Across the country, healthcare facilities turn to locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners to sustain patient access when staffing gaps emerge. For clinicians, locum tenens can offer a rare combination of flexibility and impact: more control over your schedule, and the opportunity to support communities when coverage matters most.

This guide outlines the full process, from understanding how locum tenens works to starting your first assignment and receiving payment, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

What is Locum Tenens?

The term locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning "to hold the place of." In healthcare, locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners fill temporary staffing gaps at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

The length of locum tenens jobs can range from a few shifts to several months, with opportunities across nearly every specialty and care setting.

Why Do Healthcare Organizations Use Locum Tenens?

Healthcare organizations rely on locum tenens clinicians to maintain continuity of care when staffing challenges arise. Common reasons include:

  • Covering short-term vacancies or leaves of absence
  • Managing seasonal patient volumes or unexpected increases
  • Addressing long-term recruiting gaps in hard-to-fill specialties or locations
  • Maintaining a sustainable schedule and supporting long-term staff retention 
  • Reducing burnout among permanent staff 
  • Stabilizing coverage during service line launches or restructuring

By leveraging locum tenens clinicians, healthcare facilities can remain adequately staffed without compromising patient care or overextending permanent teams.

Why Do Physicians and APPs Work Locum Tenens?

Physicians and advanced practitioners work locum tenens jobs for many reasons, from greater flexibility to new clinical experiences. Below are some of the most common motivations: 

More Flexibility & Scheduling Control

For many clinicians, locum tenens is less about changing their clinical work and more about flexibility. Physicians and advanced practitioners can choose when, where, and how often they work, making it easier to build a schedule around personal priorities rather than having work structure their lives.

New Practice Settings & Locations

Some clinicians use locum tenens to gain experience in different locations, care settings, and patient populations before committing to a permanent role or relocation. Others choose locum tenens as a long-term career path and use each locum tenens job to refine what they prefer most, from the type of facility to the locations they work. Locum tenens can also be taken alongside a permanent role, which allows clinicians to evaluate other opportunities without making an immediate change.

Supplemental Income

Locum tenens does not require physicians or advanced practice providers to leave a permanent role. Many clinicians take on assignments to supplement their income, whether to pay down student loans, save for a major purchase, or build financial flexibility. No matter the reason, locum tenens jobs can be a practical way to earn additional income while staying in a permanent position they value.

Reduce Administrative Burden

For some clinicians, locum tenens can mean less day-to-day bureaucracy than a permanent role. While each assignment has its own workflows, physicians and APPs are often not responsible for ongoing meetings, paperwork, or long-term operational responsibilities, allowing more focus on patient care.

For a deeper look at how locum tenens jobs can align with career preferences, check out "The Benefits of Locum Tenens: Tailored Job Matching".

Working Locum Tenens Independently VS With a Locum Tenens Agency

Some physicians and advanced practitioners manage locum tenens work independently, finding opportunities through job boards or direct facility relationships and coordinating the details on their own. This approach can offer greater control over the process, but it also requires managing the administrative and logistical aspects of each locum tenens job, including paperwork and documentation, as well as scheduling coordination.

Others choose to partner with a locum tenens agency to streamline those steps. Locum tenens agencies, like Medicus, can help find locum tenens job opportunities that match your goals, coordinate logistics, and provide guidance as you move through each stage of the assignment process.

If you are considering partnering with a locum tenens agency, our blog, "What to Look for in a Locum Tenens Agency," breaks down what to look for and which questions to ask.

How Does Locum Tenens Work in Practice?

Step 1: Decide How You Want to Work

Start by identifying your job goals. What would make a locum tenens opportunity a good fit for you? Consider:

  • Desired schedule and assignment length
  • Ideal location or travel distance
  • Preferred clinical setting
  • Whether you want to work locum tenens full-time or in tandem with your permanent role

Clarifying these details upfront can streamline your locum tenens job search and help you focus on assignments that align with your priorities.

Step 2: Find a Locum Tenens Job

You can find locum tenens jobs on your own through job boards and direct outreach, or you can partner with a locum tenens agency. Many clinicians choose to partner with a locum tenens agency, such as Medicus, to access a broader range of locum tenens jobs and receive support throughout the process, from identifying the right fit to navigating next steps.

With Medicus: With partnerships at hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide, Medicus connects physicians and advanced practitioners with exclusive locum tenens jobs across specialties, settings, and regions.

For a detailed breakdown of your options, see our article on "How to Find a Locum Tenens Job".

Step 3: Licensing & Credentialing

Once you have found a locum tenens job you want to pursue, confirm you are licensed in the state where you will practice. If you are not already licensed there, you will apply for a state medical license. Next, you will complete the facility’s credentialing process. Requirements vary, but typically include:

  • State medical license(s)
  • DEA registration (if applicable)
  • Board certification and work history verification
  • Background checks and immunizations

With Medicus: Our in-house licensing and credentialing teams help you organize and submit documentation, track requirements, and keep the process moving, with a dedicated resource available to answer questions along the way.

Navigating the credentialing process can be time-consuming. Explore "Three Tips to Simplify the Locum Tenens Credentialing Process here".

Step 4: Onboarding & Logistics

Once your licensing and credentialing are complete, you’ll move into onboarding with the facility. This typically includes:

  • Facility orientation
  • EMR training
  • Scheduling details
  • Travel and lodging coordination and more

With Medicus: A dedicated recruiter supports you every step of the way. In MedicusIQ, your customized portal, you can access onboarding details, facility logistics, orientation info, and key contacts before your locum tenens assignment begins and throughout your time on site.

Before your first day, it may be helpful to review "What to Prepare for Your First Locum Tenens Assignment" to know what to expect and what to have ready.

Step 5: Travel & Start Date

If your assignment requires travel, you’ll typically arrive shortly before your start date, giving yourself time to get settled and feel prepared for your first shift. Before you travel, confirm the reporting location, start time, parking instructions, and any facility-specific arrival expectations so you know exactly where to go and what to do on day one.

With Medicus: Our in-house travel team coordinates travel and lodging, and you can access your itinerary and key details in the MedicusIQ app. If plans change or questions come up before you arrive, your Medicus team is available to help you stay on track.

 Want a closer look at locum tenens travel? Read our guide for what to expect, how logistics are handled, and how to prepare. 

Step 6: Working Your Locum Tenens Job

Once your locum tenens assignment begins, you will step into the facility’s schedule and workflows and focus on patient care. Each assignment is different, but you can expect to follow the facility’s established protocols, documentation standards, and scheduling structure.

With Medicus: MedicusIQ keeps key assignment details in one place, and your recruiter stays connected throughout the assignment to help address questions that come up.

Assignment length can vary from a few shifts to several months. If you want a better sense of typical timelines, our blog, How Long Can a Locum Tenens Assignment Last? breaks it down.

Step 7: Timesheets & Payment

You’ll track the hours you work using timesheets and submit them regularly. Once timesheets are approved, payment is typically processed on a predictable cadence.

With Medicus: Easily submit timesheets and eligible reimbursements in the MedicusIQ app, and get paid by direct deposit once timesheets are approved.

How Medicus Supports Locum Tenens Physicians and Advanced Practitioners

When you partner with Medicus, you have a team in your corner to help keep each assignment on track. From matching you with the right opportunity to coordinating logistics and guiding you throughout the process, our goal is to make locum tenens feel straightforward and well supported.

With Medicus, you can expect support to:

  • Identify locum tenens jobs aligned with your goals, scheduling preferences, and preferred clinical setting
  • Guide you through state licensing needs when applicable and support you through facility credentialing
  • Coordinate travel and lodging for eligible assignments
  • Submit timesheets and eligible reimbursements through the MedicusIQ app
  • Stay connected throughout your assignment and support you as you plan what comes next
  • Unlock exclusive rewards and benefits through the My Medicus Loyalty Program

With the details handled and support in place, you can stay focused on patient care and feel confident in each step of your locum tenens career.

Interested in working locum tenens jobs with Medicus? View our open locum jobs here, or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter. 
Frequently Asked Questions About Locum Tenens
Do I Have to Quit My Full-Time Job to Work Locum Tenens?

No. Many clinicians work locum tenens alongside a permanent role.

How Long Does it Take to Get Started Working Locum Tenens?

Timelines vary based on licensing and credentialing requirements, but preparation can significantly speed up the process.

Can New Physicians & Advanced Practitioners Work Locum Tenens?

Yes. Locum tenens can be an excellent option for early-career clinicians looking to gain experience in different settings.

Is Locum Tenens Only for Physicians?

No, advanced practitioners are also considered locum tenens.