What Is Locum Tenens? Complete Guide for Physicians, NPs, and PAs

If you have spent any time researching career options beyond traditional permanent employment, you have likely encountered the term locum tenens. For physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants navigating an increasingly complex healthcare landscape, understanding what locum tenens means and how it works is the first step toward evaluating whether this model fits your professional and personal goals.

What Does Locum Tenens Mean?

Locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning "to hold the place of." In modern healthcare, it refers to physicians, NPs, or PAs who fill temporary clinical roles at hospitals, clinics, or other facilities, stepping in when a permanent provider is unavailable due to leave, vacancy, increased patient volume, or organizational transition.

The term is sometimes confused with travel nursing or per diem work, but these are distinct models. Travel nursing applies specifically to registered nurses. Per diem work typically involves as-needed shifts at a single facility. Locum tenens assignments are formally arranged through a staffing agency, involve a defined scope and duration, and can place you in clinical environments across the country.

How Does Locum Tenens Work?

A locum tenens assignment begins when a facility identifies a staffing need and partners with an agency to fill it. From your perspective, the process follows a clear sequence:

1. Initial engagement. You connect with a recruiter who learns your specialty, preferences, and scheduling needs.
2. Credentialing and privileging. The agency compiles and verifies your credentials, i.e., licenses, board certifications, DEA registration, malpractice history, and references.
3. Assignment matching. Your recruiter presents available assignments. You review location, duration, clinical setting, and call requirements before accepting.
4. Travel and housing logistics. The agency arranges travel and housing as part of the assignment package.
5. Clinical work. You orient to the facility and begin seeing patients as a fully credentialed member of the clinical team.
6. Completion or extension. You move to a new placement, extend at the same facility, or take time between assignments.
7. Most locum tenens providers work as independent contractors, which carries implications for tax planning, benefits, and retirement contributions worth understanding early.

Locum Tenens for Physicians

For physicians, locum tenens offers clinical variety, geographic flexibility, and schedule control that permanent positions often cannot match. The demand is substantial. The AAMC projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, and NCHWA estimates the shortfall could exceed 96,000 FTE physicians as early as 2026.

High-demand specialties include anesthesiology, psychiatry, primary care, emergency medicine, and surgical subspecialties. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) — now active in 42 states plus Washington, D.C., and Guam — allows qualified physicians to obtain licenses in participating states in an average of 19 days, dramatically reducing multi-state licensing barriers.

Locum Tenens for Nurse Practitioners

NPs increasingly work locum tenens, following the same general structure as physicians. The most significant variable is state-by-state scope of practice variation. NPs seeking multi-state licensure should explore the APRN Compact, which is separate from the IMLC and has its own eligibility criteria and member states.

Locum Tenens for Physician Assistants

PAs are well-positioned for locum tenens work. Most states require a supervisory or collaborative agreement with a physician, which must be established at the facility level before clinical work begins. The PA Licensure Compact is the relevant interstate agreement, with implementation progressing across multiple states.

The Market in 2026

The locum tenens market is projected to reach $9.9 billion in 2026. Eighty percent of healthcare organizations plan to maintain or increase locum tenens usage. Deepening physician shortages, persistent burnout, and expiring telehealth flexibilities are all reinforcing demand.

Next Steps

Locum tenens has evolved into a mature career model supported by strong market demand and expanding licensure pathways. Whether you are considering your first assignment or evaluating a long-term strategy, the next step is straightforward: get credentialed and get connected.

AMN Healthcare's physician recruitment team can help you evaluate assignments aligned with your expertise and goals. Browse open positions, speak with a specialty-focused recruiter, or explore credentialing resources to start preparing now.

The demand is real. The decision is yours.