Every agency says it pays well and takes care of you. Here are the criteria that actually separate them, so you can compare agencies yourself instead of trusting a ranked list.
Compare agencies on the things that change your experience: how clearly they put pay and contract terms in writing, how responsive and consistent your recruiter is, how they handle problems mid-assignment, and how honest they are about what a facility is really like. Lists of the best agencies are opinion, so build your own checklist.
Look for a written breakdown of taxable wages, stipends, overtime, guaranteed hours, cancellation terms and reimbursements before you commit. An agency that is vague on these points before you sign is rarely clearer afterward. Read the pay explainer so you know what each line means.
A great deal. The recruiter is your day-to-day contact for submittals, questions and problems. A good one answers promptly, tells you what they do not know, asks permission before submitting you, and stays your point of contact through the whole assignment instead of handing you to a queue.
Ask questions that reveal how the agency behaves when something goes wrong. Good answers are specific and willing to be put in writing. Our guide on what to ask before accepting an assignment covers the unit and facility side.
Pressure to decide quickly, reluctance to put terms in writing, offers that change between the call and the contract, and recruiters who cannot answer basic questions about the unit are all warning signs. Compare at least two or three agencies on the same facility if you can, and see the credentialing guide so you know what a normal timeline looks like.
Many travelers do, because different agencies hold different contracts and offers can vary for the same role. Be upfront with each recruiter and make sure you are not submitted to the same facility twice. A comparison of two or three keeps everyone honest and gives you a better sense of the market. Browse the jobs overview to start.
No. A high headline number can hide thin guaranteed hours or weak cancellation terms. Compare the whole package and the contract language.
Two or three is usually enough to see how offers and recruiters differ without becoming hard to manage.
Treat them as one input. Lists reflect each publisher's methods and incentives, so check the criteria yourself.
Generally yes. Check your current contract for any terms that affect who can submit you to a facility.
No. Placement is free to you. The facility pays our fee.
Two minutes now saves a dozen irrelevant calls later. We only get in touch when something genuinely matches your specialty, your states and the schedule you actually want.
Tell us your specialty and the states you will work. We only reach out when a role matches.