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Why Go Locum Tenens? A Guide for Medical Providers

Why Go Locum Tenens? A Guide for Medical Providers

Barton Associates

Make More Money, Unlock Greater Schedule Flexibility, & Travel the Country

Are you a physician, nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA), or dentist looking for a change from your permanent position? Want to travel the country and need more flexibility in your schedule to do so? Looking to hone your clinical skills while making more money and helping out patients in underserved communities? If you can relate, then locum tenens is for you.

 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of becoming a locum tenens provider with Barton, or click the button below to start your locum tenens journey today.

 

 

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BARTON'S 3-STEP PROCESS

How It Works

Barton coordinates your job search from start to finish!

1

TALK WITH A REP

We’ll schedule a phone consultation with a Barton Associates team member to discuss your interests, goals, and work history in order to get a sense of what you’re looking for in your next job.

Your Barton team will then go to work, compiling a list of open jobs in our extensive network that match your interests and skill set.

2

REVIEW YOUR OPTIONS

Once you’ve had a chance to evaluate your list of opportunities, your Barton rep will submit your information to facility you want to take an assignment at.

If there’s a match, we’ll work with the client manager on next steps.

3

START YOUR JOB!

Don’t worry! Barton Associates will handle licensing, credentialing, and travel arrangements before you arrive.

Your Barton rep will also work with your new facility to ensure you’re set up and ready to go on day one.

LEARN MORE

Complete the following form to learn more about how we can help you find the perfect opportunity.

Browse Open Locum Tenens Jobs

Check Out a Small Sampling of Our Newest Jobs

Right ArrowPhysician - Orthopedic Surgeon

We are seeking an Orthopedic Surgeon Physician for a 20-day assignment in North Dakota, starting Nov 4, 2026. This role involves a schedule of clinic and call during the week, complemented by 24-hour weekend call from an out-of-house setting. The successful candidate will manage outpatient orthopedic evaluations, diagnose and treat... View This Job

Right ArrowPhysician - Emergency Medicine

Our client is seeking a dedicated Emergency Medicine Physician for a challenging 18-day assignment in Indiana, starting Oct 1, 2026. This vital role requires a physician to expertly manage a diverse range of critical cases within a trauma ER setting, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and contributing to... View This Job

Right ArrowPhysician - Pain Management

We are actively seeking a dedicated Pain Management Physician to join our client's team in Maine. This 60-day assignment commences on Jan 4, 2027, with a consistent schedule from 8am to 5pm. The role primarily involves managing a diverse range of pain cases, including referrals for conditions such as bursitis,... View This Job

Right ArrowPhysician - OB/GYN

We are seeking a skilled Obstetrics/Gynecology Physician for an engaging 13-day assignment in Georgia, commencing Sep 11, 2026. This vital role involves 24-hour call shifts, with out-of-house call duties requiring a 30-minute response time. The Physician will manage deliveries, provide full scope OB/GYN care, and cover emergency department call, ensuring... View This Job

Right ArrowPhysician - Orthopedic Surgeon

Our client in Kentucky is seeking an Orthopedic Surgeon for a 60-day assignment starting Aug 24, 2026. This full-time clinic and call role, with shifts from 8:30am - 5:30pm, requires comfort with consistent procedures. Responsibilities include rounding, patient consults, trauma, joint and fracture repairs, arthroscopy, and total joint replacements of... View This Job

Right ArrowNurse Practitioner - Family Practice

We are seeking a dedicated Family Practice Nurse Practitioner for a 120-day assignment with our client in Alaska, commencing Aug 24, 2026. This role involves providing care across shifts such as 8am-5pm and 10:30am-7pm. The practitioner will manage a diverse patient caseload, addressing conditions ranging from respiratory infections and flu... View This Job

View All Jobs

Why Choose Locum Tenens?


Why you should consider locum tenens job in 2024? We surveyed 280 locum tenens providers on why they initially chose locum work. Here are their top reasons:

Flexibility (37%)

Nurse practitioners and other providers overwhelmingly cite flexibility as the biggest draw to locum work. Whether it’s to avoid burnout or to create more time to focus on the things that matter to you in life, locum work allows you to choose assignments and contracts that match your needs.

Higher Earning Potential (17%)

Locum providers of all types make more on average than perm counterparts. Locum nurse practitioners, for example, make up to 80% more than their perm counterparts depending on the specialty and state.

Ability to Travel (15%)

Many nurse practitioners choose locum work for the chance to travel — while saving money. Because the locum tenens agency covers the travel expenses, it’s a terrific, cost-efficient opportunity to see the world.

Locum Tenens Meaning

Haven't Heard of Locum Tenens? We'll Answer Your Questions

What Does Locum Tenens Mean?

Locum tenens refers to providers and physicians work at healthcare facilities to fill gaps in care or occupy vacant positions on a temporary basis, though the positions can be short-term or long term.

A locum tenens staffing and recruiting agency such as Barton Associates assigns these providers to short- and long-term positions at hospitals, medical practices and organizations across the United States.

 

Where Does the Term Locum Tenens Come From?

“Locum Tenens” is Latin for “holding one’s place. Although the term’s origins dating back to 1640, its modern use stems from the 1970s when rural areas required additional physician staffing for their medically underserved populations. The industry has grown rapidly over the last 50 years, with more than 85% of healthcare facilities relying on locum tenens providers in all 50 states. The term has also expanded to include a wider variety of healthcare providers, not just doctors and physicians.

 

What is the Difference Between Locum Tenens and Per Diem?

Per diem work is “as needed” and tends to lack a specific start or end date. A per diem worker may be needed one day and not the next. Locum tenens work is contracted to have a set start and end date, and often comes with more benefits than per diem work.

 

Who Works Locum Tenens Jobs?

Locum tenens is an attractive option for healthcare providers looking to gain clinical experience, earn better pay, or have flexibility and less burnout in their careers. Others love locum tenens for the opportunity to travel and visit new places.

Healthcare workers of all fields and specialties now regularly work locum tenens. Barton Associates works with a wide variety of healthcare providers of all specialties, including Physicians, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Dentists, and Physician Assistants (PAs).

 

Click here To Read The Full Guide

What is Locum Tenens?

Play Summary

In the medical world, Locum Tenens simply refers to healthcare providers who take on temporary short or long-term jobs to fill gaps created by staffing shortages at hospitals, private practices, and companies throughout the United States. These gaps can be as short as one day or last the whole year, and are caused by planned vacations, maternity, and sabbatical leaves, and retirement. But they also happen due to unplanned absences like sudden illness or family emergencies.

Why Locum Tenens?

Locum Tenens Providers and Medical Facilities Benefit

Why do medical facilities work with locums?

There is a a critical shortage of medical providers (MDs, DOs, NPs, NPs, Dentists, and CRNAs) in the U.S. due to multiple factors including:

  1. Little-to-no change in the number of residency spots for physicians meaning leading to zero change in the number of new physicians practicing each year
  2. More physicians aging-out of practice due to age or burnout 
  3. Increased access to healthcare mean that the demand for physicians is growing
  4. An aging population that is living longer than ever that need care
  5. And, most recently, delayed preventative care due to facilities shutting down due to COVID-19

To combat this, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and doctors have stepped up taking on added responsibilities, and gaining more autonomy to practice. But, even with these highly-skilled providers stepping up, there is still a critical shortage of all types of medical providers to combat.

To keep the doors open, facilities like critical access hospitals, IHS facilities, clinics, private practices, hospitals, and more rely on locum tenens providers to provide critical care to their patients. The locum life is not for everyone, but those who chose it are truly saving lives. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs] About Locum Tenens

Do I have a choice where I’m placed? 

As a 1099 contractor, you, the locum, decide if you take an assignment or not. You can choose to take back-to-back assignments, or take one a quarter. Since you are an independent contractor, the decision is yours.

Who makes travel arrangements/how is travel compensated?

With most Barton Associates locum tenens assignments travel including flights, hotels, car rentals, and other modes of transportation (ferries) are covered by the client and organized by Barton Associate’s in-house travel team.

How do I get licensed for specific states?

If a medical provider working with Barton is interested in obtaining additional licenses, Barton Associate’s licensing team will help obtain new licenses as long as it is beneficial for both parties.

How do I complete credentialing?

Barton Associate’s in-house credentialing team works with clients and the locums to ensure a smooth credentialing process

How do locum tenens get paid?

Locum providers are classified as independent contractors and are typically paid on a net-15 basis. Your recruiter can help answer any pay questions or concerns you encounter.

How Long is a Locum Tenens Assignment? 

Locum tenens assignments can last anywhere from a couple of days to a year or more. Two months is a common range for many providers, but you can likely find a position that matches any need.  Barton also regularly has assignments that offer locums the ability to provide coverage on an ongoing basis, with no fixed end date.