The physical therapy field is growing steadily across the U.S. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy jobs are expected to grow 36 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is considered “much faster” than other industries.
There are many reasons why the demand for physical therapists is up, according to the BLS. For one, many chronic conditions that might require the need for physical therapists, such as diabetes and obesity, have been on the rise. During this time, advancements in medical technology have also allowed for an increase in outpatient surgeries, many of which require rehabilitative care. Lastly, due to recent health care reforms, more individuals have access to insurance that can cover these treatments.
A growing field with lots of potential
Because of this high demand, there are certain areas of the country that are sought after by travel therapists more than others. We recently interviewed Erik Malmos, the team lead for the rehabilitation therapy division at Aureus Medical, about the demand for travel therapy jobs and how it is affecting certain states.
“PT jobs are expected to grow 36% between 2012 and 2022.”
“There are many job options in physical therapy right now and it’s expected to climb over the next 10 years,” Malmos explained.
When asked about the top states with the highest demand for PTs right now, Malmos indicated that coastal regions will always be of particular interest. However, there were areas with the highest needs, which are located across the U.S. in states like Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Why the demand in certain states? Seasonality and the weather has a lot to do with it, according to Malmos.
“Weather plays a huge factor when determining one’s interests in travel,” he said. “For instance, Colorado is a desirable location in itself for PTs, but the census increases during the winter months because more people travel to Colorado for physical activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, etc. This increases the demand for physical therapists.”
During the spring and summer, some of the northern states also see an influx because there are a “wide variety of outdoor activities” that are easy to enjoy during that time of year in those locations.
Compared to recent years, there have been significant changes to health insurance, which is allowing more people to undergo elective surgeries. Malmos said that as a result, Aureus Medical is seeing an increase in available jobs and will continue to for some time.
What are facilities offering?
Due to high demand, some states have a more difficult time filling assignments. As a result, hospitals and health care facilities in these areas might have to give PTs more incentive to travel.
“Some of the harder states to fill, due to location, may offer larger pay packages to attract physical therapists,” Malmos said. “Depending on the state, sometimes a hospital will be willing to interview and offer a position to a Board Certified therapist without having a license in hand as long as the licensure process has been started or is scheduled to be started.”
As a result, Malmos said that the summer following graduation and the very first of the year are usually some of the most competitive times for PTs who are seeking assignments. Consequently, looking for assignments in April, May or June might garner a wider variety of options. Malmos indicated that there are more travel physical therapy jobs compared to permanent positions. In fact, he indicated that nearly 90 percent of the needs that Aureus Medical encounters are from a contract standpoint. However, states like Texas and Ohio have a strong rate of direct hires.
State-by-state licensing and regulations
Demand may also differ depending in the licensing and regulations in your state, as every state has its own PT license. More importantly, the length of time it takes to become certified can vary widely depending on where you live. For instance, Malmos stated that in New Mexico, PTs can obtain a license in as quickly as 2.5 weeks. However, the same process can take up to four months in California. This can be difficult for some PTs, as many assignments require a PT to start within a 30-day window.
“My advice to a PT is if you’re planning on traveling somewhere, your best bet is to get the license immediately. Your odds for getting a position increases 50 percent if you have your license in hand as opposed to your licensure pending,” Malmos explained.
PT demand at a glance
Malmos also stated that certain specialties are creating an even greater demand within the PT field, especially in regards to outpatient orthopedic care and acute care. However, he also stated that there are a few more popular fields that are gaining traction, such as sports medicine and lymphedema care.
With an aging baby boomer generation, there is also a greater demand for PTs in retirement communities. Malmos said that this generation’s demand will be even more present since so many individuals now have health coverage. Not only are many of these individuals getting granted Medicare benefits, but due to the Affordable Care Act and other health insurance reforms, a diverse group of people living in retirement communities now have access to medical care, including physical therapy.
Of course, there are certain locations that many PTs would like to head to specifically, but it all depends on what kind of career goals they are looking to achieve during their assignments. For instance, sometimes more attractive locales like California or Hawaii might be more important to a travel nurse, while a less-sought-after area may offer you more financial incentives. This is why PTs need to know their objectives before they begin searching for assignments.
“I ask PTs that are considering travel/contract work to consider three options: setting, location, and pay. Then, I ask them to rank these three options in order of importance. If you are able to get two of three you’re in great shape,” Malmos said.