How to Become a Travel Nurse
Wondering how to become a travel nurse? Six-figure salaries, the opportunity to explore new places, tax-free housing stipends, and the chance to step in when hospitals need help most — these are just a few perks of this unique nursing specialty. And as the nursing shortage continues across the U.S. healthcare system, there is plenty of opportunity.
Interested in joining this dynamic field of nursing? This article takes an in-depth look at what it takes to become a travel nurse — from education and licensing requirements to contract expectations and potential salaries, you’ll find A-to-Z information here.
What Is a Travel Nurse?
If you’re wondering how to become a travel nurse, it helps to know exactly what the role entails. A travel nurse is a licensed healthcare professional — such as a nurse practitioner (NP), registered nurse (RN), or licensed practical nurse (LPN) — who is hired on a temporary contract through a travel nursing agency to fill urgent staffing needs at healthcare facilities. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) can also work in travel positions.
Travel nursing assignments typically last about 13 weeks (three months), though contracts can range from eight to 26 weeks depending on the facility’s needs. Assignments may take place anywhere in the country — and sometimes even in your own city. And the best part? You’ll have the flexibility to choose your schedule, location, and facility type — giving you the freedom to shape your career and lifestyle.
What Does a Travel Nurse Do?
The job duties of a travel nurse are largely the same as those of an RN or LPN, but there’s a key difference: You’ll be working in a new facility for each assignment. Remember the long orientation when you started your first nursing job? With travel nursing, there’s no extended ramp-up period — you’ll need to hit the ground running.
Here’s a glimpse of what your work experience might look like:
- Patient care: You’ll provide direct patient care, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with procedures, just like any staff nurse — the same responsibilities you’ve handled in your previous nursing jobs.
- Quick orientation: Every facility has its own policies, electronic medical records (EMRs), and workflow. You’ll need to learn quickly as you’ll be expected to step in fast.
- Collaboration: You’ll work closely with new teams, including doctors, nurses, and support staff. Quickly understanding the chain of command, knowing whom to report to, and identifying when and to whom to delegate tasks will be essential for success.
- Variety of units: Depending on your experience, you may have the opportunity to work across different units, such as med-surg and emergency departments (ER), or specialty areas like oncology and nephrology.
- Problem solving: With new environments come unique challenges like finding supplies in an unfamiliar unit, navigating new protocols, or quickly adjusting to differing team dynamics. Travel nurses often need to be proactive problem-solvers.
How to Become a Travel Nurse: 4 Steps
Before you can hit the road as a travel nurse, you’ll need your nursing license and about 12–18 months of clinical experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to meeting all the necessary qualifications for a travel nurse career.
1. Complete an Accredited Nursing Program
Starting your career from scratch? The journey to becoming a travel nurse begins with earning a nursing degree. If you want to become an RN, you’ll need either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from a nationally accredited program. If your goal is to travel as an LPN or CNA, you can pursue the appropriate alternative programs for those roles.
The length of time it takes to get the necessary education ranges widely depending on your chosen career trajectory:
- NPs: 6 to 8 years
- RNs: 2 to 4 years
- LPNs: 1 to 2 years
- CNAs: 4 to 12 weeks
2. Get Licensed or Certified
Once you’ve finished your nursing program, you’ll need to get licensed. If you’re taking an RN route, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN; for LPNs, it’s the NCLEX-PN. After that, you’ll apply for licensure through your state’s board of nursing.
If you aspire to be a CNA, you’ll typically need to pass a certification exam that includes both hands-on and written components and register with the appropriate government agency. NPs must sit for a national certification exam in their chosen specialty.
3. Gain Clinical Experience
Now that you’re a nurse, there are more travel nursing requirements to meet. Most facilities typically don’t hire new grad travel nurses — they usually prefer nurses who have some solid clinical experience. That’s why it’s a good idea to spend at least a year or two working in the specialty you want to focus on. The more hands-on experience you have, the more confident and in-demand you’ll be as a travel nurse.
Besides clinical experience, you’ll also need to make sure your certifications — like Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) — are up to date.
4. Find Work Opportunities
There are two routes you can take as a travel nurse: Work with an agency or find assignments independently by contracting directly with hospitals. Each option has its pros and cons — agencies handle placement, housing, and paperwork, while going direct may give you more control over assignments and pay.
There are also job boards where you can find travel nursing opportunities — just like the ones you go to when looking for any other job. Curious to see what’s currently available? Here’s a glimpse at some open travel nurse employers:
How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?
Now that you’ve learned how to become a travel nurse, let’s explore your potential future salary. The typical travel nurse salary in the U.S. is about $101,000 per year for an RN and around $62,000 for an LPN. Keep in mind that there are other perks that may go with a travel job, such as non-taxable housing allowances, travel stipends, and completion bonuses, all of which can significantly boost your overall compensation.
Your salary can also vary based on location. The areas with the highest travel nurse pay include:
How to Become a Travel Nurse: FAQ
Do I need to get a different nursing license for every state I travel to?
If you’re wondering how to become a travel nurse in a different state, there are a few key details to keep in mind. Some states participate in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), where nurses can apply for a multi-state license that allows them to work in any state that is part of the compact. Other states, like California and Michigan, are not part of the NLC, so you’ll need to transfer your nursing license in order to legally practice there.
How long does it take to become a travel nurse?
Typically, it takes about three to six years to become a travel nurse. This includes completing your formal nursing education and gaining at least a year of hands-on clinical experience. If you’re aiming to work as a travel LPN, you may be able to start a bit sooner.
Where are travel nursing assignments located?
Travel nursing assignments can be located anywhere in the U.S., from big cities to rural towns, and sometimes even internationally. Your placements typically depend on current demand, your specialty skills, and whether your nursing license is multi-state (compact) or single-state.
Which setting can travel nurses work at?
While most RNs work in hospitals, there’s also a growing need for skilled nurses in post-acute care. Here are some examples of healthcare settings where you can make a difference as a travel nurse:
- Hospitals
- Ambulatory care facilities
- Nursing homes and residential care facilities
- Government organizations
- Educational institutions
- Home health agencies
Can I choose my shifts as a travel nurse?
While you may not have the same level of shift flexibility that per diem nursing jobs offer — where you can pick and choose each shift — you will have the freedom to choose your assignments. Each assignment comes with its own requirements, giving you some control over your work while still meeting the facility’s needs.
What are some good skills to have as a travel nurse?
This job isn’t for everyone. Travel nurses must be able to excel in new environments, quickly learn new procedures and protocols, and effectively problem-solve. If you’re interested in this job, you need to have excellent clinical, analytical, and communication skills, thrive under pressure, and integrate smoothly with new teams. Don’t forget to highlight these skills in your travel nurse resume.
What are the housing options for traveling nurses?
There are a few options for travel nurse housing. Agencies typically provide either stipends or fully furnished accommodations for their nurses. With a stipend, you find your own housing. With agency-placed housing, all the work is done for you — you just move in and start your assignment.
What are the benefits of travel nursing?
Travel nursing comes with a variety of perks that make it an appealing career choice for many nurses. Some of the top benefits include:
- Travel: One of the biggest draws of travel nursing is the ability to see new places and choose where you want to work and live.
- Competitive pay: Travel nurses typically earn more than staff nurses in permanent positions. There is also an opportunity to receive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as retirement plans, in contract nursing jobs.
- Flexibility: With travel nursing, you are in control of which contract you pick and where you travel to next.
- Professional growth and networking: Each assignment exposes you to new teams, procedures, and environments, helping you grow professionally and expand your network.
- Making a difference: Travel nurses fill critical staffing gaps, providing essential care where it’s needed most, which can be incredibly rewarding.
What are the downsides of travel nursing?
While travel nursing can be exciting and rewarding, it also comes with some downsides. Here are some examples:
- High stakes: Yes, all nursing jobs can be stressful. But this job takes it to another level, because travel nurses often step in during critical staffing shortages, which can create an added sense of urgency.
- Possible lack of resources: Travel nurses are often walking into understaffed, underserved, and unfamiliar spaces and must quickly get up to speed to provide the care they were hired to deliver.
- Training may be scant: Depending on the facility, there may be very little orientation provided. Travel nurses need to work independently and have the competence and confidence to take care of patients in their specialty with little on-the-job guidance.
How do I choose a travel nurse contract?
Do your due diligence when researching staffing agencies. What benefits do they offer? Do they have good reviews? And importantly, what is their process if you find yourself in a situation where the employer doesn’t provide the safe environment that you need? Next, ask for a sample travel nurse contract and carefully review the details, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Start and end dates of the contract
- Travel reimbursement
- Meals and incidentals
- Job expectations
- Schedule and shift type
- On-call requirements
- Pay structure, including any bonus or overtime rates
- Types of benefits offered
- Housing options
- Additional support services
What drives the demand for travel nurses?
Hospitals and clinics face chronic staffing shortages, an aging population in need of care, and sudden surges in patients during flu season or pandemics. Add high burnout among permanent staff and the need for specialized skills in underserved areas, and it’s clear why flexible, experienced travel nurses are in demand — they’re the ones who can step in and fill in the gaps.
Additionally, many states have minimum staffing requirements for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. When patient demand exceeds available staff, travel nurses are often brought in to ensure these requirements are met.
Where can I apply for travel nurse jobs?
Your journey of learning how to become a travel nurse starts with an exciting milestone — landing your first job. Here are some open opportunities to get you started on your journey:
- Travel NP jobs
- Travel RN jobs
- Travel LPN jobs
- Travel LVN jobs
- Travel CNA jobs
- Travel CMA jobs
- Travel surgical tech jobs
- Travel home health aide jobs
Ready to Travel With Purpose?
Learning how to become a travel nurse no doubt highlights the perks of the job. Want more options in your career right now? We can match you with quality nursing jobs in your desired specialty and facility type. Sign up today.