How a Travel BCBA Job Makes an Impact Across the Country

Travel BCBA Sydney Esch Drives Meaningful Progress for Families While Advancing Her Own Career

For many board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), the goal is clear: make a meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of children with autism and their families. But what if you could do that in multiple communities, all while strengthening your clinical skills along the way?

That’s exactly what Sydney Esch set out to do. Now on her fifth placement as a travel BCBA with Hopebridge, she’s experienced firsthand how ABA jobs like this blend purpose, flexibility and professional growth in a way that traditional positions often can’t match.

After several years working as a BCBA in Michigan, Sydney and her husband were ready for a change, but were not sure where to land long-term. She came across Hopebridge’s travel BCBA job listing and it seemed to offer a unique solution: the chance to explore different parts of the country while making a positive difference through her clinical work.

“I have a sister-in-law who travels in the medical field and thought it would be so cool if I could be a traveling BCBA, but didn’t think it would ever be an option,” said Sydney. “When we saw Hopebridge’s position and the opportunity for six-month stints, it seemed like it fell into our laps because it was exactly what we wanted to do.”

The Clinical Impact of a Travel BCBA

While the opportunity to explore new places is a bonus, Sydney is quick to emphasize that the real value of the role lies in its clinical impact.

Each placement brings a new challenge: supporting an existing caseload, helping open or stabilize a center, or reducing waitlists so families can access care faster.

In one placement, Sydney focused on accelerating access to applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) by conducting initial evaluations.

“We were able to offer a start date within two weeks. The relief and gratitude on that mom’s face—it was like this big, hard part was finally over. I knew that wouldn’t have happened as quickly if I wasn’t there,” said Sydney.

Moments like these highlight how travel BCBAs directly support Hopebridge’s mission: expanding access to high-quality autism care and helping families move forward sooner.

The structure of the role also shapes how clinicians approach care.

“It works even better than I expected. It helps families—and even BCBAs!—focus on what we can accomplish in six months. The long-term goal may be for a child to speak or go to school, but it’s important to see how those short-term goals build toward long-term progress,” said Sydney.

How the Travel Role Encourages BCBA Career Growth

For Sydney, one of the most rewarding aspects of the role is the opportunity to learn from different teams and environments.

“Every center figures out what works for them under the Hopebridge framework. It’s been such a varied experience. I like to collect those pieces—what works here, what could work somewhere else—and use that to support the next center,” said Sydney.

She told us that this constant exposure to new teams, systems and challenges sharpens problem-solving skills and broadens clinical perspective. Travel BCBAs often step into dynamic situations, making flexibility and strong foundational knowledge essential.

“You’re going to jump in and people need answers quickly,” Sydney explains. “Knowing policies, staying organized and being adaptable makes a huge difference.”

What to Know Before You Go

For BCBAs considering a travel role, Sydney offers practical advice:

1. Be flexible. Every center, team and caseload is different.
2. Stay organized. Having systems in place helps you hit the ground running.
3. Know your clinical foundations. You’ll be a resource for teams and families from day one.
4. Be open to growth. Each placement is a chance to expand your skills and perspective.

And if you’re hesitating?

“I think just do it. A lot of people say, ‘I would, but…’ We had those things too. But we’ve grown so much, both clinically and personally, and had experiences we never would have had otherwise,” said Sydney.

Follow the Mission as a BCBA at Hopebridge

For BCBAs looking to expand their impact and accelerate their professional growth, the travel BCBA role offers something different: a career path built on purpose, adaptability and real-world experience.

If you’re ready to take your clinical skills on the road, explore Hopebridge’s open travel BCBA positions at Hopebridge and see where this role could take you.

What is Life Like as a Travel BCBA?

Clinical growth is only part of the story. Read more about Sydney’s favorite moments, destinations and discoveries from life as a travel BCBA.

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*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC. Testimonials are solicited as part of an open casting call process for testimonials from former client caregivers. Hopebridge does not permit clinical employees to solicit or use testimonials about therapeutic services received from current clients (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 5.07-5.08; BACB, 2020). Hopebridge does not provide any incentives, compensation, or renumeration for testimonials provided by a former client or client caregiver.