You've built a career helping students develop important skills and overcome challenges. But what if your career could also take you somewhere you've always wanted to go? As a BCBA, you can bring your expertise to schools across the country through travel contracts that typically follow the school year. That means you can spend around 10 months living and working in a new community while supporting students who can benefit from your experience. Maybe you've always wanted to live near the beach. Maybe there's a city you've dreamed of calling home, even if only for a school year. Or perhaps you're ready to experience a completely different part of the country. A travel contract can give you the opportunity to do just that.
Schools don't always need additional behavioral support year-round. Staffing needs can change from one school year to the next, and a school may need a BCBA to step in when they have an open position, increased student needs or limited access to qualified professionals in their area. A 10-month contract gives schools a way to bring in experienced BCBA support for the school year without making a permanent hire. For you, that can create an opportunity to spend a school year somewhere completely new. You can bring your expertise to a school that needs it, work alongside teachers and other education professionals, and build relationships with students and families throughout the year. When the school year ends, you have the flexibility to decide what comes next, whether that's returning home, extending your contract or choosing another destination for your next adventure. A 10-month school contract can give you the chance to make an impact where you're needed while experiencing what it's like to call somewhere new home.
There's a big difference between visiting a place for a few days and actually getting to live there. Traveling as a BCBA can give you the chance to experience destinations you've always wanted to explore without committing to living there permanently. Have a national park on your bucket list? Look for opportunities nearby. Always wanted to spend a year near the coast? Your next school contract could take you there. Curious about life in a new city or region of the country? A 10-month contract gives you time to experience more than the tourist attractions. During the school week, you'll be doing meaningful work supporting students. On weekends or during school breaks, you can explore your new surroundings. Take the road trip. Visit the national park. Try the local restaurant everyone recommends. Spend the afternoon at the beach. See what life looks like somewhere new. And when your contract ends, you can decide what comes next. You might choose to stay. You might head home. Or you might start thinking about the next place you'd like to experience.
Every school has different needs, and sometimes a team needs behavioral expertise it doesn't currently have. As a traveling BCBA, you can step into those environments and provide support where it's needed most. You might help a school strengthen its behavior support strategies, collaborate with educators and families, or provide services to students who may have been waiting months, or even longer, for access to a qualified professional. Your experience can also bring a fresh perspective to the teams you join. You'll work alongside educators with different backgrounds, experiences and approaches, giving you the opportunity to share what you've learned throughout your career while learning from the people around you. The ideas, strategies and perspectives you exchange can benefit everyone on the team—and ultimately, the students you're there to support. And while you're bringing your talent to a school that needs it, you're also getting the chance to experience a new community. You might spend your contract learning about local traditions, trying foods you've never had before, exploring a new landscape or becoming part of a community that's different from your own. You're not just seeing new places along the way. You're bringing something valuable with you and leaving a positive impact on the students and teams you meet.
Your expertise can make a meaningful difference for students wherever you go. And with a travel contract, your career can give you more than a new professional experience. It can give you the opportunity to live in places you've always wanted to see. So, where have you always wanted to go? Whether you're dreaming of mountains, beaches, big cities or somewhere completely different, a 10-month school contract could give you the opportunity to make that destination part of your everyday life. As a BCBA, you have skills schools need. Why not see where they could take you?