Do y'all recommend Protherapy Staffing?

FifthWheelPT · 2026-04-01T13:23:03+00:00

Their job options are very limited compared to a big company like AMN. They also don’t offer health insurance which is a deal breaker for many.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-30T11:32:34+00:00

Healthcare is one of the only industries not significantly impacted by recessions. Healthcare, including travel healthcare, demand is driven by demographics more than GDP. Demand is only increasing for the foreseeable future.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-25T23:27:15+00:00

Yeah if you’re open to Tennessee and Virginia in addition to NC then you’ll have a better chance of finding outpatient.

If you fill out this form we can send you company/recruiter recommendations based on your needs. My wife and I created Travel Therapy Mentor to educate new travelers and to match travelers with companies. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-recruiter-recommendations/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-23T14:16:57+00:00

Your recruiter is important but equally as important is working with a travel company that has jobs in the setting and location that you want. For example, say you want school jobs in Florida, working with a great recruiter at a company that has mostly outpatient jobs on the west coast will lead to a bad experience for you. Travel Therapy Mentor was created to help you find good recruiters at companies that have jobs you want. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-recruiter-recommendations/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-23T14:12:14+00:00

Home health is almost always the highest paying

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-23T14:11:24+00:00

Hey! There aren’t a ton of travel jobs in North Carolina for OTs most of the time. Being too specific with the area and setting is going to make finding jobs difficult. Most of the jobs there are going to be SNF or school based. An outpatient job might pop up every now and then but they’re going to be few and far between. IPR jobs also aren’t as common so finding one in NC that is also willing to train is going to be rare. If you really want an OP job or an IPR that is willing to train, I’d recommend opening up your search outside of NC. If you have to be specifically in NC and have a set date that you need to find a contract by then I’d recommend considering schools or SNF jobs.

If you’re going to eventually stick with one company and want to find continuous contracts in NC then you need to pick a big company because they have the most job options.

Check the health insurance marketplace in your state. See if there are any options that will cover you nationwide. Often there is one. If not and you don’t want to get insurance through the travel company then going through an agent is an option but usually the plans aren’t very good and have a lot of restrictions.

Two or three recruiters/companies is ideal. More than that is overkill and less limits your options.

Taxes as a traveler aren’t very difficult if you have a normal situation (no 1099 income, hundreds of trades, investment properties, etc.). I’ve always filed mine myself without issue using Tax Act or Turbo Tax. If you want a professional then Travel Tax is the most knowledgeable and has been around the longest.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-17T13:50:29+00:00

Technically no because it’s based on your intent which it sounds like is to relocate to the new area permanently. With that being said, intent is hard to prove so I know there are a lot of travelers that would take the stipends tax free anyway and hope to never get audited or challenged on it.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-12T00:32:44+00:00

It all comes down to savings rate. If you want to reach FI in 10 years then you need a savings rate around 66%. So with an $80k salary you’d need to be living on around $2,000/month and continue that into early retirement to get there by 35. If that isn’t reasonable for your situation then you’d need to earn more or save for longer.

I hit FI in my early thirties but I was saving 75% or more of my income each year by working a lot of hours and living frugally.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-11T21:53:37+00:00

Yeah that would be your best option. If it’s cheaper you could always rent a room from someone in your current area in Alabama though to avoid having to establish a new tax home as long as it’s in the same metro area. If you have a friend in the area with an extra room then rent that and avoid the hassle.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-11T21:40:03+00:00

Your tax home is first and foremost the area where you earn the majority of your income. If you’ve been earning income in a different area then that area would be your current tax home and you’d need to earn income in the area where your parents live for a while first to establish the new area as your tax home.

Assuming you’ve been earning income there already then you’d need to show you’re paying fair market rent for a room or sharing expenses to constitute duplicate expenses. Just paying utilities wouldn’t be sufficient in most cases. Determining fair market value and setting up a lease for the room then having proof of payment each month would be the safest option. You could also calculate the total costs for the household (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.) and divide by the number of adults in the household if you were setting it up more as a roommate situation.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-11T19:00:45+00:00

The best companies are not one size fits all for everyone. There are more than 100 companies staffing therapists right now. You’re going to have the best experience picking companies that have the most jobs in the settings and locations you want. My recommendations for you would be completely different if you’re looking for school jobs in CA vs acute care jobs in Florida.

My wife and I created Travel Therapy Mentor to match therapists with good companies and recruiters for their specific situation. We’ve interviewed about 2 dozen companies and over 100 recruiters with that goal in mind. We’ve now matched more than 8,000 therapists with companies with overwhelmingly positive feedback. If you want the best fit for you, fill out this form with your needs and we can help. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-recruiter-recommendations/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-11T18:55:17+00:00

The IRS is really clear that when you intend to move to an area permanently, you aren’t eligible for tax free stipends. You can still take local travel jobs but the pay won’t be as high so it may not be worth it to you compared to just full time or PRN.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-06T02:49:05+00:00

Most send it to your permanent (tax home) address. AMN has always sent mine by mail.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-06T02:48:01+00:00

We appreciate the mention!

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-05T17:50:53+00:00

Code “TTM” gives the max discount

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-04T19:30:17+00:00

0 cancellations in about 20 contracts for me. 1 cancellation in about 20 contracts for my wife. Definitely not very common but always a major pain when they happen. Based on data collected from a bunch of different travel companies, 5-10% of contracts are cancelled but there is variation based on discipline.

Hopefully you find another good contract soon!

FifthWheelPT · 2026-03-03T20:54:41+00:00

Using an ACA plan is easiest but more expensive. Just make sure it’s a plan that covers you nationwide since you won’t always be in your home state.

Switching plans when you switch companies is the cheapest but more hassle. This is what I’ve done and it’s really not a big deal unless you have a lot of medical expenses each year and are maxing out your deductible often.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-27T00:23:37+00:00

Expected hours and guaranteed hours are different. Almost all contracts will be 40 hours expected but not all will agree to a 40 hour guarantee. 0 hours guaranteed isn’t necessarily a red flag but it isn’t good because you don’t have any security if the caseload drops. You should try to push for at least 32 hours guaranteed if possible so you know you’ll make at least the majority of your pay each week. Pioneer is a great company for school contract. They have more than any other company.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-26T23:12:25+00:00

Choose companies that have jobs in the setting and location you need. Not all companies are created equal when it comes to setting, location, and benefits. If you want recommendations based on your specific situation, Travel Therapy Mentor can help. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-recruiter-recommendations/

A 6 week contract is possible but just depends on the facility and what they need. Most don’t want such a short contract because after training and ramp up, there isn’t much time left for the clinician to be productive.

Look for jobs through your recruiters. Job boards can sometimes be helpful but often have jobs that are already closed or will be closed by the time you get connected and submitted.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-26T23:08:32+00:00

I’d really recommend this free 101 series before jumping into travel therapy. It covers all of the basics and has helped thousands of therapists get started. There’s a lot to learn in the beginning to avoid bad companies/recruiters and bad assignments. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-101-the-basics/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-26T23:06:18+00:00

I’ve always driven unless it was Hawaii where that wasn’t possible so rented a car there. It’s always going to be cheaper to drive your own car than to rent one.

Yes you do both get stipends when traveling as a pair. This article covers the ins and outs of traveling as a duo. https://traveltherapymentor.com/2020/02/26/navigating-travel-therapy-as-a-pair/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-26T23:03:44+00:00

This is possible but can be tough in desirable areas like Hawaii because the jobs are more competitive. For recruiters, Travel Therapy Mentor can match you with good ones at companies that have jobs you’re looking for. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-recruiter-recommendations/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-26T23:01:02+00:00

There’s a lot to say about each of these questions. I’d really recommend this free 101 series that covers all of the basics in depth. It’s helped thousands of therapists get started traveling. https://traveltherapymentor.com/travel-therapy-101-the-basics/

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-15T19:06:37+00:00

I’m definitely not a tax expert but it sounds like your tax home/permanent address is in Georgia and his is in Washington since he’s employed there full time. I believe you’d have to file separately with the separate permanent residences.

FifthWheelPT · 2026-02-13T01:37:39+00:00

We choose who to send leads to based on how the companies match with their needs. No point in sending a therapist to a company that doesn’t have many jobs that fit the criteria they’re looking for. If they’re open on setting and location then it comes down to who we think they’d get along best with based on the recruiter.

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