What does locum tenens mean? Is locum tenens worth it? Browse answers to your questions about locum tenens, from pros and cons to how it works!

<h2>Answers to Your Top Questions About Locum Tenens</h2>
<p>
  Are you interested in learning more about the locums lifestyle? Want to
  discover how locum tenens works? Wondering whether it’s the right choice for
  you? Here are answers to your most-asked questions about this outstanding way
  to practice medicine!
</p>
<h2>What is locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Locum tenens is an arrangement in which healthcare providers temporarily fill
  in for other providers. Locum tenens physicians, advanced practice providers,
  and dentists substitute for others who are on leave. They also temporarily
  fill vacancies or gaps when healthcare facilities need additional staff.
</p>
<h2>What is the meaning of locum tenens? Why is it called locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Locum tenens means “to hold a place” or “one holding a place.” Locum tenens
  has been used in English since the 1600s and is derived from Medieval Latin.
  Today, it is used to describe healthcare providers who temporarily fill in for
  others.
</p>
<h2>What does being a locum mean?</h2>
<p>
  “Being a locum” is short for “being a locum tenens” and means working on a
  temporary assignment as a healthcare provider to fill a vacant position, help
  with shortages, or cover for a permanent provider on leave.
</p>
<h2>What is locum tenens, and how does it work?</h2>
<p>
  Locum tenens is an arrangement hospitals and other healthcare facilities use
  to “hire” temporary providers. Locum tenens providers aren’t temporary
  employees. They’re independent contractors who the IRS considers to be
  self-employed. Therefore, providers who work locum tenens must pay quarterly
  estimated taxes and file form 1099.
</p>
<h2>Who works locum tenens jobs?</h2>
<p>
  Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists,
  nurse midwives, dentists and other providers work
  <a
    href="/jobs/results?term=&amp;xTerm=&amp;jobType=%5B%22Locums%22%2C%22Locum%20Tenens%22%5D&amp;profession=&amp;specialty=&amp;msp=&amp;shiftTypes=&amp;shiftLengths=&amp;durations=&amp;salaryMax=&amp;tags=noTags&amp;sort=relevant&amp;view=list&amp;offset=1&amp;size=9&amp;companyId=&amp;location=&amp;geoLocationRadius=100&amp;page="
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
    >locum tenens jobs.</a
  >
  Providers at all stages of their careers choose to work locum tenens jobs for
  various reasons, from living a more independent lifestyle to moonlighting to
  earn extra income.
</p>
<h2>Why locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Healthcare providers choose to work locum tenens for a range of reasons: to
  work for themselves as independent contractors, to work part-time and
  supplement their income, to come back partially after retirement, to enjoy
  less stress, to travel and see the world, to build a network, to explore
  clinical interests, to try out a position to see if it’s a permanent fit, and
  more.
</p>
<h2>What are the advantages of locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  The advantages of locum tenens include the ability to explore exciting
  locations across the nation, the flexibility of having access to nearly any
  schedule, the freedom of not being tied down for the long term, the ease of
  less administrative work and practice politics, and the opportunity to earn
  great pay, bonuses and perks, and more!
</p>
<h2>Is locum tenens worth it?</h2>
<p>
  Yes, locum tenens is worth it! If your permanent position allows it, you can
  take locum tenens positions on the side, so you can enjoy the best of both
  worlds. If on the other hand, you decide to make locums your career, it’s true
  that you’ll give up the security of having a full-time employer and the
  benefits (like health insurance, life insurance, withheld taxes, etc.). But in
  return, you’ll have the independence, freedom and autonomy of being
  self-employed. You can purchase health and life insurance on your own and file
  your taxes yourself. You have the potential to earn more on an hourly basis as
  a locum tenens provider. You just have to decide whether the lifestyle is
  right for you.
</p>
<h2>Do locum tenens make more money?</h2>
<p>
  In many cases, locum tenens may make more money than salaried providers. Locum
  tenens providers are typically self-employed and are paid an hourly rate. They
  enjoy perks like paid travel and housing. Because they’re independent
  contractors, they can take business deductions for health and dental insurance
  premiums, work computers, lab coats, etc. On the other hand, permanent
  providers receive salaries with benefits. Figuring out who makes more is kind
  of like comparing apples to oranges. Locum tenens can earn more money in areas
  of high need, like rural health, hard-to-fill specialties, etc.
</p>
<h2>What are the benefits of locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  If you choose to work
  <a
    href="/blog/new-year-new-career-making-the-leap-to-locums?"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
    >locum tenens</a
  >, you can enjoy a greater work-life balance, avoid burnout by practicing in a
  new setting, escape administrative burdens, learn from providers across the
  nation, work with new patient populations, pair work and travel, and have a
  team of recruiting, credentialing and travel experts on your side!
</p>
<h2>What are the cons of being a locum doctor?</h2>
<p>
  The cons of being a locum doctor are that you won’t be provided with certain
  benefits like health and life insurance, your taxes won’t be withheld from
  your paycheck, and you won’t have other things associated with being an
  employee of an organization. At first, you may feel like you’re separate from
  the team or that there’s a learning curve. Fortunately, there are easy fixes
  to these drawbacks! And we think the pros outweigh the cons.
</p>
<h2>Is locum tenens for me?</h2>
<p>
  Do you want to pair work and travel? Do you have a spirit of adventure? Do you
  adapt well to new situations? Do you like to meet new people? Do you value a
  flexible schedule? Do you want to build your clinical network? Do you want to
  learn how providers and facilities practice medicine differently across the
  country? Do you want to explore different areas of interest or care for
  specific patient populations? Do you want to work for yourself? Then, yes!
  Locum tenens is for you.
</p>
<h2>Why do hospitals use locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Hospitals and other healthcare facilities use locum tenens to cover vacancies.
  Locum tenens providers fill in when permanent providers go on maternity leave,
  sick leave, or vacation leave. Hospitals also use locum tenens support when
  there are vacant positions that haven’t been filled or when there are patient
  surges or provider shortages. Many hospitals use locums to give their
  providers a rest to avoid burnout and ensure staff is not overworked.
  Hospitals most often turn to locum tenens agencies to handle screening and
  hiring of providers. This makes it easy to rapidly ramp up and pare down
  support.
</p>
<h2>How do hospitals feel about locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Hospitals appreciate locum tenens providers because they help organizations
  offer uninterrupted access to healthcare. While facilities do have to contend
  with some challenges of bringing on temporary support – like the learning
  curve for new equipment, processes and procedures – they generally have a
  favorable view of locum tenens providers (<a
    href="https://www.revcycleintelligence.com/news/88-of-healthcare-facilities-employed-locum-tenens-providers"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
    >Revcycle Intelligence</a
  >).
</p>
<h2>
  Is becoming a locum tenens provider worth it? Is locum tenens worth it for
  physicians?
</h2>
<p>
  Becoming a locum tenens provider is definitely worth it for all types of
  clinicians! There’s a trade-off for each situation. If you’re a new provider
  choosing the locums lifestyle over a permanent position, instead of building
  your career with one organization for the long run, you’ll be experiencing
  diverse locations, facilities, patient populations, practice methods and care
  teams. If you’re leaving a long-term salaried position to start a career out
  of locums, you’ll be trading benefits of being a full-time employee with an
  organization for flying solo as your own boss. If you’re supplementing a
  permanent position with a locum tenens assignment on the side, you’ll be
  increasing your hours, but earning (and learning) more. Whether it’s
  worthwhile to make these significant changes depends on your lifestyle and
  goals.
</p>
<h2>
  Can locum tenens be a full-time career? Should you consider locum tenens as a
  career?
</h2>
<p>
  Yes! Locum tenens can be a full-time career, and one you should seriously
  consider. Growing numbers of providers across the nation are crafting careers
  as locums. The locums lifestyle appeals to all manner of clinicians, but
  especially to younger professionals who have grown up in a more mobile era.
  Regardless of what stage of your career you’re in, if you develop a long-term
  relationship with a trusted locum tenens agency, you won’t want for work! Your
  recruiter can line you up for your next assignments before you even complete
  your current one. Plus, if you ever decide locums isn’t for you, you can
  easily switch back to permanent work.
</p>
<h2>Why do doctors do locum tenens?</h2>
<p>
  Many doctors and healthcare providers turn to locum tenens to renew their
  passion for the practice. Perhaps you want to continually learn and grow, find
  reward in patient interactions, expand your career and contribute to the
  field. Or maybe your motivation is to find more time for yourself and your
  family or to travel and see the country. If so, locums might be for you.
</p>
<h2>Why do locums after residency?</h2>
<p>
  Many providers do locums after
  <a href="/residents-and-fellows" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >residency</a
  >
  to explore their options early in their careers. For example, if you haven’t
  decided what type of facility you prefer (inpatient, outpatient, private
  practice, etc.) or if you don’t know where in the US you’d like to live.
  Perhaps you don’t have a family yet and feel free to travel and meet new
  people. Entering locums after residency is also a unique way to try working at
  a particular facility, get exposure to leading experts in your field, build
  your network, CV and reputation, and much more.
</p>
<h2>How long are locum tenens assignments?</h2>
<p>
  Locum tenens assignments vary in length. Some are only a few shifts or a few
  days. Others can last several months. Most locum tenens assignments run from a
  couple of weeks to a few months.
</p>
<h2>What are the advantages of locum tenens vs. permanent practice?</h2>
<p>
  Working as a locum tenens healthcare professional offers a greater level of
  choice and control in your career path and the ability to travel and explore
  new practice settings. Additionally, physicians and advanced practitioners
  doing locum tenens work can concentrate on patient care and avoid much of the
  paperwork associated with traditional practice. Plus, you can enjoy the
  independence of working for yourself!
</p>
<h2>
  What do retired doctors do? Should I work locum tenens if I am a retired
  doctor?
</h2>
<p>
  Many doctors who step back from the rigors of a busy day-to-day practice still
  want to practice medicine on a limited basis. As a retired physician, locum
  tenens allows you to control your schedule and choose the times and places to
  practice. It enables you to do what you enjoy and practice medicine the way
  you want.
</p>
<h2>Can I bring my spouse, children, or pet on locum tenens assignments?</h2>
<p>
  Yes! You can usually bring your spouse or children on locum tenens
  assignments. In some cases, you can even bring your pets too! A good reason
  for choosing to work locum tenens before going into a permanent practice is so
  your family can experience the community before moving. Each opportunity has
  its own parameters though, so speak with your recruiter to determine the best
  scenario for traveling with your family.
</p>
<h2>Do I get to pick the location of my locum tenens assignments?</h2>
<p>
  Yes! You can select where you want to work in the US, depending on your
  licensure. Freedom of choice and flexibility are significant benefits of locum
  tenens! However, the more flexible you are the more options you’ll have. Some
  providers like to stay within a particular state or region. But, remember, as
  a locum tenens provider, you are an independent contractor and are entirely
  free to determine the direction of your career and how often you work, where
  you work and how long you work.
</p>
<h2>Do locum tenens get bonuses?</h2>
<p>
  Yes! Locum tenens providers can earn bonuses, depending on the agency they
  work for. There are even
  <a href="/refer-a-friend" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >bonuses for referring</a
  >
  colleagues!
</p>
<h2>How do I find the best locum tenens company?</h2>
<p>
  To find the best
  <a href="/blog/assignments-in-2023?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >locum tenens company</a
  >, look for a
  <a href="/contact-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">team</a>
  who cares about your interests, offers options across the country (if you want
  to travel) or nearby (if you want to stay home), and has many years of
  experience placing locum tenens providers. Also, consider finding an
  <a href="/employers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">agency</a>
  that offers other job opportunities, like
  <a
    href="/jobs/results?term=&amp;xTerm=&amp;jobType=%5B%22Locums%22%2C%22Locum%20Tenens%22%5D&amp;profession=&amp;specialty=&amp;msp=&amp;shiftTypes=&amp;shiftLengths=&amp;durations=&amp;salaryMax=&amp;tags=noTags&amp;sort=relevant&amp;view=list&amp;offset=1&amp;size=9&amp;companyId=&amp;location=&amp;geoLocationRadius=100&amp;page="
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
    >temp-to-perm and permanent placement</a
  >. Look for a company highly rated by healthcare agencies and providers that
  has the
  <a href="/awards-and-recognitions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >awards and recognition</a
  >
  to show for it. Ask if they offer perks like referral bonuses, malpractice
  coverage, training, travel, and housing stipends. See if you can bring pets or
  family members on assignments when possible. And lastly, find out whether they
  have the technology and streamlined processes to make life easy for you.
</p>
<h2>How do I find the best locum tenens recruiter?</h2>
<p>
  Don't be afraid to ask questions to find the best locum tenens recruiter for
  you. Look for skilled employees with experience and expertise. Find out
  whether the recruiter has contacts with all types of facilities – hospitals,
  rural health, government, private practice, etc. Check whether they feature a
  range of assignment lengths, from days to months. Ask the recruiter if they
  will walk you through the entire process and line up your next assignment
  before you end your current one.
</p>
<h2>What factors should I consider for a locum tenens assignment?</h2>
<p>
  When evaluating a
  <a
    href="/blog/10-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-a-locums-assignment?"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
    >locum tenens assignment</a
  >, consider the following factors to ensure it’s a fit: location, facility
  type, schedule, assignment length, specialty, patient volume, patient
  population,
  <a href="/licensure-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >license</a
  >
  requirements, technology skills, travel, housing, compensation, perks, and
  agency support.
</p>
<h2>How do I prepare for a locum tenens interview?</h2>
<p>
  To prepare for a<a
    href="/blog/locum-tenens-interview-tips?"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    target="_blank"
  >
    locum tenens interview</a
  >, take the same actions you’d take to interview for a permanent position.
  Before the interview, research the healthcare organization, gather background
  on the position, practice for the interview, get plenty of sleep and eat a
  decent meal the day before. On the interview day, dress professionally, have
  copies of your CV and resume ready, and test your video and audio if you’ll be
  interviewing online. Be prepared to discuss your qualifications, the position
  and the organization. Have success stories to share and ask the interviewer
  questions about the position. Don’t forget to follow up afterward to thank the
  interviewer and let them know whether you’re interested.
</p>
<h2>What types of locum tenens positions are there?</h2>
<p>There are locum tenens assignments for:</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/anesthesiology" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Anesthesiologists</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/advanced-practice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Advanced Practice Providers</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/crna" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="/blog/certified-nurse-midwife"
      rel="noopener noreferrer"
      target="_blank"
      >Certified Nurse Midwives</a
    >
  </li>

  <li>
    <a href="/blog/dentistry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Dentists</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/emergency-medicine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Emergency Medicine Physicians</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/family-medicine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Family Medicine Physicians</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/internal-medicine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Internal Medicine Physicians</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/nurse-practitioner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Nurse Practitioners</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="/blog/obstetrics-and-gynecology"
      rel="noopener noreferrer"
      target="_blank"
      >OB-GYNs</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/physicians" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Physicians</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="/blog/physician-assistant"
      rel="noopener noreferrer"
      target="_blank"
      >Physician Assistants</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="/blog/psychiatry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
      >Psychiatrists</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>And much more!</li>
</ul>

<p>
  To get started, talk with a
  <a href="/contact-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"
    >Cross Country Locums recruiter</a
  >.
</p>


Everything You Need to Know About Locum Tenens