Are you familiar with travel nursing? Well, did you know that speech language pathologists (SLPs) can embark on thrilling travel adventures too? If you’re passionate about healthcare, enjoy helping others, and have a love for travel, then becoming a travel SLP might just be your dream career.
What Does a Travel Speech Language Pathologist Do?
SLPs are experts in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders. Their patients range from children with childhood apraxia to adult stroke survivors. While traditional SLPs are typically self-employed or work directly for a facility, travel SLPs collaborate with healthcare travel companies through recruiters. These recruiters help set them up on exciting 13-week assignments in various locations.
The Perks of Being a Travel Speech Language Pathologist
Being a travel SLP brings not only the joy of helping patients but also an array of wonderful perks. You’ll have the opportunity to explore different parts of the country, advance your career in ways that may not be possible closer to home, earn a higher salary, and enjoy free or low-cost housing, among other benefits.
Salaries for Travel Speech Language Pathologists
On average, travel SLPs earn an annual salary of $88,633. However, in high-demand areas, this figure can reach as high as $137,000 or even more. In comparison, non-traveling SLPs earn an average of $76,900, with salaries typically maxing out at around $115,000 per year. It’s important to note that travel SLPs also enjoy additional benefits, such as having their housing expenses paid, making their overall compensation even more significant.
Becoming a Travel Speech Language Pathologist
To embark on this exciting career path, you’ll first need to become a licensed SLP. Start by earning a relevant bachelor’s degree from an accredited post-secondary institution. Special education, language development, communication sciences and disorders, psychology, linguistics, or social work are typical majors for aspiring speech pathologists. Next, pursue a master’s degree in speech therapy or speech language pathology. Licensure and certification requirements include completing a specific number of practice hours and passing an examination. Obtaining certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association will give you a competitive advantage.
Most facilities prefer hiring SLPs with at least a year of experience. As a travel SLP, you’ll be working in places with immediate staffing needs, where you’ll be expected to perform your job and handle a full caseload with minimal orientation. Strong clinical skills will make this transition much smoother. Whether you choose a travel job or a permanent position, keep in mind that the first year is always the most challenging.
Finding Your Dream Travel Speech Language Pathologist Job
Healthcare travel companies are the go-to resource for finding travel SLP jobs. Start by researching several agencies to find the assignments that match your interests and qualifications, as well as the benefits and perks you desire. Speak to recruiters and seek recommendations from online forums dedicated to travel speech language pathologist jobs.
To streamline your job search, our free service for Speech Language pathologists can help. By completing a brief online form, we will match your preferences with leading travel staffing companies in the industry. Say goodbye to outdated job postings and save time on researching companies. Start your journey with DHPL Travels now!
Remember, as a travel speech language pathologist, you’ll not only be fulfilling your passion for helping others but also embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. So why wait? Start your exciting career today!