Episode Details

Claudia and Michelle first connected at ASHA in Washington, D.C., where Claudia, a Travel SLP fielded a steady stream of questions from curious graduate students. This episode captures all of that and more. Claudia walks listeners through how she discovered AMN Healthcare, what her first recruiter call felt like, her clinical fellowship year, how she chose Vermont as her first destination, and how AMN's support system helped her thrive during her clinical fellowship year (CFY). She also gets candid about the logistics of travel life: housing, storage, road trips across the country, and what to do with your summers between contracts.

Key Takeaways

• You Don't Need to Be Hired to Use the AMN Passport App: Anyone can download the app, search available positions, filter by location and contract length, and explore pay rates before ever speaking to a recruiter.
• Your Recruiter is a Great Resource: Claudia's recruiter, Paige, walked her through licensing requirements, health insurance options, and contract details from day one—and became a genuine professional ally.
• State Licensing Complexity Matters: Not all states are equally straightforward to get licensed in. Claudia originally wanted Maine, but her recruiter flagged the complicated licensing process and suggested Vermont instead for her first assignment.
• AMN Handles CFY Supervisor Placement: New grads don't have to scramble to find a qualified supervisor. AMN vets and places supervisors for clinical fellows, providing structure and mentorship from the start.
• Furnished Finders Makes Housing Easy: This app, built for travel healthcare workers, connects travelers with fully furnished short-term rentals—no need to haul furniture across the country.
• Traveling Builds Your Resume and Skill Set: Variety is one of travel therapy's biggest professional benefits. Each contract can expose you to different populations, settings, and clinical approaches.

Timestamps

• 00:00:00 – Introduction: Michelle welcomes Claudia Berger and sets the stage for the conversation
• 00:01:25 – Why Claudia became an SLP: her mom's influence and a love for special education populations
• 00:02:19 – How Claudia discovered AMN Healthcare through social media and a Google search
• 00:03:14 – What the AMN Passport app is, how it works, and who can use it
• 00:04:22 – What Claudia was looking for in a travel company as a new grad
• 00:05:06 – The clinical fellowship year: traveling as a brand-new SLP
• 00:05:46 – That first recruiter call with Paige: what it felt like and what she learned
• 00:06:46 – Questions new grads should ask their recruiter before signing a contract
• 00:07:53 – Why Claudia chose Vermont and how travelers pick their destinations
• 00:08:43 – Contract history: two years in Vermont, next stop Washington State
• 00:09:20 – Why Claudia extended her Vermont contract for a second year
• 00:10:03 – The logistics of travel life: storage units, furnished apartments, and road trips
• 00:12:12 – The social side of traveling: making friends, building community, and settling in
• 00:13:10 – Claudia's favorite thing about being a travel SLP
• 00:14:06 – Alaska, adventure, and how far travelers are willing to go
• 00:14:39 – AMN's Clinical Fellowship mentor program: how supervisor placement works and why it matters
• 00:16:09 – Summer contracts and ext