Locum tenens is a Latin phrase that means “to take the place of,” and it refers to physicians and advanced practice practitioners that work on a temporary staffing basis in healthcare facilities worldwide.
That’s your boilerplate by-the-book definition of locum tenens, but that barely scratches the surface of what the industry is and how it works.
Imagine having the freedom to choose where you want to work, the flexibility to explore new locations, and the ability to take charge of your future. Locum tenens offers all that and more.
Physicians and APPs in 2023 have many burning questions about the exciting possibility of a locum tenens career, and we’ve answered the top 20 questions below about specialties in demand, income potential, work-life balance, and everything in-between.
Ready to unlock new opportunities, embrace freedom, and inject some excitement into your medical career?
Let’s dive in!
How can I become a locum tenens provider?
Regardless of how you apply to be a new locum tenens provider, the steps from the application to starting your first day of an assignment are going to be the same. All providers have to undergo the credentialing, privileging, and enrollment process. Credentialing qualifies and verifies a physician’s medical credentials, while privileging grants them authority to work at facilities. The enrollment process involves signing physicians up for insurance payment. Some facilities can complete credentialing within a few weeks, while others may take months.
Which specialties are most in demand for locum tenens coverage?
There are probably locum tenens opportunities in every medical specialty. Anesthesiology, hospitalist medicine, and psychiatry are specialties where locum tenens providers are most in demand. By 2033, The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts a shortage of 12,500 anesthesiologists, and hospitalists are in high demand because of high admission rates due to COVID and their ability to treat both chronic and acute conditions. Studies also show COVID has led to an unprecedented demand for psychiatrists with a predicted shortage now of between 14,280 and 31,091 psychiatrists by 2024.
However, family medicine, OB/GYN, general surgery, and cardiovascular care also consistently top the list of most critically needed providers in rural areas nationwide.
Are there challenges to working as a locum tenens provider?
Locum tenens opportunities can sound ideal for providers who want flexibility and higher pay, but they do come with challenges. Facilities require locum tenens providers to undergo a rigorous credentialing process that takes an indeterminate amount of time, leaving physicians in limbo as they wait for an assignment.
While locums can be a lucrative life choice, it also comes with expenses like health benefits and insurance that are inevitably the provider’s responsibility, especially if they don’t work directly with a staffing agency.
When should I start looking for a locum tenens job?
Locum tenens is an excellent option for physicians at any stage of their career. If you’re a physician nearing retirement, it can become a type of “semi-retirement,” allowing you to step away from the full-time physician schedule but remain practicing medicine.
Locum tenens is also great for new physicians still deciding what kind of practice environment they desire. It can be challenging to choose a specialty, so post-residency can be the perfect time to try locums work. Locum tenens exposes doctors to different acuity levels and patient volumes across varied healthcare settings. It can be a great way to confidently hone your clinical focus and set career goals.
Should I use a staffing agency to find a locum tenens job?
Providers can undoubtedly find their own locum tenens jobs solo — they may trust their instincts more when negotiating a higher pay rate — but having an agency in your corner makes it much easier to find the ideal gig. Good agencies help providers find an assignment where they want to go when they want to go there and at a fair rate.
What else do locum tenens agencies handle for providers?
First and foremost, a staffing agency acts as your advocate. They help you negotiate your contract with a hospital or medical office on your behalf. Agencies charge facilities a fair amount for these services. Think of the agency as a concierge service for providers that is always available and ready to help.
Besides sourcing the assignment, they provide a clinician’s malpractice coverage. As a locum tenens provider and independent contractor, you’re responsible for procuring malpractice insurance. You can purchase this independently, but if you work with a locum tenens staffing firm, the firm covers you under their medical malpractice insurance (and who wouldn’t want that!).
Staffing firms also employ credentialing, travel, and accounting teams who are at your disposal 24/7. Of course, an agency also employs recruiters who locate new physicians and connect them with locum opportunities.
What paperwork is necessary to work locum tenens?
A locum tenens provider must meet the same standards as any of their peers — finding a locum tenens job doesn’t differ much from finding a “permanent” full-time physician job. Gathering the following documentation can save you precious time as you start looking for a locums gig.
- An updated CV: A current CV is essential to the locum tenens application process, especially as you prepare to discuss your qualifications during interviews.
- Credentials: Preparing your licensing credentials is one of the most common first steps to any locum tenens application. Licensing and credentialing documents include:
- Medical school diploma
- Internship, residency, and fellowship certificates
- Any current, applicable licenses and certifications
- References: Locums recruiters commonly ask for professional references as part of the application process. Include names of professional references who can confirm your skills and your ability to perform the required procedures for the intended assignment.
How does licensing and credentialing work for locum tenens providers?
Credentialing qualifies and verifies a physician’s medical credentials, while privileging grants them authority to work at specific facilities. The National Practitioner Data Bank gathers and reviews medical data on physicians seeking medical credentials. All training, licenses, malpractice coverage, clinical judgment, and certifications related to a physician’s specialties must be verified.
The Federation of State Medical Boards provides a state-by-state list of credentialing requirements. The process can’t be expedited, but you can simplify it by becoming familiar with your state’s requirements, staying up to date on American Medical Association (AMA) profiles, documenting procedures you have performed, and keeping copies of required documents.
Can I work locum tenens in states where I’m not licensed?
Providers should familiarize themselves with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) before signing on to a locums assignment. The IMLC is an agreement among participating US states and territories to streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states.
The IMLC makes it easier for physicians to extend their reach into communities with a greater need for quality care. The compact increases access to healthcare and improves patient access to medical specialists. Members of the IMLC have an expedited pathway to licensure for qualifying physicians. The IMLC currently includes 41 states, Washington D.C., and Guam.
How do I prepare my CV for a locum tenens job?
An updated curriculum vitae (CV) should be an overview of accomplishments relevant to the academic realm. Update your CV frequently to include new information and achievements. When writing a CV, list your education first and avoid a drawn-out narrative profile. CVs can run over three pages but should only include the most relevant information.
Some quick CV tips:
- Avoid being self-congratulatory
- Neatly organize your CV with clear headings
- Include descriptions of coursework and research you’ve conducted.
You can find more tips to write a stellar CV in our No B.S. Guide to Locum Tenens.
Will I need to interview for locum tenens jobs?
If you’re new to locums and working with an agency, there will be several rounds of interviews.
- The first “get-to-know-you” interview: This step in the locum tenens process takes place with a recruiter. Recruiters ask lots of questions regarding your background, skills, and experience. They use this information to determine your fit for available assignments and to see if you’re a culture fit for their clients.
- Interview with a clinical manager at a hiring facility: Either before or while the licensing and credentialing process is underway, providers speak to managers at one of the staffing agency’s partner facilities. Providers should use the interview to make a good impression and sell themselves to the hiring facility or practice.
Both types of interviews are ideal opportunities to ask questions about facilities, systems, and workflow. Providers should use these interviews to see if their ideals align with the organization where they plan to work.
Can I work locum tenens part-time while having a full-time job?
You bet! Locum tenens and full-time work aren’t mutually exclusive. Many providers work locum tenens while maintaining a full-time position at another healthcare facility. Quite a few providers use locum tenens for supplemental income and to pay down their medical school debt.
What factors should I consider when reviewing a locum tenens contract?
The typical physician contract has three main components:
- The job description
- Compensation breakdown
- Details on what happens should your contract be terminated.
The job description dictates where you will work, how many hours a day, which days of the week, what types of patients you’ll treat, what kind of breaks you’ll get, and how much time you’ll spend on-call.
The contract’s compensation section(s) describes what you receive for doing the work detailed in the job description.
Make sure you understand how to calculate your compensation. Possible bases for calculation include per-shift payment, Relative Value Units (RVUs) — which are used to calculate physician reimbursements by identifying cost components linked to procedures — hours billed, or revenue generated.
The last portion of the contract details what happens if the agreement with the facility doesn’t work out and any potential consequences of early termination.
How does locum tenens compensation work?
Compensation for locum tenens physicians works differently from salaried, staff-physician jobs. Locum tenens physicians are usually paid a flat hourly rate for the time they work, whether it’s a weekend shift or a six-month stint. Locum physicians are independent contractors who don’t receive traditional benefits, so they’re typically paid a higher rate than their hourly counterparts to help offset additional costs.
The hourly pay rate varies depending on factors like demand for the specialty, location, type of facility, skillset, patient census, and the types of shifts needed at facilities. So, if there is greater demand for a particular specialty in a rural community, a locum tenens physician can earn substantially more in a rural hospital than in an urban facility where these specialists are more readily available.
What is the average pay rate for locum tenens providers?
Like with any other job, many different variables influence pay rates. Some factors are the specialty demand, location, type of facility, skillset, and shift needs.
Locum tenens physicians earn, on average, $32.45 per hour more than permanent physicians. Locum tenens is a great way to grow or supplement your income. Locum tenens physicians in most specialties are in high demand. Depending on the specialty, locum tenens physicians can see up to $300 per hour.
The temporary physician and advanced practitioners market surged in 2022 causing the locum tenens market to swell 25% to $6.1 billion. The upward trajectory of locum tenens shows no sign of slowing down, either. Now’s the time to take advantage of these locum tenens opportunities!
What does it mean to be an independent contractor?
As an independent contractor, even though you work for a healthcare facility, you are employed independently and contracted by an employer. While the work is the same as full-time providers, you must be aware of certain tax laws.
You will receive a 1099 form to report your income. If you’ve previously worked in full-time positions, you’re familiar with the more common W-2 form. The main difference is that a 1099 form is for people who are independent contractors and technically self-employed. The earnings you make as a locum tenens provider are subject to self-employment tax. Independent contractors pay for both portions of the Medicare and Social Security taxes every quarter. If you were a W-2 employee, your employer would automatically take those funds out of your paychecks. As a contractor, you take on that responsibility. Gulp!
It might sound daunting, but there are advantages to being a self-employed contractor. For example, you can deduct many business-related expenses like online subscriptions/CME, board exam fees, new state licenses, state license renewals, and more.
How long are locum tenens assignments?
The length of a locums assignment varies depending on the specific client and their needs, but most assignments will last from two weeks to two months. Ultimately, the duration of an assignment depends entirely on why facilities need the doctor. If a provider is filling in for a physician off for maternity or medical leave, they could be asked to fill in until the full-time provider returns. In other instances, a provider could fill in after a sudden hole was left or allow full-time physicians to take a vacation.
Can I bring my family along on locum tenens assignments?
Many providers like to bring their families along with them on assignments. It allows them to turn the trip into a working family vacation. Staffing agencies will often help with the travel arrangements for family members, too — but they might not cover the cost of airfare.
If you want to bring your family, let the agency you work with know your plans early. Agencies can factor the cost of housing accommodations into the budget for your assignment, but you may be required to pay for more things out of pocket that won’t be covered in your agreement.
How do locum tenens housing and travel arrangements work?
As soon as you are approved to begin working on an assignment, staffing agencies consider the length of the assignment to determine where you’ll stay. Typically, a hotel room would suffice for a week or less assignment. But if you’re on an assignment for over a week, you could be in an extended-stay hotel suite with a kitchenette.
Staffing agencies often secure a leased apartment for assignments lasting over a month. Airbnb or vacation rental companies frequently work with agencies to help them book lodging for locum tenens providers.
Can I work locum tenens overseas?
The short answer: yes. There are various international locum tenens opportunities with assignments ranging from two weeks to two years. Travel-related costs like housing and malpractice insurance are covered for locum providers on international assignments, and working as a doctor internationally allows doctors to explore new places with an adventurous working experience.
However, there will be a lot of details to take care of when it comes to international paperwork and credentialing.
All placements require the following:
- Your original medical certificate or DO
- Certificates covering post-grad training, life support certificates, American board or specialist certificates, any current licenses
- An updated CV
- Vaccine records
International assignments also require the following:
- Residency certificate
- Fellowship certificate
- A valid passport
- A valid driver’s license
- CME certificates
- Marriage certificates if your spouse will accompany you
- Birth certificates of any children accompanying you
- Evidence of a name change, if applicable
Locum Tenens Without all the B.S.
Believe it or not, this FAQ list just scratches the surface of what it means to be a locum tenens provider. Want to learn more about the practice alternative?
Read our complete No-B.S. Guide to Locum Tenens. Locumpedia is the first agency-agnostic news source covering the locum tenens industry, helping physicians, staffing firms, and healthcare facilities make informed decisions.
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