Travel Therapy Contracts Explained

Most travel therapy assignments run 13 weeks, by industry convention rather than rule. Some contracts are shorter or longer, and school contracts often follow the school calendar.

Guaranteed Hours

Your contract specifies weekly hours. Guaranteed hours means the contract promises to pay you for those hours each week even if the facility schedules you for fewer, for instance when census drops. Read the clause for its exceptions, and whether stipends are reduced too. Without this clause, your pay can be cut when census is low. Always confirm guaranteed hours before signing.

Cancellation Clause

Specifies how much notice the facility must give to cancel your contract early. Push for as much notice as you can get — this gives you (and your recruiter) time to find a replacement assignment. Some contracts offer very short notice, which is risky. If you'd like an offer with the notice terms spelled out before you sign, start here: Find my next contract.

Overtime Policy

Some facilities need extra hours. Know how overtime is paid and whether overtime is optional or expected.

Call-Off Policy

What happens if the facility tells you not to come in due to low census? With guaranteed hours, you still get paid. Without it, you lose that day's pay. This is critical to understand before signing.

Extending at the same facility is common and often beneficial. The facility saves onboarding costs, you avoid moving, and both sides know what to expect. Extensions can be negotiated for the same or better terms — don't assume the same rate. Ask for a pay bump, especially if they clearly want you to stay.

Pay rate — always ask if there's room to increase. The worst they can say is no.

Guaranteed hours — non-negotiable in your favor. Don't accept without it.

Cancellation notice — push for as much notice as you can get.

Start date — if you need an extra week for housing or travel, ask.

Schedule — 4x10s vs 5x8s, weekend requirements, holiday expectations.

Travel reimbursement — if the agency doesn't offer it, ask. Many will add it.