Finding the right locum tenens job can open the door to a more flexible, rewarding, and balanced career. Whether you are an experienced physician, a recent graduate, or an advanced practice provider exploring new opportunities, understanding how to navigate the locum tenens process is essential to success.
The quickest and most reliable way to find a locum tenens job is to partner with a reputable locum tenens agency, such as Medicus. A trusted locum tenens agency identifies locum jobs that align with both your personal and professional goals while managing details that often take the most time to coordinate, including licensing, credentialing, travel, and contract support.
While you can search for openings on hospital job boards or healthcare career sites, most physicians and advanced practitioners find that working with a locum tenens agency saves time and simplifies the process.
Before you start applying for locum tenens jobs, take time to decide what matters most to you. Do you want to travel frequently or stay close to home? Are you seeking higher pay, flexible scheduling, or experience in a new clinical setting? Knowing your priorities will help you identify locum tenens jobs that truly fit your lifestyle.
Ask yourself:
Locum tenens careers are flexible by design. Defining your goals early helps you focus your search and connect with locum jobs that truly align with your personal and professional preferences.
Now that you know where to find locum tenens jobs, take time to prepare before starting your search.
Once you’re ready, there are two main paths to finding locum tenens work:
While both options exist, most clinicians choose to work with a locum tenens agency for the added efficiency, support, and access to exclusive opportunities. An experienced agency simplifies every step from job matching to credentialing and travel so you can focus on practicing medicine.
Most physicians and advanced practitioners begin working locum tenens by partnering with a locum tenens agency, and for good reason.
What Locum Tenens Agencies Can Do:
A reputable locum tenens agency acts as your advocate, connecting you with open locum tenens jobs that match your availability and clinical and location preferences.
An experienced locum tenens agency like Medicus manages many of the details that can slow you down, including:
Key Benefits of Locum Tenens Agencies:
Additional Advantage: Partnering with Medicus gives you access to the My Medicus Loyalty Program, where your hours worked translate into rewards like travel upgrades, cash bonuses, and exclusive benefits.
Some physicians and advanced practitioners pursuing locum tenens work prefer to bypass locum tenens agencies and find locum tenens jobs on their own. While this approach offers complete control over the search process, it also comes with added complexity and responsibility.
Challenges to Consider:
While it’s entirely possible to find locum tenens jobs independently, partnering with a locum tenens agency can offer significant value by handling logistics, credentialing, and compliance.
If you opt to work with a locum tenens agency, it’s crucial to choose the right locum tenens partner. Not all locum tenens agencies offer the same level of service and support. You’ll want an agency that not only finds you locum jobs but truly advocates for your needs, communicates transparently, and supports you from start to finish.
Below are some key factors and qualities to look for in a locum tenens agency:
Choosing the right agency can make all the difference in your locum tenens career. The best partners simplify every step —from credentialing to travel —and provide ongoing support that helps you succeed. Medicus Healthcare Solutions is one such partner, offering nationwide opportunities, personalized recruiter guidance, and a streamlined process that allows you to focus on delivering patient care.
Whatever locum tenens agency you consider, use the checklist above to evaluate them carefully, and talk directly with a recruiter to get a sense of their professionalism and service before you commit.
When offers start coming in, compare each one against your original priorities from Step 1. Not every locum job fits every person, so focus on alignment.
It’s not difficult to get a locum job once you know where to look and have your credentials ready. Partnering with a trusted staffing agency makes the process much easier. Locum tenens agencies like Medicus help match you with openings that fit your job goals and preferences, handle credentialing paperwork, and even coordinate travel.
The simplest way to get locum shifts is to register with a locum tenens agency and connect with a dedicated recruiter. They’ll alert you to new openings, submit your profile to facilities, and handle the logistics. You can also set up job alerts on physician job boards or follow locum agencies on social media for up-to-date shift postings.
The best way is to combine multiple strategies: search specialized job boards and work with a reputable locum agency. This gives you access to both public listings and exclusive openings that aren’t advertised online. A recruiter can also guide you toward locum tenens jobs that align with your goals and handle administrative details for you.
The timeline depends on how prepared you are. If your licenses, certifications, and documents are up to date, you could start working within a few weeks to a month. Locum tenens agencies often expedite the process by managing credentialing and coordinating with facilities, so the more responsive you are, the faster you can begin.
Not necessarily. While experience helps, many new graduates, residents, and fellows start with locum jobs to explore different practice settings, gain independence, and develop their clinical skills.
The quickest path is to register with a locum tenens agency, upload your credentials, and work with a recruiter. Recruiters can often connect you to open locum jobs faster than you can by searching on your own, since they know which facilities have immediate needs.
Yes. Many physicians and advanced practitioners choose locum tenens as their full-time career. The flexibility allows you to maintain a steady income while deciding when and where to work.
Locum tenens offers freedom, variety, and the chance to make a real impact where care is needed most. By learning how to find opportunities, prepare effectively, and work with a trusted agency, you can build a rewarding locum tenens career.
Medicus supports providers through every step, from the first conversation to assignment completion. Ready to take the next step? Explore current locum tenens jobs or complete the short form below to connect with a Medicus recruiter.