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The freedom, growth, and adventure that make travel therapy the perfect first step for new OTs and COTAs

After years of classes, fieldwork, and late nights writing treatment plans, you’ve finally made it — you’re a licensed occupational therapist ready to make a difference. Now comes the big question: What’s next? 

For many new grad OTs, the answer isn’t a traditional staff job. It’s travel therapy — a career path that lets you grow your skills, explore new places, and gain experience faster than you ever thought possible. If you’re wondering why so many new grads are jumping into travel OT, here’s what makes this path such an appealing (and rewarding) way to start your career. 

Explore New Cities While Helping Patients Thrive 

Being a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant isn’t just about following treatment plans or filling out charts—it’s about helping people take back control of their lives, regain confidence, and enjoy the little things they might have lost. You see progress in ways no one else does, and you know that even tiny improvements can be life changing. Now picture bringing that impact on the road—visiting new cities, working with different patients, and leaving your mark wherever you go. That’s the adventure of being a travel COTA. 

Turn Every Assignment into an Adventure with this Traveler-Approved Google Map 

One of the best parts about working as a traveling occupational therapist? The freedom to turn any corner of the country into your own backyard. Your life isn’t just about shifts and schedules—it’s about mornings spent watching sunrises over unfamiliar skylines, weekend hikes in hidden parks, and those local diners where they remember your usual by the time you come back. This lifestyle is all about discovery, and no one gets that better than the OT travelers who live it every day. 

So we reached out to our community of travel therapists to share the places that made them pause and breathe. The cozy cafés tucked off the main road, the scenic drives that helped clear their heads, the parks where they found a moment of calm, and the quirky spots that brought a smile after a long day. What came back is a living, breathing Google Map packed with their personal road trip routes, off-the-beaten-path finds, and can’t-miss experiences all across the U.S. Whether you’re gearing up for your next assignment, taking the scenic route there, or carving out joy between shifts, consider this your invite to explore like a local—with guides who’ve already been down the road. 

Landing an interview as a traveling Occupational Therapist isn’t just a career milestone—it’s a powerful reminder that your skills are needed somewhere new. It’s a doorway into a community you’ve yet to meet, filled with clients whose lives you might help transform, one session at a time.  

And while interviews can bring a few nerves, they’re also your chance to speak about your passion out loud, connect with a future team, and begin a journey rooted in both service and self-growth. Here’s how to walk into your travel OT interview prepared, confident, and grounded in your purpose.

With each state introducing different guidelines, travel therapy licensure can feel like a maze. But don’t let paperwork hold you back from your next great adventure. The process of obtaining one or multiple licenses doesn’t have to be overwhelming—with the right tools and strategies, you can navigate state requirements smoothly and focus on the adventure ahead.