Full-time vs. Part-time Locum Tenens: The Breakdown

Healthcare professionals work locum tenens assignments for a number of reasons. Locum tenens lets you experience working in different locations and facilities before (or instead of) making a full-time commitment. 

In our most recent independent study, we surveyed 1,733 providers, more than half of which had taken a locum tenens assignment before, to find out even more about the providers behind this temporary work.

In this blog post, we will focus on a specific subset of our 2020 survey results. We’ll break down the numbers of the 943 providers who said that they had taken at least one locum tenens assignment before, detailing the specifics of three main categories of locum tenens providers.

The Breakdown

In our survey results, 3 main categories emerged: 

Full time Locum Tenens (FTLT) or Career Locum Tenens

11% of the respondents told us they were full-time locum providers. For these providers, locum tenens work isn’t just about picking up a shift here or there- it’s a full-blown career. These providers did an average of 216 days (or about forty three weeks!) of locum work per year, and have completed an average of over 28 locum assignments.

Part Time Locum Tenens

11% also said they are semi-retired and working part time as a locum provider. These providers average 110 days (22 weeks) of locum work per year. These providers have completed an average of 25.5 assignments. 

Supplemental Coverage

26% of our respondents do locum tenens work in addition to their permanent positions, and they find time for an average of 62 days (12 weeks) of locum work per year. 

What category do you fall into?

Whether you do locum tenens work full time or part time, Barton Associates works with clients across the United States, and pairs each provider with a recruiter who works across in your specialty across all 50 states. As the locum tenens experts, Barton Associates helps providers in all three categories find the right fit.

Check out more of the Survey Data in our 2020 State of The Locum Market Whitepaper!

About Ellen Lowry

Ellen Lowry is content marketing specialist and former recruiter for psychiatrists and neurologists at Barton Associates' Peabody, MA, headquarters. Originally from the Boston area, she joined Barton in January of 2018 after earning her degree in communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, and completing a four-month internship at Walt Disney World.