, your portfolio will stand out against peers who’ve only worked in one facility.
Tech and EMR Mastery
Different hospitals run different computer systems. You need to jump into documentation, order entry, and scheduling fast. Review EMR guides before arrival.
Other ways you can prepare include:
- Study tutorials before the assignment starts
- Request system access for practice during orientation
- Identify key functions: templates, order entry, and scheduling
- Locate help desk contacts for technical support
Most places expect full productivity by day five. If you manage the tech hurdle quickly, you impress your manager and boost your chance at renewal.
PRO TIP: Rapid EMR adaptation drives first-week success and ongoing productivity. So be prepared before you step into a new assignment.
Starting with Advantis Medical: Your Trusted Travel OT Partner
Starting out in travel OT is a lot. That’s why having the right recruiter makes all the difference. And at Advantis Medical, that’s exactly what you get.
From day one, your recruiter works like your personal GPS. They’ll help you sort through options, prep your paperwork and walk you through licensure timelines. They’ll also explain your pay breakdown so there are no surprises.
They’ve done this hundreds of times, and they know how to make your first assignment smooth.
And people notice. One travel OT said,
“I would recommend Advantis to any other medical professional. The support is offered every step of the way.”
That kind of feedback is common. Advantis consistently ranks among the top-rated agencies for allied health professionals, especially those starting out.
What sets oure recruiters apart? They listen. They match you with high-paying travel jobs that actually fit your goals, not just whatever’s available. And they’re upfront about everything: pay, location, expectations. No bait-and-switch. No guesswork.
It’s not just about finding a job. It’s about building a career that gives you flexibility, freedom, and the support to do your best work. And Advantis is right there with you, every step of the way.
Your Next Step: Charting a Career, Not Just a Contract
Starting your first travel OT job is a big deal. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. And you don’t need to be perfect right out of the gate. You’ve got the skills. We’ve got the support.
At Advantis Medical, we’re here to find you the perfect position and help you build a career that feels exciting and flexible. Possibly most importantly, it feels fully yours.
With personalized guidance, transparent pay, and one-on-one support, you’ll feel confident from your first assignment to your fiftieth.
So take that next step. Explore high-paying travel occupational therapy jobs, connect with an Advantis recruiter, and see what your OT career could really look like when the right people have your back.
