Top locum tenens agencies: 6 companies to consider

Trying to choose a locum tenens agency to work with can be daunting, with alternatives ranging from solo recruiters and boutique firms to big corporations offering thousands of jobs. While many locum tenens agencies offer certain standard services, they’re not all the same—and the differences can make or break your experience. Here’s our take on the top locum tenens staffing agencies, what factors to consider when selecting an agency, and why you should give Weatherby Healthcare a try.

Top locum tenens agencies

While there are many locum tenens agencies to choose from, these six companies have proven themselves reliable and trustworthy over the years, and they’re well-known among locum tenens clinicians.

CompHealth

CompHealth offers locum tenens contracts all over the United States. In addition to physicians and advanced practice providers, CompHealth places allied health practitioners as well as those working in medical labs, pharmacies, therapy and healthcare management. CompHealth also has a permanent placement division, so if you decide that it’s time to settle down, they can help you find a new opportunity anywhere in the U.S.

Global Medical Staffing

Global Medical Staffing is the industry leader in international locum tenens assignments, placing locum doctors in many countries and regions, including Australia, the Caribbean, Canada, Guam, Europe, New Zealand, South America, and Africa. International assignments can last a few months to up to a year or more. Their worldwide reach is complemented by U.S.-based locum tenens placements across all 50 states.

Medicus Healthcare Solutions

In addition to locum tenens and permanent positions, Medicus has opportunities for providers in both high-demand and more remote locations, including VA hospitals, Indian Health Service and tribal clinics, and Department of Defense facilities. Medicus’s sister service, Optimum, offers help with permanent position placement.

AMN Healthcare

In addition to providing locum tenens placements across multiple specialties and across the country, AMN Healthcare also offers permanent placement services for physicians. Other professionals who can find work through AMN are nurses, dentists, allied practitioners, and healthcare leaders.

Vista Staffing Solutions

Vista Staffing offers locum tenens opportunities for physicians, advanced practitioners, and CRNAs in addition to permanent placements. The agency also places providers in facilities that serve veterans and American Indians and offers telehealth services, allowing healthcare clinicians to work a variety of environments.

Weatherby Healthcare

Weatherby Healthcare has been offering locum tenens opportunities across the United States for more than 30 years, allowing physicians, NPs, PAs, and CRNAs greater professional flexibility and work-life balance. Assignments are available across a variety of medical specialties, locations, and facilities. This breadth of opportunity gives physicians plenty of options to find the assignments that best meet their individual needs.

Benefits of working with a locum tenens agency

Working a locum tenens assignment often involves many moving parts. Providers need to navigate things like different state licensing and credentialing requirements, housing and travel logistics, and contract negotiations all on their own, all at the same time. Juggling these moving parts on your own can be stressful and make it more likely that details fall between the cracks.

A locums agency can help keep track of all of those details, streamline the process, and demands less of your time. Working with a great agency means getting matched with a recruiter whose job it is to know your personal and professional goals. They give you the inside scoop on the best jobs for your preferences, negotiate contracts, and reduce the administrative burden before you start your assignment.

Agencies can also offer extra perks. Nurse practitioner Sophia Khawly says, “I love when agencies offer proactive licensing. This means they assist and pay for state licenses before I even accept a job with them in that state. This will increase the possibilities of finding my next assignment because most sites want you to already be licensed there before they sign you on.”

Agencies also help book travel and lodging, guarantee your compensation, provide malpractice insurance coverage, and provide ongoing assistance during and after your assignments. “When you work with a big company like Weatherby, there are a lot of personal benefits,” says Dr. Jim Mock, an emergency medicine physician. “At the end of the year, when it becomes tax time, I only have one source of revenue, so all of my tax reporting is very streamlined.”

How many locum tenens agencies should you work with?

The answer is that it is really up to you. If you’re diving into locum tenens and want to feel out different agencies, getting in touch with a handful is a good idea. From there, you can connect with recruiters and decide which one is the best fit.  Most locums providers tend to work with one to three different agencies at a time.

See how they compare: Locumstory’s agency comparison chart

Criteria for selecting a good locum tenens agency

Locum tenens agencies can look similar on paper, so it’s important to remember to look for these important qualities in your search.

Support services

The more support an agency offers makes a world of difference.  Focus on agencies that assist with credentialing, licensing, and travel logistics. Ask if there is an emergency hotline in case of problems while traveling, and verify if the agency offers malpractice coverage, making sure to review the policy to ensure it’s comprehensive.

Compensation

Pay can vary widely among agencies. Beyond the base compensation rate, it’s important to understand the cumulative value of other benefits, such as covered housing, travel, and transportation costs while on assignment. Instead of focusing only on the pay rate, taking a holistic view of an agency’s services can ensure you find one that will help when you run into problems.

Recruiter experience

Having a good recruiter can exponentially improve your experience working locum tenens. A recruiter who knows your preferences can help you find jobs that are well matched to your needs. And a well-trained recruiter who is familiar with your specialty will be able to sort through the nuances of different job opportunities. Finally, knowing your recruiter has your back if an issue arises can bring peace of mind. 

Reputation

Locum tenens companies that are ranked highly by providers are also usually home to recruiters and staff who are happy to work there—great experiences for physicians don’t come without a satisfied, engaged staff. You can learn more about agencies by searching online for details like how long they’ve been in business and reviews from people who’ve worked with them—you can even ask around in your circle of peers to see if anyone has worked with the company in the past.

Accessibility

It can be intimidating to start something new, especially work that is as unique as locum tenens. Agencies should make the process easy by providing phone numbers to contact representatives and giving you options for how you’d like to communicate (via text, phone, or email). Being able to talk to a real person about what you want to get out of locums can be a great way to get a feel for a company and what they can do for you.

NALTO membership

Check the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO) to see if an agency you’re considering is a member. NALTO requires member organizations to follow a code of ethics and maintain high industry standards to ensure fair treatment of both physicians and the healthcare facilities they serve.

6 reasons to choose Weatherby Healthcare

Matching physicians to assignments at healthcare facilities is just one part of the locum tenens process. From assisting with licensing to negotiating contracts, here are some of the ways Weatherby makes working locum tenens easier.

1. Credentialing expertise

When working with locum tenens providers, Weatherby Healthcare staff are experts at ensuring the internal credentialing process is as easy as possible and completed in a timely manner. Then the external credentialing team uses the confirmed data to quickly start the process needed to gain hospital credentialing and privileges for each new contract.

Dr. Mock appreciates the support he gets from the Weatherby team.

The credentialing is taken care of in an effortless, free-flowing fashion. All that gets handled so that when I actually show up to work, all I have to do is work.

— Dr. Jim Mock, emergency medicine

2. Licensing expertise

Weatherby Healthcare licensing experts understand the ins and outs of medical licensing. They collaborate with state boards to stay informed on parameters and deadlines while nurturing relationships with board contacts to help expedite the licensing process.

Hospitalist Dr. Matthew Dothager, who started working locum tenens right out of residency, describes the Weatherby credentialing and licensing team as “terrific.” He says, “I was getting licensed in two states at once, so they were able to really streamline the process, give me whatever information I needed in a timely manner, make sure all the deadlines were met to get the licenses in a fairly expedited manner, so I could get practicing.”

3. Travel and housing assistance

Weatherby takes care of the costs of physicians’ travel to and from the locum tenens assignment as well as for temporary housing during the assignment. Weatherby Healthcare travel and housing specialists not only strive to find convenient and comfortable options to make you feel at home but also ensure that someone is available 24/7 to answer questions or solve unforeseen problems.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Kusnezov says he’s found Weatherby has excellent consultants who anticipate his travel and housing needs. “They will find new flights, pay for hotels, and ultimately take care of you. They’re very attentive to my needs.”

What Dr. Mock has to say about Weatherby’s travel and credentialing support:

4. Dedicated consultants

Your practice is specialized, and so are our consultants. They undergo extensive training to ensure they understand the nuances of your medical specialty. They stay informed on the latest healthcare trends so they can match you with the best assignments. When you work with a Weatherby consultant, you have an advocate who understands the best assignment fit for your skills and qualifications.

THE WEATHERBY WAY: How Weatherby goes above and beyond for their locum tenens physicians

General surgeon Dr. Joan Pellegrini says having a consultant whom she can trust is the reason she keeps coming back to Weatherby Healthcare. “I really developed a trust in my consultant because he had been doing this for so long that he knew what was needed,” she says.

Dr. Pellegrini on the importance of a good recruiter:

5. Advanced practice providers

Demand for PAs and NPs continues to increase as facilities seek to reduce patient load and provide more support for physicians. Some locum tenens agencies only place doctors. Weatherby, however, also partners with PAs and NPs so they can experience the many advantages of the locums lifestyle. This partnership also helps healthcare facilities address staffing strategies on multiple levels.

PA Dave Bosch appreciates the responsiveness and support of his consultant, as well as the compensation she negotiated on his behalf.

6. NALTO member

Like many of the other agencies highlighted here, Weatherby Healthcare is an active member of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO). This independent industry association sets standards and practices for professional conduct by locum tenens staffing businesses.

Your choice for top locum tenens agencies

As the need for healthcare practitioners grows and staffing shortages impact much of the country, the locum tenens community will continue to evolve and make room alongside top agencies for those who want to find their way. If you don’t mind managing all your own travel and negotiation, this may be the way to go.

However, if you like the idea of partnering with an experienced industry leader that’s staffed with experts advocating on your behalf, then give Weatherby Healthcare a call today or view our hundreds of locum tenens job openings. Our consultants can talk you through your options with no obligation on your part, so you can choose the locum tenens partner that best suits your needs and your career.

To learn more about locum tenens opportunities with Weatherby Healthcare, give us a call at 888.714.2330 or view today’s locum tenens jobs.