Becoming a Travel Physician Assistant: Is It Right For You?

Are you thinking about becoming a travel physician assistant (PA), but wonder if it’s the right move for you? If so, you’re not alone. It’s normal to have questions about this rewarding (yet challenging) career path.

In this post, we’ll going to review what you need to know, including the great financial benefits that come with being a travel PA, some of the drawbacks to taking your PA career on the road, and what steps to take if you decide it’s the right move for you. Let’s get started!

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The Travel Physician Assistant Job Market 

First, let’s take a look at the career options out there for a travel physician assistant!

Travel PAs commonly work in hospital medicine/internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, urgent care, and surgical specialties. 

Keep in mind that you often need prior experience in the specialty before pursuing a career as a travel PA. Companies want to hire someone to come in and start working immediately, and they don’t want to invest in training like they normally would for a permanent position.

Minimums I have seen are nine months of experience prior to traveling, but I would recommend having a few years of experience practicing as a PA to ensure confidence. Usually, you’ll be on your own as a travel PA, without the guidance of mentors that are readily available. This means most employers will expect you to have experience in the specialty you’ll be working in. 

That said, it is possible to switch specialties as a travel physician assistant, but I would refrain from applying for positions if you lack the required experience. It’ll make things easier for your job search!

For example, in a lot of the travel cardiothoracic surgery PA positions, they’re looking for someone who’s able to come in ready to first-assist and harvest vein endoscopically, things that can take months of training to get comfortable with. Make things easier for yourself by applying for jobs you’re already qualified for, and keep in mind companies usually aren’t looking to train a travel physician assistant.

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3 Benefits of Being a Travel PA

If you think you’re ready to hit the road, let’s start talking about the benefits of being a travel physician assistant. And there are many!

Here are my top three:

1. Money Money Money! 

Travel PA jobs are a great way to earn extra income. They often include stipends for living, while also paying a significantly higher salary for the burden of traveling away from home for work. This means you may be able to work for increased pay, even while saving money on rent if the employer is paying those expenses for you! 

2. Variety 

Another benefit of being a travel physician assistant is the ability to experience many different practice settings and locations. You’ll have the choice of which opportunities to take advantage of and apply to. You can opt to travel to warm states in the winter months, and you can try and see a variety of different cities. 

Keep in mind though, not all travel opportunities are in bustling areas. For example, you may find that a variety of jobs are in rural communities struggling to find full-time staff.

3. Flexibility 

As a travel PA, you’ll also have a flexible schedule. For example, if you take an assignment that ends in the middle of November, you could then opt to sign a contract that starts after the holidays. This gives you the flexibility to take as much time off as you desire throughout the year. However, you shouldn’t plan on having paid vacation time, as that’s often reserved for permanent employees. 

As for your hours, they’ll vary depending on the position and the needs of the facility. You may find yourself working standard business hours, overnights, or flex shifts. You most likely want to be in control of your schedule, so discuss what your hours will be before you accept a position. 

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3 Drawbacks to Being a Travel PA

Of course, no job is perfect, and being a travel physician assistant comes with its share of cons. 

Here’s what I consider the top three: 

1. Moving 

The first drawback to being a travel PA is you have to move a lot. And while you have complete control over which travel contracts you decide to accept, you’ll also have to go where the opportunities present themselves. For many people, that might result in living far away from children, spouses, pets, friends, or family members during a contract. 

This is a large barrier for a lot of PAs. You can attempt to take a contract that’s not too far from home, but, again, that’s completely dependent on the opportunities available.

2. Health Insurance

As a travel physician assistant, you’ll be responsible for your own health insurance. Most travel companies have resources to help with insurance, but you’ll still pay extra money out of pocket to cover them. 

Oftentimes, the increased pay makes up for this and then some, but keep insurance costs in mind when you’re researching different jobs. A good option would be to remain on a spouse’s health insurance if that’s a possibility, which would be one solution for the problem. 

3. Uncertainty 

Travel PA contracts can be for a variable amount of time. Perhaps you’re covering another provider’s 12-week maternity leave, or filling a gap until the company can hire a full-time employee. 

The average contract is for three to six months, but that can vary. This can leave you constantly wondering what’s next. Some people love this variety, but others don’t. As a travel provider, you rely on there being opportunities available. And demand can definitely fluctuate. 

Now, it would be rare not to have any opportunities, but remember you’ll be one of many travel providers, so there’s a chance of an undesired gap between assignments.

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How Do You Become a Travel PA?

If you think being a travel physician assistant sounds like the right move for you, get in touch with a locum tenens agency. Some companies to check out include Comp Health, Global Medical Staffing, Medicus Healthcare Solutions, and Vista Staffing Solutions, although there are plenty of others to choose from. 

You can give your resume to these companies and they’ll help filter job opportunities for you. They can also negotiate with hospitals and provide support during your travel journey.

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Final Thoughts

Like most things, there are pros and cons associated with being a travel physician assistant. I know current PAs that travel and absolutely love it, while others say they could never handle the inconsistency or time away from home. 

My advice is that if you’re considering traveling and all of the above sounds good to you, then you should give it a go! It can be a great way to meet new people and gain new experiences as a provider. Best of luck on whatever path you choose. 💙

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