Read about the similarities and differences between locum tenens and travel nursing to discover which is right for you.

<p>If you’re a nurse or advanced practice provider or in school to become one, you may have wondered whether locum tenens and <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">travel nursing</a> are the same. The two arrangements are somewhat similar, but they do have differences. We’re here to help you sort these two opportunities out so you can decide whether being a travel nurse or a locum tenens advanced practice provider best fits your career goals and lifestyle.</p><h2>Travel vs. Locum Tenens</h2><p>First, an important distinction: within the healthcare industry, “travel” is generally associated with nurses, while “locum tenens” is most often associated with physicians and advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives). Actually, both travel nurses and locum tenens providers can travel. On the other hand, they can also find positions that are relatively close to their homes.</p><p><br></p><p>Both locum tenens providers and travel nurses are brought in temporarily by healthcare facilities (often with the help of recruiting agencies) to address provider shortages, patient volume surges and seasonal demands. These professionals also cover for providers who are out on leave and stand in while facilities seek candidates to fill permanent staff vacancies.</p><h2>Differences Between Locum Tenens Providers and Travel Nurses</h2><p>Despite these similarities, locum tenens providers and travel nurses differ in scope of practice, practice settings, assignment lengths, licensure, compensation, and demand.</p><h3>Scope of practice</h3><p>The most significant difference between <strong>locum tenens</strong> and <strong>travel</strong> is the scope of work of the different careers. In other words, there are locum tenens advanced practitioners and travel nurses. Admittedly, this difference is more about the actual scope of each type of certification – nurse versus advanced practice provider. To make this comparison more straightforward, we’ll select a specific advanced practice provider as our example – say a <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/meet-elizabeth-t-nurse-practitioner?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nurse practitioner (NP)</a> – and compare that to a registered nurse (RN).</p><p><br></p><p>The scope of practice for a travel nurse (RN) includes taking patient history, assessing conditions, administering ordered tests, medications and treatments, operating medical equipment, and educating patients and families. A locum tenens nurse practitioner (NP) can perform all of the duties of a nurse but with greater autonomy. NPs can also interpret test results, diagnose and treat conditions, create and implement care plans, lead other nurses, and, in some states, prescribe medications.</p><h3>Practice settings</h3><p>To stick with our RN versus NP comparison, in 2022, the vast majority of travel nurses worked in general medical and surgical hospitals (48%). Travel RNs also worked in government hospitals, physicians’ offices, home health, outpatient care centers and skilled nursing facilities. During that same year, most locum tenens NPs worked in physicians’ offices (47%), followed by hospitals, outpatient care centers, and government hospitals (Lightcast).</p><h3>Assignment lengths</h3><p>The standard travel nurse contract is 13 weeks long, but assignments may be shorter or longer. Locum tenens contract lengths vary quite a bit more and may range from just one shift to several months.</p><h3>Licensure</h3><p>As for <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/licensure-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">licensure</a>, a travel nurse only needs one license for the state where they plan to practice. Plus, if the state is one of the 40+ states in the <a href="https://www.nursecompact.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nurse Licensure Compact</a>, the process is even easier. A nurse practitioner, however, faces a more complicated process. They may need multiple licenses for each state they intend to practice in, including a DEA license. And unlike nursing, there is no multi-state license compact. While there is an <a href="https://www.aprncompact.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">APRN Compact</a> in the works, it hasn’t yet been implemented.</p><p><br></p><p>Not to worry if you want to be a locum tenens NP, though! If you work with a <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">skilled and experienced locum tenens recruiter,</a> they can help facilitate your licensing process, making it much easier and smoother!</p><h3>Compensation</h3><p>Travel nurses are W-2 employees, while locum tenens NPs are 1099 independent contractors. Employers withhold taxes for employees, but independent contractors must <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/blogs/locum-tenens-tax-tips-for-2023" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pay their own taxes.</a> Also, employees are often eligible for benefits like health insurance, while independent contractors are not. These reasons are partly why locum tenens providers can earn a <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locum-tenens-salary-and-pay?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> significantly higher hourly rate</a> than employees. Depending on the employer or agency travel RNs and locum tenens NPs work with, they may receive travel and <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locum-life-made-easy-locum-tenens-housing?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> housing</a> stipends or accommodations, tax savings, and even malpractice coverage. Both travel nurses and locum tenens NPs earn more than their permanent staff counterparts.</p><h2>Demand</h2><p>Demand for both roles is on the rise, but it’s higher for locum tenens nurse practitioners.</p><p><br></p><p>Over the past 12 months, <strong>367 employers</strong> posted nearly <strong>16,000 travel nurse jobs, 2 out of 5</strong> of which were filled, according to labor market data from <a href="https://lightcast.io/?utm_term=lightcast&amp;&amp;utm_campaign=Lightcast+Brand+Launch+-+Search+-+US&amp;&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;&amp;hsa_kw=lightcast&amp;&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;&amp;hsa_ad=661440422607&amp;&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-299708421329&amp;&amp;hsa_acc=3829450260&amp;&amp;hsa_cam=17603977898&amp;&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;&amp;hsa_mt=e&amp;&amp;hsa_grp=145286783650&amp;&amp;gad_source=1&amp;&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwkY2qBhBDEiwAoQXK5YFnRKCKtwMn1YNtPwXuQ574VHEj9jr9_yjmZxscbUDuTHgFQfbIqRoCtUYQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lightcast</a>. Demand for travel nurses has increased gradually over the past decades and is expected to grow by <strong>6.8%</strong> over the next 5 years.</p><p><img src="https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/image/assets%2Fec23c65f480b4f8699dc832816bf2973%2F06b1bf8da36e482ca82edb4945ab2450" width="95%">In contrast, over the past 12 months, nearly <strong>13,000 employers</strong> posted about <strong>209,000 locum tenens nurse practitioner jobs</strong>, according to labor market data from <a href="https://lightcast.io/?utm_term=lightcast&amp;&amp;utm_campaign=Lightcast+Brand+Launch+-+Search+-+US&amp;&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;&amp;hsa_kw=lightcast&amp;&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;&amp;hsa_ad=661440422607&amp;&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-299708421329&amp;&amp;hsa_acc=3829450260&amp;&amp;hsa_cam=17603977898&amp;&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;&amp;hsa_mt=e&amp;&amp;hsa_grp=145286783650&amp;&amp;gad_source=1&amp;&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwkY2qBhBDEiwAoQXK5YFnRKCKtwMn1YNtPwXuQ574VHEj9jr9_yjmZxscbUDuTHgFQfbIqRoCtUYQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lightcast</a>. <strong>Only 3 out of 5</strong> locum tenens NP jobs posted over the past year were filled. Further, the use of locum tenens providers has grown steadily over the past few decades, took a steep upward trajectory after 2015, and is expected to <strong>grow by 27%</strong> over the next 5 years. So, if you’re a nurse practitioner who is interested in working locums, you’re well-positioned for success!</p><p><img src="https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/image/assets%2Fec23c65f480b4f8699dc832816bf2973%2F640c467dcd434536b6e7e5004ea06360" width="95%">Whether you’re interested in a career as a travel nurse or a locum tenens advanced practice provider, you’ll enjoy a flexible schedule with plenty of time for family and vacations. You can <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/building-your-network-as-a-locum-tenens-provider?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">build your network</a>, <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel-guides" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">see new places</a>, and learn from facilities nationwide. You can <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locum-tenens-here-how-not-to-feel-like-an-outsider?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">make new friends</a>, gain new skills, and build confidence in your abilities. You can reach patients and care teams who need you most. With Cross Country, you can even earn bonuses for <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/refer-a-friend" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">referring your friends</a>. We’ll admit, we’re a bit biased, but we think the travel and locum tenens lifestyle can’t be surpassed!</p><p><br></p><p><strong> Check out our trending </strong><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>locum tenens jobs</strong></a><strong> now. Cross Country has </strong><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/travel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>jobs for travel nurses</strong></a><strong> too!</strong></p>

Are Locum Tenens and Travel Nursing the Same?