Pediatric Travel PT: What to Know Before Your First Peds Assignment
Pediatric travel PT assignments are less common than SNF or acute care but growing — children's hospitals, early intervention programs, and pediatric outpatient clinics regularly use travelers to fill coverage gaps. Peds travel positions typically pay $1,800–$3,000/week total package, slightly lower than acute care but comparable to SNF. The most common peds travel settings are early intervention (home-based or center-based) and pediatric outpatient clinics in underserved areas.
Specialty certifications (NDT/C/NDT, experience with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum, or traumatic brain injury) make you significantly more competitive for peds travel roles. Some states require state-specific early intervention credentials in addition to your PT license — verify this before accepting any EI contract.