Locum Tenens 101: Quick Start Guide

What drives physicians and advanced practitioners to embrace locum tenens? Discover the benefits and learn how you can get started today.
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Key Points

  • Locum tenens refers to physicians and advanced practitioners who provide temporary coverage to healthcare facilities when there is a gap in care.
  • Locum tenens offers flexibility in schedule, location, and assignment length, allowing clinicians to choose how and where they practice.
  • Clinicians working locum tenens typically focus on patient care while agencies support licensing, credentialing, travel, and housing logistics.
  • Locum tenens can support career exploration, work-life balance, and continuity of care for healthcare organizations facing staffing shortages.

Thinking about trying something new in your medical career? Locum tenens gives you the freedom to explore different healthcare settings, build your experience, and take control of your schedule. It’s a great way to grow professionally while keeping your personal life in balance.

Latin for “to hold the place of another,” locum tenens refers to the growing industry of temporary healthcare staffing where physicians and advanced practitioners contract with medical facilities and locums companies for an interim period.

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It is estimated that over 90% of healthcare facilities,  including urgent care centers, community care centers, private practices, and even governmental groups, use locum tenens as part of their workforce management. 

Working as a locum tenens professional offers many benefits beyond those of full-time roles, including:

  • Better work-life balance.
  • Experience new specialties.
  • Greater flexibility.
  • Explore new areas of the country.

Locum tenens positions are available in virtually all specialties for physicians and advanced practitioners, such as:

Gastroenterology

Oncology

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Family Medicine

OBGYN

Psychiatry

Neurology

Whether it's full-time or part-time, long or short-term assignment, locum tenens work has something for every clinician.

Read more about locum tenens assignments.

We walk you through the locum tenens journey step by step, so you can stay focused on what matters most. With deep industry expertise and smart technology, we make things simple and seamless to help you do your best work.

We take the time to understand your goals and match you with opportunities that truly fit, so you can focus on what you do best: putting patients first.

​Whether you're just out of residency, near retirement, or somewhere in between, we have the right opportunities for you.

Latin for “to hold the place of another,” locum tenens refers to the growing industry of temporary healthcare staffing where physicians and advanced practitioners contract with medical facilities and locums companies for an interim period.

0 %

It is estimated that over 90% of healthcare facilities,  including urgent care centers, community care centers, private practices, and even governmental groups, use locum tenens as part of their workforce management. 

Working as a locum tenens professional offers many benefits beyond those of full-time roles, including:

  • Better work-life balance.
  • Experience new specialties.
  • Greater flexibility.
  • Explore new areas of the country.

Locum tenens positions are available in virtually all specialties for physicians and advanced practitioners, such as:

Gastroenterology

Oncology

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Family Medicine

OBGYN

Psychiatry

Neurology

Whether it's full-time or part-time, long or short-term assignment, locum tenens work has something for every clinician.

Read more about locum tenens assignments.

We walk you through the locum tenens journey step by step, so you can stay focused on what matters most. With deep industry expertise and smart technology, we make things simple and seamless to help you do your best work.

We take the time to understand your goals and match you with opportunities that truly fit, so you can focus on what you do best: putting patients first.

​Whether you're just out of residency, near retirement, or somewhere in between, we have the right opportunities for you.

Latin for “to hold the place of another,” locum tenens refers to the growing industry of temporary healthcare staffing where physicians and advanced practitioners contract with medical facilities and locums companies for an interim period.

0 %

It is estimated that over 90% of healthcare facilities,  including urgent care centers, community care centers, private practices, and even governmental groups, use locum tenens as part of their workforce management.

Working as a locum tenens professional offers many benefits beyond those of full-time roles, including:

  • Better work-life balance.
  • Experience new specialties.
  • Greater flexibility.
  • Explore new areas of the country.

Learn more about the benefits of working locum tenens.

Locum tenens positions are available in virtually all specialties for physicians and advanced practitioners, such as:

Gastroenterology

Oncology

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Family Medicine

OBGYN

Psychiatry

Neurology

Whether it's full-time or part-time, long or short-term assignment, locum tenens work has something for every clinician.

Read more about locum tenens assignments.

We walk you through the locum tenens journey step by step, so you can stay focused on what matters most. With deep industry expertise and smart technology, we make things simple and seamless to help you do your best work.

We take the time to understand your goals and match you with opportunities that truly fit, so you can focus on what you do best: putting patients first.

​Whether you're just out of residency, near retirement, or somewhere in between, we have the right opportunities for you.

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Keep Reading

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Locum Tenens Agency Comparison Checklist: What to Evaluate Before You Sign 
Comparing locum tenens agencies? Use this clinician checklist to evaluate credentialing, transparency, and support before you sign.
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From Career Gaps to Career Momentum: How Locum Tenens Supports Career Transitions 
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Locum Tenens Agency Comparison Checklist: What to Evaluate Before You Sign 
Comparing locum tenens agencies? Use this clinician checklist to evaluate credentialing, transparency, and support before you sign.
Two physicians, one man and one woman, walking together in a sunlit hospital hallway, smiling in conversation.
From Career Gaps to Career Momentum: How Locum Tenens Supports Career Transitions 
See how locums helps physicians stay active, earn income, and explore new paths while between roles or life changes.
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Practicing Medicine on Your Own Terms: One Physician’s Perspective on Locum Tenens 
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Why Are Average Psychiatrist Salaries Growing?
Psychiatrist salaries are still rising, but growth is moderating. Explore 2026 pay trends, shortages, and how locum tenens is reshaping compensation and strategy.

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Federal facts for you.

We are a Federal Supply Schedule Contract holder. 

Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract: 36F79723D0086, Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing, effective March 15, 2023, through March 14, 2028.

NAICS Codes:
  • 561320: Temporary help services. 
  • 621111: Offices of physicians. 
  • 621112: Offices of physicians, mental health specialists. 
  • 621399: Offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners. 
  • 621330: Offices of mental health practitioners.

Privileging.

Once you and our client agree to move forward with your assignment, our privileging team will assist you and the client in gathering information required by the healthcare facility to grant clinical privileges.

1

We contact the facility’s Medical Service Office (MSO) for their application and requirements.

2

We will assist you by pre-populating the facility’s application and sending to the MSO.

3

We will assist the MSO by following up on requested items.

4

MSO will grant privileges based on your training and experience, and you will be able to start your assignment.

Headshot photo of Maggie Youmans

Maggie Youmans

Executive Vice President

As Executive Vice President, Maggie oversees several key specialty divisions and adjacent teams. With a demonstrated history of leading teams and developing individuals across the organization, she is dedicated to inspiring, challenging and empowering associates to achieve their personal and professional goals. 

Maggie earned degrees in marketing and management focused on consumer economics from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. She enjoys traveling with her husband to visit different bed and breakfasts. Together, they have been able to see the beauty within their own backyard and across the country.

Connect with Maggie on LinkedIn.