Locum tenens jobs are often associated with short-term coverage, but assignments can range from a single shift to several months or longer. For physicians and advanced practitioners, that range creates a wide spectrum of options, from brief locum tenens jobs that supplement a permanent position to longer locum tenens assignments that resemble a full-time schedule.
Since the length of a locum tenens assignment affects schedule, income, travel, and family life, it is one of the first details that many physicians and advanced practitioners want to clarify. Knowing how facilities typically structure locum tenens assignments makes it easier to identify opportunities that align with personal and professional goals.
Locum tenens jobs vary in duration based on facility needs, specialty demand, and provider availability. While every locum tenens opportunity is unique, most assignments fall into three general categories:
Short-term locum tenens jobs typically cover immediate gaps in coverage, such as vacations, brief medical leaves, or seasonal surges.
Locum tenens jobs on the shorter side are ideal for physicians and advanced practitioners who want to earn supplemental income while continuing in a W-2 or permanent role, maintain a flexible schedule, or try locum tenens before committing to full-time work.
Mid-length locum tenens assignments often support facilities during temporary vacancies, extended leave, or active recruitment for permanent providers. These locum tenens jobs help maintain continuity of care while teams work through staffing changes or ramp up new programs.
For physicians and advanced practitioners, mid-length locum tenens jobs offer enough time to fully engage with a facility and its patients, build familiarity with workflows, and contribute meaningfully to the team without taking on a long-term commitment.
Long-term locum tenens jobs are common when facilities face ongoing staffing shortages, hard-to-fill positions, or extended staffing transitions. This can include shifting from an outsourced to an employed model or opening a new service line that requires sustained coverage while the permanent team is being built.
These longer locum tenens jobs offer physicians and advanced practitioners greater consistency and stability, along with the opportunity to build deeper professional relationships and integrate with the local community, while still preserving the flexibility and independence of a locum tenens career.
The duration of a locum tenens assignment depends on the specific needs of the healthcare facility. Hospitals and clinics bring in locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners for many reasons, and those directly influence whether the work lasts a few days or several months.
When a permanent physician or advanced practitioner takes time off for a short vacation or an unexpected illness, locum tenens steps in to keep schedules running smoothly and maintain access to care. These locum tenens assignments are typically brief and generally align with the length of the absence, often ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
Longer absences, such as maternity, parental, or sabbatical leave, often call for several months of temporary coverage. Facilities often arrange locum tenens contracts for a duration of two to six months to support continuity of care and minimize disruptions until the permanent physician or advanced practitioner returns.
With ongoing physician shortages across the country, many healthcare facilities rely on locum tenens coverage while they recruit permanent staff. Because full-time physician and advanced practitioner recruitment can take several months, locum tenens assignments often extend for half a year or longer, depending on hiring timelines, specialty demand, and patient volumes.
During periods of heightened patient demand, such as flu season, healthcare facilities bring in locum tenens for short-term support. These locum tenens assignments might cover a few weeks during the busiest periods, ending once patient volumes return to baseline.
When health systems open new locations or expand services, locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners often provide early coverage while permanent teams are being assembled. These locum tenens assignments generally last several months, ensuring uninterrupted care as operations ramp up.
The medical specialty as well as the location of the healthcare facility heavily influence assignment length. Hard-to-staff specialties, such as radiology and anesthesiology, as well as roles in rural or underserved communities, often require longer locum tenens assignments, sometimes lasting six months or more. By contrast, urban hospitals with more staff may only need short-term help for brief coverage gaps.
Administrative requirements can also shape how long a locum tenens assignment makes sense. Credentialing, state licensing, hospital privileging, and facility-specific onboarding all add time to the start of an engagement; therefore, many healthcare organizations prefer assignment lengths that make this investment worthwhile.
Locum tenens staffing agencies, such as Medicus, help coordinate licensing, credentialing, and onboarding on behalf of physicians and advanced practitioners, streamlining the process and supporting a smoother start to each assignment.
Having access to short, mid-length, and long-term locum tenens assignments gives physicians and advanced practitioners more control over how, when, and where they practice. Some of the benefits include:
There are many benefits to working locum tenens, but finding the right fit, in both length and location, is easier with the right support. Medicus is a leading locum tenens agency that takes a personalized, hands-on approach to help each locum tenens physician and advanced practitioner secure locum jobs that align with their goals, lifestyle, and scheduling preferences.
At Medicus, every placement begins with the individual physician or advanced practitioner. Our recruiters take time to understand key preferences, including:
Once these criteria are defined, we share only those locum tenens opportunities that align with the physician’s or advanced practitioner’s parameters. This helps reduce time spent sorting through assignments that are not a fit.
With access to a nationwide network of healthcare organizations and roles across many specialties, Medicus offers a wide range of locum tenens opportunities. Whether a physician or advanced practitioner is looking for:
Our recruiters narrow options based on availability, location preferences, and desired assignment duration.
At Medicus, we recognize that time and balance are central to a sustainable career. Our team works closely with each physician and advanced practitioner, as well as with the facility, to align locum jobs with individual scheduling preferences, including:
Because every physician and advanced practitioner defines flexibility differently, we collaborate to identify locum tenens opportunities and scheduling that support both their professional goals and life outside of work.
Medicus acts as an advocate in discussions between physicians and advanced practitioners and the hiring facility. Our team helps manage key aspects of the contract and, when appropriate, will request adjustments such as:
Our goal is to help arrive at an agreement that works well for both the physician or advanced practitioner and the facility.
Through the Medicus Transition Program, teams of locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners help facilities bridge large gaps in coverage and stabilize or rebuild service lines. These projects offer meaningful, longer-term opportunities for those interested in supporting high-need communities.
Physicians and Advanced Practitioners Can:
Medicus manages the administrative and logistical details that help locum tenens assignments run smoothly. This comprehensive support enables physicians and advanced practitioners to choose assignments with confidence, knowing that key steps are supported by our internal teams.
Our In-House Services Include:
Interested in partnering with Medicus for your next locum tenens assignment? View our open locum jobs here or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.
Yes. Extensions are common when both the facility and the locum tenens physician or advanced practitioner agree, especially if a permanent hire has not been secured. Interested physicians and advanced practitioners should discuss extension preferences early with their recruiter, who can help coordinate details. Some limits may apply depending on budget, hiring progress, and other factors.
Most short-term locum jobs run about 3 to 14 days. These locum tenens jobs fill brief staffing gaps or vacation coverage.
Many locum tenens jobs start at 3, 6, or 12 months, but renewals can extend beyond a year. Multi-year locum tenens jobs are less common and are usually tied to ongoing staffing needs or highly specialized positions.
Yes. Many physicians and advanced practitioners transition from locum tenens to permanent roles when both sides find a good fit. A locum tenens assignment can act as a trial run for a long-term position.