travel positions for nurse practitioners

17 Best Travel Nurse Practitioner Companies of 2024

Travel nurse practitioner companies pair nurse practitioners with contracts within their specialty, location, and practice setting of their choice. Recruiters assist NPs with obtaining an assignment and arranging the logistics of travel, licensing, and credentialing. Each assignment with a travel nurse practitioner agency typically provides the nurse practitioner with housing, travel expenses, malpractice insurance, car rental, and health benefits, as well as a generous salary. There are many travel nurse practitioner agencies available, read on to find out the 17 best travel nurse practitioner companies of 2024 to help you make an informed decision on which company to choose to work with.

What Exactly Does A Travel Nurse Practitioner Company Do?

What are the best travel nurse practitioner companies of 2024, 1. ab staffing solutions, 2. aureus medical group, 3. barton associates, 4. comphealth, 5. cross country locums, 7. flexcare, 8. goldfish medical staffing, 9. leaderstat, 10. locumtenens.com, 11. medwave healthcare staffing, 12. staff care, 13. sunbelt staffing, 14. triage staffing, 16. vivian health, 17. wilderness medical staffing, 6 ways to determine which travel nurse practitioner company is right for you, 1. what type of recruiter support is available, 2. what destinations does the agency serve, 3. what type of housing is provided, 4. what type of benefits are offered, 5. does the agency offer competitive pay, 6. does the staffing agency have a good reputation, summing it up.

Travel Nurse Practitioner | Jobs & Salary 2023 – Updated

As the primary care provider shortage continues to rise, there is a growing need for traveling nurse practitioners.

What is a Travel Nurse Practitioner?

Travel nurse practitioners are also called locum tenens providers. This means they are filling a temporary staffing need. This can be for a variety of reasons: maternity leave coverage, patient overflow, or filling a recent retiree position while full-time recruiting is underway. Some hospitals and clinics will even hire travel nurse practitioners for vacation coverage and sick leave. Some facilities will hire travel nurse practitioners before hiring on a full-time basis. This means the facility wants to test out the provider before hiring them permanently.

Looking for open travel nurse assignments? Speak with a recruiter today!

The types of assignments vary as a travel nurse practitioner and are dependent on your skill set. Common workplace locations can include the following:

• Emergency room
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Community health centers
• Urgent care
• School health centers
• Doctors’ offices
• Pediatric clinics
• Indian health services
• Senior care centers
• Home health offices
• Air force bases

Travel nurse practitioners receive housing stipends and travel cost reimbursement, which means practitioners basically get to explore new places for free. The biggest advantage to becoming a travel nurse practitioner, similar to becoming a travel nurse , is you also get paid more than you would as a permanent employee.

One downside to becoming a travel nurse practitioner is constantly looking for a new position every few months and new living arrangements . Some may see this as a negative while others may look forward to living somewhere new every few months. The flexibility is great since you don’t have to work holidays and can take as much time off as you want.

Another plus is you are constantly learning and will become more competent working in different clinical settings. When you are ready to settle down as a full-time employee, your resume will certainly stand out!

Here’s a quick guide to becoming a traveling nurse practitioner.

How to Become a Travel Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioner education.

Becoming a travel nurse practitioner takes time and significant education. First, you must become an RN by passing the NCLEX and earning your BSN . After gaining the proper experience as a bedside nurse, you will need to apply to an accredited nurse practitioner program. After completing the program and earning state certification in your specialty, you can work as a travel nurse practitioner.

Nurse Practitioner Experience

While you can get a position as a travel nurse practitioner without any prior experience, it can be difficult and there will be limited options available. Most positions require a minimum of 2 to 3 years of prior NP experience. For positions in the ER or ICU, the requirement might even be longer.

If you are a new graduate and interested in becoming a travel nurse practitioner, make sure to ask about the orientation process. Most employers will accept a new graduate as long as they make a relatively long commitment (at least 6 months). The orientation process will most likely be lengthy though.

Near or far – find the right travel nurse assignment for you.

Nurse Practitioner Licensing

To work in various states, you have to obtain both the RN and ARNP licensure for that state. Some states may also have a third license you will need to apply for in order to prescribe medications. It is also necessary to register your DEA certificate with the state you plan on working in for the ability to prescribe controlled substances.

Depending on the state, the licensing process can take 2 weeks to 6 months. Many states offer temporary licenses, which allow you to start working while your permanent license is being processed. Some staffing agencies will assist in the licensing process.

Nurse Practitioner Clinical Settings

Travel nurse practitioners can work in a variety of healthcare settings. Job opportunities will depend on a multitude of factors. According to the BLS , the job outlook for nurse practitioners is 46%. There is an overwhelming need for NPs throughout the country in many healthcare settings. Travel nurse practitioners help fill the void.

Finding Travel Nurse Practitioner Jobs

There are several key steps to finding a travel nurse practitioner position. Finding your first position is typically the hardest and most time-consuming. It gets easier with time and experience. Follow these key steps to help land your dream travel nurse practitioner position:

• Establish a relationship with a recruiter from a staffing agency (establish relationships with multiple agencies to increase job options)
• Determine the locations you are interested in traveling to, the type of facility you want to work in, and salary expectations
• A staffing agency will provide you with a list of job opportunities
• Determine which job you are interested in and have the recruiter submit your resume
• If the facility is interested, they will usually request a phone interview within the next few days
• After the phone interview, the employer will make an offer within 24 hours
• Upon accepting an assignment, you will need to sign a contract dictating the terms of the assignment which may be negotiable
• Start credentialing and the onboarding process

Find available, high-paying travel nurse opportunities.

How Much Does a Travel Nurse Practitioner Make?

Travel nurse practitioners have the ability to make a significant salary. According to the BLS , nurse practitioners earn an average annual salary of $120,680. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $79,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $200,540.

Typically, travel positions earn a higher wage than staff positions. The hourly rate is higher, and the majority of their pay comes in the form of stipends, which are generally tax-free. It’s important to note that some travel nurse practitioners will not qualify for overtime or bonuses.

According to ZipRecruiter , as of December 2022, travel nurse practitioners earn an average annual salary of $129,154.

The top 5 cities for Travel Nurse Practitioners

Source: ZipRecruiter

Travel nurse practitioners can earn higher wages depending on their specialty and also the need. For example, a psychiatric travel nurse practitioner earns an average annual salary of $295,518 or $142.08 per hour.

On top of an hourly salary, travel nurse practitioners may also receive additional benefits including but not limited to:

• License reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Loan forgiveness
• Life insurance
• Travel reimbursement
• Continuing education classes
• Tuition reimbursement

Specific benefits will vary based on the staffing agency. These benefits come from the staffing agency, not the facility you work for.

Travel Nurse Practitioner Jobs FAQ

Travel nurse practitioners can work as travel nurses. All NPs also are required to maintain an active RN license in the state they are working in. One of the biggest challenges for travel NPs is to remember their scope of practice is limited and very different when working as a nurse. Some facilities will not want to hire a travel nurse that has an NP license for this reason.

Yes, travel nursing as a nurse practitioner is very much a thing! Travel NPs have the ability to make a significant amount of money in a very short period of time. You also get to travel the country and experience new and exciting locations all while working at a facility of your choosing.

According to ZipRecruiter.com , as of December 2022, the highest-paid travel nurse practitioner position is for psychiatric nurses. Psychiatric travel nurse practitioner earns an average annual salary of $295,518 or $142.08 per hour.

Most travel nurse practitioners will have clinical experience working as an NP prior to traveling. Some agencies will work with new graduates, but contracts will be limited and there may be a lengthy orientation process. Most staffing agencies and facilities require a minimum of two to three years of experience prior to signing a travel nurse practitioner contract.

Why I Love Being A Travel Nurse Practitioner

For me, being a travel NP has been incredible! There is always a new adventure coming along, and it is a great way to avoid burnout working in medicine. I enjoy traveling to different places and learning while working in diverse clinical settings. I would recommend this experience to anyone looking for an exciting, lucrative career.

Ready to start your adventure? Sign up today and start traveling next week.

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Travel Nurse Practitioner Jobs

Find travel np jobs nationwide, take your career on the road: become a locum tenens nurse practitioner.

Travel nurse practitioner jobs pop up every day … all over the country! Fluctuations in census may leave a facility understaffed or a hospital near a resort may need more clinicians during their busy season, so they rely on locum tenens nurse practitioners for help.

The great news is that means healthcare facilities are constantly opening new locum nurse practitioner jobs! We keep our travel NP jobs list constantly updated, so you can check back in and see the latest anytime.

Browse NP Jobs

Travel nurse practitioner jobs allow you to provide relief for permanent staff and make an impact on patient care for facilities nationwide. Travel offers many perks:

• See the country!
• Continuously build your resume by working at prestigious facilities.
• Discover new clinical techniques and work alongside top providers.

Working as a locum tenens nurse practitioner allows you to expand your horizons, advance your career … and get paid (really well!) to do it.

What’s the average travel nurse practitioner salary?

There are several steps you can take to maximize pay.

• Let us help focus your job search on high-paying areas (especially those with low cost of living.)
• Remain flexible regarding location to ensure you consider the highest-paying options.
• Stay in frequent communication with your recruiter to make sure no opportunities are missed.

Your recruiter will listen to your travel goals and do their utmost to help you achieve them. If pay isn’t your only priority, they can help you with other ambitions as well. If you’d like to focus on building your resume at prestigious facilities or expanding your skill set, just let your recruiter know.

What does Aya offer?

Priority status.

Front-of-the-line access to exclusive jobs at top-rated hospitals.

Personalized Team

A robust support team to ensure you have an exceptional experience.

Concierge travel and lodging arrangements.

Comprehensive malpractice coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually around three months, but it depends. You will likely have the opportunity to extend indefinitely.

The short answer is that changes. You can always ask your recruiter for the most up-to-date list of high-paying jobs. If you don’t have a recruiter, you can apply now and we’ll have someone reach out ASAP.

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Travel Nurse Practitioner Jobs

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With Aya Locums you get:

• Access to top hospitals and healthcare systems in diverse care settings.
• Highly competitive, transparent locum tenens pay .
• Dedicated application and assignment support .
• In-house credentialing and licensing teams .
• Travel and lodging coverage .
• Easy timekeeping and streamlined management of documents.
• Malpractice coverage and risk management support.
• Premium medical, dental, vision and life insurance beginning day one of your assignment.
• Paid sick time. Aya provides paid sick leave in accordance with all applicable state, federal, and local laws. Aya's general sick leave policy is that employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, to the extent any provisions of the statement above conflict with any applicable paid sick leave laws, the applicable paid sick leave laws are controlling.
• Generous 401k match.
• Aya may provide other benefits where required by applicable law, including but not limited to reimbursements.
• View Locum Tenens FAQs

For all employees and employee applicants, Aya is an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer, including Disability/Vets, and welcomes all to apply. Please click here for our EEO policy.

Nurse Practitioner Jobs FAQs

What types of locum tenens nurse practitioner positions does aya locums offer.

Aya Locums offers a wide range of part- and full-time nurse practitioner locum jobs, including positions in specialties such as family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and more. These temporary assignments can be in hospitals, clinics or other healthcare settings, providing NPs with diverse opportunities to practice and gain experience.

How does Aya Locums support NPs before and during their locum tenens assignment?

Aya Locums provides comprehensive support to NPs. Your recruiter will help you find your ideal opportunity, while your dedicated support team handles licensing, credentialing, travel and housing logistics. Throughout your assignment, your experience specialist ensures your assignment is seamless.

What is the average duration of a locum tenens assignment for a nurse practitioner, and is there flexibility in the length of assignments?

Locum tenens assignments for nurse practitioners typically range from a few weeks to several months. This flexibility allows you to choose assignments that align with your career goals and schedule.

How much experience is needed to become a locum tenens NP?

At least a year of NP experience is recommended before applying for a locum assignment. Check our job listings or ask your recruiter to find opportunities that match your experience.

How can nurse practitioners stay updated on new job opportunities with Aya Locums?

You can save job filters for your profession, specialty and state and set up email notifications for new job listings that meet your criteria. To begin, go to the “Search Jobs” section under “Jobs.” Apply your desired job filters, then click the heart icon at the top right corner of the screen to “Save Search” — then toggle email notifications on.

Does demand fluctuate for locum NPs?

Demand can vary by season, with higher demand in the summer and early fall due to factors like vacation coverage and flu season.

Is physician supervision required to be a locum tenens nurse practitioner?

The need for physician supervision for locum tenens nurse practitioners varies by state and may change over time. Some states require physician supervision, while others grant full practice autonomy to nurse practitioners, allowing independent work. Consult your recruiter for assignment-specific supervision requirements.

How does licensing work for a locum tenens nurse practitioner across different states?

Licensing requirements vary depending on location, and your dedicated Aya team can assist with securing a license in any state. We’ll handle administrative tasks, contact local medical boards and guide you on state-specific compliance.

What types of facilities commonly hire locum tenens nurse practitioner?

Locum tenens nurse practitioners are commonly hired by various healthcare facilities, including hospitals, urgent care centers, private practices and telehealth providers.

What options are available if I want benefits, like health insurance, as a locum tenens nurse practitioner?

In most cases, nurse practitioner locum tenens are independent contractors responsible for managing their own benefits. However, in California, Aya Locums provides certain benefits to NPs as W-2 employees. Contact your recruiter for further information.

What are the highest-paying nurse practitioner locum tenens jobs?

Nurse practitioner locum tenens compensation varies by experience, demand and region. Your recruiter can help you find high-paying locum tenens opportunities in your specialty.

How can nurse practitioners stay updated on locum tenens nurse practitioner recent practices and developments?

Nurse practitioners can stay updated by researching the latest clinical guidelines, participating in continuing education courses and subscribing to medical journals. They should also engage with professional organizations like the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and attend relevant medical conferences to access the latest research and clinical practices in their field.

Do I need to provide my own malpractice insurance?

No, Aya Locums offers malpractice insurance to nurse practitioners on assignment with us.

How does the onboarding process for an NP locum tenens assignment typically work?

The onboarding process often involves orientation, training and getting familiar with the facility’s policies and procedures. Your dedicated recruiter and experience specialist will provide guidance on specific orientation guidelines to ensure a seamless transition into your role.

Can I bring my family/significant other/pet?

Yes, many locum tenens providers travel with their family or pets during assignments. It’s essential to inform your agency in advance so they can assist with required travel and housing preparations. You’ll be responsible for any extra housing and travel expenses related to your family or pets.

Does Aya Locums have an affiliation with industry organizations?

Aya Locums is proud to be part of NALTO ® (The National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations). We’re committed to maintaining high standards in the locum tenens industry, focusing on quality and ethical practices for healthcare providers and facilities.

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