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PT Compact: 30+ States

Travel Physical Therapist Jobs 2026

$1,800–$2,800/week. The PT Compact is the only multi-state compact in all of therapy — practice in 30+ states with one license. Outpatient ortho, acute care, SNF, home health.

🏃 PT Compact: 30+ States🎓 DPT Required🦵 Ortho, Neuro, Sports🏥 All Settings
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The PT Compact: Your Biggest Travel Advantage

Physical Therapy is the only therapy discipline with an active interstate compact as of 2026. With a home state PT license in a Compact member state, you can activate practice privileges in any other Compact state in 3–5 business days — compared to 4–10 weeks for a full license endorsement. OT and SLP have no equivalent compact.

30+
Member States
3–5 days
Privilege Activation Time
$50–$75
Additional Cost per State

Non-Compact states (California, New York, Massachusetts) require full licensure — budget 6–10 weeks and $200–$400. Plan ahead for high-pay non-Compact assignments.

Travel PT Pay by Setting — 2026

SettingWeekly PayHoursKey Skills
ICU / Acute Care$2,200–$2,800/wk36–40 hrs/wkVentilator mobility, ICU deconditioning, early ambulation
Home Health$2,000–$2,600/wkFlexible visitsIndependent practice, safety assessment, functional mobility
SNF / Long-Term Care$1,900–$2,500/wk40 hrs/wkRestorative therapy, fall prevention, Medicare documentation
Outpatient Ortho$1,800–$2,400/wk40 hrs/wkManual therapy, post-surgical rehab, sports injuries
Inpatient Rehab (IRF)$2,000–$2,600/wk40 hrs/wkTBI, stroke, spinal cord injury, functional goals
Pediatric Rehab$1,900–$2,500/wk40 hrs/wkDevelopmental delay, CP, autism, school therapy transitions
NICU / Acute Peds$2,100–$2,700/wk36–40 hrs/wkInfant positioning, sensory development, feeding support
School-Based PT$2,000–$2,600/wkSchool hoursIEP compliance, assistive technology, adaptive PE

PT Compact Member States (30+)

Practice in any of these states with your Compact Privilege — no additional full license required. Non-member states shown in gray require separate license endorsement.

AL
AZ
AR
CO
DE
FL
GA
ID
IL
IA
KY
LA
ME
MD
MI
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NC
ND
OK
OR
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
DC
CA (full license req.)
NY (full license req.)
MA (full license req.)
AK (full license req.)
HI (full license req.)
MN (full license req.)
CT (full license req.)
RI (full license req.)
PA (full license req.)

PT Specialty Certifications — Pay Premium

OCS — Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
+$100–$200/wk
ABPTS board certification, most common among travel PTs
NCS — Neurologic Clinical Specialist
+$100–$175/wk
Stroke, TBI, Parkinson's, MS — IRF and acute facilities prize this
SCS — Sports Clinical Specialist
+$75–$150/wk
Sports med, orthopedic outpatient, NCAA/NFL/NBA facilities
GCS — Geriatric Clinical Specialist
+$50–$100/wk
SNF, LTAC, home health — Medicare patient population
Wound Care (CWS)
+$100–$200/wk
Acute care, home health, wound clinics — niche but high-paying
McKenzie Method (MDT)
+$50–$100/wk
Outpatient spine, ortho — preferred by ortho practices

Travel PT Requirements

Required for All Contracts

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) — Or legacy MPT/BSPT from accredited program
  • NPTE — National PT exam — Must have passed and be in good standing
  • Active state PT license — Current in assignment state OR Compact Privilege
  • 1+ year clinical experience — Most contracts require minimum 1 year post-licensure
  • BLS certification — Basic Life Support — must be current (2-year cycle)

Setting-Specific Extras

  • ACLS (Acute Care / ICU) — Advanced Cardiac Life Support — ICU and trauma roles
  • Home Health orientation — Independent practice compliance, OASIS documentation
  • School IDEA knowledge — Required for school-based PT contracts
  • LSVT BIG certification — Parkinson's specialty — IRF and neuro outpatient roles
  • Aquatic therapy cert — Some ortho outpatient facilities with pools require this

100 Open PT Positions

Top states: California, Oregon, Texas, New Mexico

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,678/wk

Wasco State Prison (WSP) · Wasco, California

Optometrist

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,673/wk

North Kern State Prison (NKSP) · Delano, California

Optometrist

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,357/wk

Vineyard Post Acute · Petaluma, California

PT Inpatient Rehab

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,132.4/wk

Prowers Medical Center · Lamar, Colorado

PT Inpatient Rehab

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,075/wk

HealthFlex Home Health & Hospice · Oakland, California

PT Home Health

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,043/wk

Carlsbad Medical Center · Carlsbad, New Mexico

PT Inpatient Rehab

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,043/wk

Carlsbad Medical Center · Carlsbad, New Mexico

PT Inpatient Rehab

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,039/wk

Mary Immaculate Health/Care Services · Lawrence, Massachusetts

PT SNF

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,038/wk

Providence Home Health Medford · Medford, Oregon

PT Home Health

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,038/wk

Providence Home Health Medford · Medford, Oregon

PT Home Health

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,014/wk

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center · Napa, California

PT Outpatient

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,002/wk

Marysville Care Center · Marysville, California

PT SNF

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do travel physical therapists make per week?
Travel PTs earn $1,800–$2,800/week in 2026. ICU and acute care PT commands the highest pay ($2,200–$2,800/wk). Home health, inpatient rehab, and SNF positions average $1,900–$2,600/wk. Outpatient ortho typically pays $1,800–$2,400/wk. Specialty certifications (OCS, NCS, wound care) add $50–$200/week.
What is the PT Compact and which states participate?
The PT Compact (Physical Therapy Licensure Compact) allows PTs to practice across member states using a Compact Privilege instead of separate licenses. Over 30 states participate including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Washington, and most southern and mountain states. California, New York, and Massachusetts do NOT participate — those require full license endorsement (6–10 weeks, $200–$400).
Can a new grad PT take a travel PT contract?
Most travel PT contracts require 1–2 years of clinical experience post-licensure. New grads rarely qualify for traditional travel contracts. The exception: some SNF and outpatient orgs hire new grads for "contract-to-perm" hybrid positions. Most experienced travel PT recruiters recommend spending 12–18 months in a permanent position to build competency and documentation speed before going travel.
Is travel PT worth it financially vs. a staff position?
Yes — a travel PT earning $2,200/week gross takes home approximately $95,000–$110,000 annually after taxes (depending on housing stipend structure). Staff PTs average $70,000–$90,000/year. Travel adds $20,000–$40,000/year in income while providing practice flexibility, housing support, and career diversity. The tradeoff: no employer PTO, self-managed benefits, and frequent relocations.
What is the difference between PT and PTA travel contracts?
Travel PT contracts require a DPT/MPT/BSPT degree and full PT license. Travel PTA contracts require an AAS in PTA and PTA license. PTs evaluate patients, diagnose movement disorders, and create treatment plans. PTAs implement plans under PT supervision. Travel PT pay ($1,800–$2,800/wk) is significantly higher than PTA pay ($1,200–$1,800/wk). Both benefit from the PT Compact.

More Therapy Staffing Resources

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PT, OT, SLP, PTA, COTA hub
Travel SLP Jobs
$2,000–$3,500/wk, highest therapy pay
Travel OT Jobs
Acute care, SNF, pediatrics, home health

Find Your Next Travel PT Assignment

Use your PT Compact Privilege to get placed in 30+ states fast. Our therapy recruiters specialize in PT matching — acute care, outpatient, home health, and school-based.

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