How to Become a Locum Tenens Physician?
Four Steps to Becoming a Locum Tenens Physician
Starting Your Locum Tenens Career
Maybe you have been thinking about working locum tenens for a while. Maybe a colleague keeps telling you how much they enjoy it. Or perhaps you simply want more flexibility, additional income, a change of scenery, or greater control over when and where you practice. Whatever brought you here, one question usually comes next: How do you actually become a locum tenens physician?
The good news is that getting started is often more straightforward than it seems. Once you know what you want, find the right support, and have the necessary documents ready, you can begin exploring locum tenens jobs that fit your career, schedule, and lifestyle.
There is no formal switch you have to make to become a locum tenens physician. Locum tenens is simply a different way to practice medicine, allowing physicians to take temporary assignments based on their availability, career goals, and preferences.
It is also a well-established part of the healthcare system. Since locum tenens originated in the late 1970s, its use has continued to grow. Today, approximately 81% of healthcare facilities rely on locum tenens clinicians annually, creating opportunities for physicians across a wide range of specialties, clinical settings, and locations.
If working locum tenens sounds like the right fit for you, getting started comes down to a few practical steps.
Becoming a locum tenens physician often starts with a simple question: What would working locum tenens look like for me? Before you get started, it is essential to ask yourself a few key questions:
You do not need a perfectly mapped-out career plan. You just need enough direction to recognize the right opportunity when you see it.
Pro Tip: Write down your top priorities and nonnegotiables before speaking with a recruiter. It makes it much easier to focus your search on locum tenens jobs that align with what you're looking for.
Once you know what you are looking for, the next step is finding the right partner to help you navigate the search.
A locum tenens agency can connect you with tailored locum tenens job opportunities while helping coordinate many of the administrative details involved in getting you ready for an assignment. That support becomes especially valuable when licensing, credentialing, travel, and onboarding begin.
As you compare locum tenens agencies, look for one that supports you throughout the process—not just in finding a locum tenens job. For example, Medicus provides a team to help with everything from your initial search through the details of getting started and staying supported while you are on assignment.
That includes:
Pro Tip: With dozens of locum tenens agencies available, it is important to research and find one that aligns best with you. Not sure where to start? Explore our guide on seven things to look for in a locum tenens agency.
Before you can begin a locum tenens assignment, healthcare organizations will need to verify your qualifications and complete credentialing. Depending on where you plan to practice, you may also need an additional state medical license. Organizing your documents early can keep the process moving and make it easier to respond when the right locum tenens job becomes available.
Key documents you may need include:
Pro Tip: Interested in traveling? Talk with your recruiter about states where locum tenens jobs align with your specialty and preferences. Starting applicable licensing requirements early can give you more options when the right opportunity becomes available.
With your career goals defined, the right agency in your corner, and your documents ready, the final step is securing your first locum tenens job. At this stage, your dedicated recruiter will present opportunities that match your preferences, guide you through the interview and onboarding process, and help finalize the details.
Once everything is in place, you’ll begin your first locum tenens job and officially start working as a locum tenens physician.
Pro Tip: Before accepting your first locum tenens job, make sure you understand the schedule, call expectations, clinical setting, travel details, and start-date requirements so there are no surprises before your assignment begins.
There is no single right way to work locum tenens. Some physicians make locum tenens their full-time career, while others take occasional assignments or work locum tenens jobs alongside permanent positions. The first step is figuring out what works for you. From there, having the right partner can make it easier to turn those priorities into a locum tenens career that fits.
At Medicus, your recruiter takes the time to understand what you are looking for and connects you with locum tenens jobs that align with your specialty, schedule, location preferences, and career goals. With support from your first search through each assignment, you have a team behind you as your locum tenens career evolves.
Ready to explore locum tenens? Click here to view our open locum tenens jobs or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.
Yes. Many physicians work locum tenens jobs in tandem with their permanent job to supplement their income, explore new clinical settings, and even to expand their professional network.
In most cases, yes. Locum tenens physicians can typically consider assignments based on location, schedule, practice setting, call requirements, and other professional or personal preferences. Your options will depend on factors such as your specialty, licensing, availability, and current demand, but you are not expected to say yes to every opportunity presented to you. Your recruiter can help narrow the search to locum tenens jobs that fit what you are looking for.
Yes, you can work locum tenens close to home. While many clinicians are drawn to locum tenens for the opportunity to travel and practice in different locations, assignments are also available in local and regional markets. Depending on your specialty and demand in your area, you may be able to find opportunities within commuting distance of where you live. This lets you enjoy the flexibility, competitive compensation, and career benefits of locum tenens while staying close to home and maintaining your routines and personal commitments.
The length of locum tenens jobs can vary, usually based on a facility's staffing needs or a physician's preferred schedule. Some opportunities may last only a few days or weekends, while others can extend for several weeks, months, or longer. This flexibility allows physicians to choose assignments that fit their schedules and career goals.
Demand for locum tenens physicians varies by specialty, location, and healthcare market. Specialties such as anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, hospital medicine, and primary care frequently see locum tenens opportunities, but they are far from the only options. The best way to understand what is available in your specialty is to review current locum tenens jobs or speak with a recruiter who can provide insight into current opportunities and market demand.