Frequently Asked Questions

A travel clinician typically works shorter-term assignments (typically 13 weeks) away from their permanent home base. To qualify, you need to maintain a permanent tax home while on assignment. When you do, a significant portion of your pay comes through tax-free stipends for housing and meals, which is why travelers often have higher take home compensation.

A contract clinician works through an agency rather than being directly employed by the facility. The hospital still directs your day-to-day work, but your pay, benefits, and advocacy come through your agency, giving you more flexibility to negotiate rates and terms. As a local, contract clinician, you are not eligible for tax-free stipends.

A permanent staff clinician is hired directly by the facility. Pay, benefits, and supervision all come from the healthcare setting.

It depends on the role and how quickly your documents are in order! A clinician new to The Script may need a couple weeks before they start their new contract, possibly stretching out to a maximum of around 6 weeks. A repeat clinician could have a new assignment within days!

Here's a sample timeline to work with for a new clinician:

Week 1: Profile completed, credentials submitted, actively matching with positions

Week 2: Interview with facility, offer extended

Weeks 3–4: Onboarding paperwork, compliance, and licensing confirmed

Weeks 5–6: First day on assignment

The fastest start times are around 2–3 weeks for clinicians who have their documents ready. The best thing you can do is get your profile complete early, the right opportunity can move fast.

Absolutely, and we love when people bring their people. Just make sure your housing accommodates everyone in your crew. Furry travel companions are welcome too, just flag it when you're searching for housing

If your partner or a friend is also a clinician, we can help coordinate contracts in the same area so you're not choosing between your career and your community. and we'll help you find pet-friendly options.

Distance matters here. Most clinicians either drive or fly —

Driving: You'll typically be reimbursed at the federal mileage rate. Keep a record of your total miles as well as receipts.

Flying: Some clinicians going cross-country will ship their car and fly out. This is something we may be able to help you coordinate, and reimbursement is factored into your overall package.

Heads up: Travel reimbursement is typically paid out in your first two paychecks and comes out of your total compensation, worth factoring in when comparing offers.

Housing needs vary based on your contract length, type, financial budget, and your personal needs. There are so many websites out there it can be hard to know what to trust. As a clinician you are responsible for finding and managing your housing on contract. The Script is here to help with some clinician reviewed resources:

See housing resources

Contract work can be fast paced when it comes to ending and starting new assignments. Once the contract is signed is typically when clinicians start the search for housing.

Some bigger cities have fast turnovers for availability with new listings popping up daily like Austin, San Francisco, and Chicago.

More rural towns may not have as much availability.

The time of the year can affect pricing and availability, so can local and national events.

Check websites regularly for new listings and adjust search filters as needed.

Popular areas can fill up fast, and having housing locked in early means one less thing to navigate before you hit the ground running.

It can be so hard going to a new city and figuring out what neighborhood to live in. You want it to be affordable, limit commuting, and find a balance of things to do on your days off. There are plenty of apps and websites out there to help narrow down the search!

Area Vibes has a great website that incorporates average age, gyms, grocery stores, crime rates, walkability, and so much more. This website is free and updates regularly.

The Neighbors App is another great tool that has input given from members of the community of what is going on. CrimeMapping, gives live updates of criminal activity occurring in the zip code or town you're looking into.

An off the book tool to use when scouting new neighborhoods and cities is a quick Reddit search for neighborhood information or asking friends that have lived there or nearby.

Other things to consider include:

• Weekly take home pay after taxes.
• Cost of living in the city you are traveling to.
• How much you want to spend on housing.

To determine if a contract will financially work for you there are calculators to help compare current and future cost differences between cities.

To qualify for tax-free stipends, you need to meet three criteria: maintain a permanent tax home, duplicate living expenses while on assignment, and work far enough away that your assignment reasonably requires you to sleep or rest away from home rather than commute back after each shift.

You’ll often hear a “50-mile rule” referenced, and while it’s a useful guideline, it’s not an official IRS requirement. The IRS standard is really about whether the distance is too far for a reasonable daily commute. For the full IRS guidance, Publication 463 is the authoritative source.

For tax questions specific to your situation, we always recommend speaking with a tax representative who specializes in travel healthcare.

Let’s break this down! There are three parts to any travel clinician paycheck: housing stipend, meals and incidentals, and hourly rate. The stipends for housing, meals, and incidentals are tax-free payments meant to offset the cost of being away from home. These are rates set by the government based off the cost of living in each state. Your hourly rate is determined by experience, contract location, and specialty. The stipends and hourly rate will be paid out weekly. Below is an example of a paycheck breakdown:

• Weekly housing stipend: $875
• Weekly meals & incidentals: $350
• Hourly rate $32.50 × 36 hrs (before tax): $1,170
• Total take-home: ~$2,395/week

One thing we’re committed to: showing you the math. The stipends are set through the government rates. We’ll always walk you through how your specific package is structured.

We’re building our benefits package with intention, here’s what’s coming:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Licensure and certification reimbursements
• Referral bonuses
• Travel reimbursement
• Wellness stipends
• Nonprofit matching

Benefits eligibility and timing vary, some start on day one of your contract, others after a short waiting period. We’ll be clear about this before you sign anything.

When a contract wraps up, coverage options depend on whether you’re moving into another contract or taking time between assignments. We’ll help you navigate the gap so you’re never left without a plan.

Absolutely. If you’re interested in staying in the area, or are already in the area, you are able to take the position as a local contract with no home base requirements.

Most clinicians will receive weekly paychecks! On Fridays you will be paid for the prior week’s worked hours and stipends.

Clinicians do not get paid for days they take off during contracts. The benefit of being a traveling clinician includes being able to determine guaranteed time off prior to going into a contract. Clinicians are only paid for days they work. Bottom line, if you take a day off you will not be paid out stipends or hourly for the days you don’t work.

Stipends are determined through the General Services Administration (GSA). This independent agency helps to determine per diem rates for government employees who travel for work. The rates set by the GSA are what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses to determine rates for non-government citizens who travel for work. The maximum per diem rate in any given state determined by the GSA is the max per diem rate for travel clinicians.

• Employers cannot pay more than the maximum limit set by the GSA
• Expense categories include housing, meals, and incidentals
• Every state will have slightly different rates due to the varied cost of living

Not at all! Clinicians who travel are able to work in a variety of specialties, pick up skills and knowledge at a fast pace, and are exposed to varying practices and procedures across the country. Working in this dynamic and rewarding career you will become more marketable and gain skills to excel in any position you take while building a network of friends and colleagues along the way.

Traveling clinicians are always in need! Healthcare facilities are in constant need of travel clinicians due to natural disasters, staff leave, and global healthcare shortages. Whether you want to start your travel career today or five years from now, The Script is here to support you on your journey.

You'll need to register to see position details and start applying. Once you're in, everything's in one place and you can set filters so the right opportunities come to you.

Here’s what to expect:

Joining The Script: Name, email, phone, preferred location, profession, resume

This allows you to browse positions

Credentials: Profession, certifications (numbers + expiration dates), diploma, and state licensure

Work history: Previous positions, facility details, and references — typically one from a manager or charge nurse, two from colleagues

Recommendations or references: 2 previous supervisors

Completing your profile should take about 15–20 minutes if you have your resources and documents ready! Everything after that will move quickly!

Not if you don’t want it! You’re in control, you can turn notifications on or off and filter by location, specialty, pay rate, and more.

Orientation varies by facility and specialty - be sure to ask during your interview. Most facilities will offer 3-5 days of orientation total. If you feel more time is needed, you can advocate for yourself by speaking directly to your manager or having The Script reach out on your behalf.

An app is on the way! In the meantime, our site is designed to work well on mobile. Stay tuned.

It depends on the state and your discipline.

Nurses:

• Many nurses are eligible for the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows you to practice in member states without applying for a separate license, a big time and cost saver for travelers.
• Check the NLC website to see which states are part of the compact.
• The NLC also offers a great FAQ sheet for travel nurses regarding compact vs non compact states and maintaining licensure as you travel.

Allied health clinicians (such as OT, PT, SLP, and others):

• Compacts are variable and are still expanding. For some states and specialties, you’ll need a state-specific license before you can start.
• While some states process licenses quickly, others can take a few weeks - please get started on completing your licensing for new states asap.

The baseline requirements vary by discipline and facility, but most assignments will ask for:

• Proof of highest level of education or relevant education, ie transcripts, diploma, etc
• Current state licensure (with expiration date)
• BLS/CPR certification
• Specialty certifications relevant to your unit or setting
• Immunization and health records
• Background check
• Reference letters or checks

Some facilities have additional requirements, specific EMR experience, unit-based certifications, or trauma level backgrounds. These will be noted in the job description.

Once your profile is created, you’ll submit your credentials through the platform: licenses, certifications, work history, and references. We verify everything before you’re submitted to a facility.

After that, updates are simple, renew a cert, update a license, and you’re good to go for the next contract.

Floating is common in travel contracts, it’s part of the flexibility facilities are hiring you for. That said, you should only be floated to units where you have relevant experience. An ICU clinician might float to step-down; they shouldn’t be sent somewhere outside their scope.

Before accepting an assignment, it’s worth asking about the floating policy.

Life happens. If something comes up mid-contract - a family emergency, an illness, or an unexpected situation, reach out to your recruiter immediately. We’ll work with you and the facility to navigate it as smoothly as possible.

Cancellations can carry consequences, so the earlier we know, the more options we have. You won’t be navigating it alone.

Tell us. We take clinician wellbeing seriously, and we’re not going to dismiss your concerns. Your experience on assignment reflects on us, and we’ll advocate for you.

Yes, extensions can be possible. If you’re interested, let your recruiter know as soon as possible so there’s enough time to work it out with the facility.

One important thing to keep in mind: you can stay in one location for up to one year without changing your tax home status, as long as the assignment is considered temporary at the outset. This is a city or general area limit, not a state limit, so you could technically work multiple assignments within the same state as long as you’re moving to different areas. For the full IRS guidance, see Publication 463.

Always speak with a tax professional for specific questions.

Not at all. We welcome experienced travelers and first-timers equally. If this is your first contract, we’ll walk with you through every step, from understanding your pay to finding housing to navigating a new facility. After that, you decide how much support you want. Some clinicians want a close partnership; others prefer a check-in text once an assignment!

Absolutely! If you know of a position that is not on our website, or are not sure what their needs are, please reach out to us and we can connect you!

Yes, you’ll always have a dedicated team by your side! You’ll initially be assigned a team member to walk you through the process and you are able to utilize them, depending on how much support you need. Sometimes it’s a lot of support, sometimes it’s a text check-in!

Simply put, we work with all clinicians. If you’re in healthcare, there’s a place for you here.

Our current network includes:

• Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses & Licensed Practical Nurses
• Certified Nurse Assistants & Medical Assistants
• Phlebotomists
• Radiologic & Ultrasound Technologists
• Respiratory Therapists
• Physical, Occupational & Speech-Language Therapists
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers
• Clinical Laboratory Technicians

We also partner with healthcare executive teams to build leadership, from department directors to C-suite roles across clinical and non-clinical settings.

Don’t see your exact profession listed? Please complete your registration and we’ll reach out to connect with you!

Yes! if you refer a fellow clinician and they complete a qualifying assignment, you both benefit.