What You Need to Know About Working Locum Tenens
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Introduction to Locum Tenens
“Jackson and Coker always has good opportunities. The staff I have had the pleasure to work with is amazing! I highly recommend Jackson and Coker to whomever is venturing in the locums world!”
- Dr. Silvia B.
Locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning “to hold the place of another.” In healthcare, it refers to physicians and advanced practitioners who take temporary assignments to help facilities maintain patient access and coverage.
Any qualified physician or advanced practitioner, such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and CRNAs, with the necessary active state licensure and credentials can work locum tenens. Facilities may also require clinicians to be board-certified or board-eligible. Clinicians at every career stage use locums to gain flexibility, explore new practice settings, supplement income, or maintain better work-life balance.
Healthcare organizations across the country use locum tenens as part of their workforce strategy. Hospitals, health systems, community health centers, private practices, urgent care centers, and government facilities rely on locums clinicians to maintain access to care and address staffing gaps.
Locums positions are available in virtually all specialties, including anesthesiology, behavioral health, cardiology, family medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, neurology, non-clinical services, radiology, reproductive medicine, surgery, and more. You can even find opportunities within telehealth as a locums clinician.
Locum tenens allows clinicians to choose when and where they work, explore difference practice environments, earn supplemental income, improve mental well-being, and gain exposure to new patient populations and healthcare systems.
Locum tenens offers flexibility, but assignments are temporary by nature. Depending on the opportunity, clinicians may need to travel, adapt to new systems and workflows, and manage benefits independently as they work exclusively as contractors.
Yes. Many physicians and advanced practitioners begin their first locum tenens assignment early in their careers. Our recruiting consultants and support teams help guide first-time locums clinicians through licensing, credentialing, travel planning, and assignment preparation.
Pay, Taxes, + Benefits
“I enjoy the professionalism, quick responses to questions and concerns and timely reimbursement. The system for reporting my hours is also very easy to use.”
- Dr. Jaysree R.
Locums physicians and advanced practitioners are paid by the hour or day, depending on the assignment. Pay is not based on the number of patients seen. You will submit regular service records, which will be approved by the healthcare facility. Our billing team will then send you your payment via direct deposit.
With Jackson and Coker, clinicians are paid every week via direct deposit.
Locum tenens clinicians are considered independent contractors. You will receive a 1099 tax form to report payments made to you for your tax filings. Learn more about working as a 1099 independent contractor.
Working as a locum tenens clinician requires managing your own benefits, with options such as COBRA, marketplace plans, association coverage, or a spouse's or partner's plan.
Yes. Some physicians and advanced practitioners work locums full-time, while others use assignments to supplement an existing permanent position or transition between roles.
No. We provide malpractice insurance for the physicians and advanced practitioners we place during their specified contracted periods.
Licensing + Credentialing
“The credentialing process was so smooth and easy! There was assistance with credentialing and licensure, and the level of customer service was great.”
- Dr. Suzanne S.
Each facility may have its own individual requirements, but our customer care team will assist you with the process. There are two general requirements:
- You must be legally eligible to work in the United States.
- You must have an active medical license in the state of the assignment.
If you want to practice in multiple states, you’ll need a medical license in each state where you’ll see patients. Many states participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), and we help manage the licensing process. For clinicians working in a federal facility, a single active state license is often sufficient to meet the needs of the government.
Credentialing varies by facility, but is primarily affected by three factors:
- The medical specialty of the locums need.
- The response time of any state boards that may need to approve licensing.
- The response time of the physician or advanced practitioner. The best way to speed up this process is to have all your documents ready to go and respond to your recruiting consultant promptly.
We typically fill roles two to three months in advance, depending upon the time it takes to obtain any necessary privileges. There are occasional positions available that don’t require privileges or have a shorter privileging turnaround.
Travel + Accommodations
“Communication was great! From the moment of inquiring about the assignment to your last shift they will support you. Excellent locum company!”
- Dr. Martin C.
Each locums assignment duration varies, but most range from a few weeks to a few months. Some assignments can be indefinite or as short as a few days, though these are less common.
We arrange any necessary travel, including flights, rental cars, or public transportation passes as part of your placement package. If your placement is within a drivable distance and you would like to use your own car, mileage can be submitted for reimbursement.
For locums assignments that require travel, your accommodation will typically be provided. This can include a hotel, a short-term rental property, a condo, an apartment, or another option. We consider your preferences when booking accommodations and work to find you the best fit in agreement with our clients’ requirements. Our travel team will work with you to secure your preferred type and size of accommodation.
Transportation options could include rental car bookings, public transportation passes, and rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft.
Not necessarily. Many clinicians work assignments within driving distance of home, while others choose opportunities in different states. Depending on your specialty and preferences, local, regional, and telehealth opportunities may be available.
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