As a physician with decades of experience, leaving a steady job to take locum tenens assignments may be daunting. Fortunately, many physicians have made this transition work for them — and some even wonder why they didn’t try it earlier. Here are seven locum tenens transition tips that can help you start your locum tenens career on the right foot.
1. Identify why you want to work locum tenens
According to the 2024 State of Locum Tenens Report, the most common reason physicians worked locum tenens was to supplement their core income (46%), followed by earning an appealing salary (29%). Over a quarter (27%) of physicians said they began working locum tenens to control their own schedules.
Another survey found the desire for a flexible schedule was very important, as 58% of mid-career physicians (with 11-25 years of experience) and 50% of late-career physicians (with 25+ years of experience) cited “better work/life balance” as the top reason for making a career change.
Jordan Hayes, senior consultant at Weatherby Healthcare, says most physicians she speaks with want to work less and have the flexibility to spend time with their families.
“I feel like every single one of the physicians I work with has grandkids. They want time to visit with their family and see their grandkids, but they still want to work and make good money,” she says.
Dr. Julie Long, a pediatric surgeon with 30 years of experience, says the need for less rigid hours was one of the catalysts for choosing to work locum tenens with Weatherby Healthcare.
“It was just wanting to have more flexibility in my life, realizing that it was a legitimate career path. There were good surgeons and good physicians who were doing locums. There was a need out there, and I thought, ‘Great. I want to try that. I want some more flexibility in my life,’” Dr. Long recalls.
Medical missions were also a priority for Dr. Long, and locum tenens work allowed her to travel to Africa and South America. “I wanted the flexibility to do some mission work, and I didn’t have that in my other job,” she says. “It’s great. I think it’s decreased stress in my life and increased my options.”
Other reasons physicians opt to work locum tenens include:
- Earning a higher salary while working fewer hours
- A new start during a personal life transition
- Keeping skills sharp
- Exploring the country or the world
- Creating a bridge to retirement
- Avoiding burnout
- Making a difference in underserved areas
What’s your reason? Why locum tenens makes sense for physicians nearing retirement
2. Be willing to work in a variety of settings
One of Hayes’ top locum tenens transition tips is being flexible on location.
“If you’re willing to travel anywhere, there’s going to be enough work. If you have very specific geographical requirements, it’s going to make it tricky,” she says. “As long as you’re flexible to location, we can typically get your rate requirements and the schedule you’re looking for and meet some of those other life goals.”
Dr. Betsy Connelly, a medical oncologist who has worked locum tenens since 2021, says she prefers travel instead of staying close to home.
“Most of the work I do is locums, and it’s been in northern Maine, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and Hawaii,” she says. “I’m not a regular schedule kind of person — at least not in retirement. My husband and I like to just kind of spontaneously decide, oh, let’s take a train ride to Seattle. We’ve done a ton of traveling since I’ve retired from full-time work.”
3. Look for a good locum tenens agency
Dr. Long notes that her consultant, Carla, was the reason she chose to work with Weatherby.
“I don’t think it was Carla that convinced me to do locums, but it was Carla that convinced me I wanted to do locums with Weatherby,” she recalls. “I liked her, I came down and met people, the organization has a great reputation, and I thought, ‘I don’t need to look further.’ They’ve been very helpful to me.”
She also stresses the importance of finding an agency and consultant you can rely on.
“Locum tenens is such a dramatic change from working at one practice, so if you don’t trust the person you’re working with and they don’t have experience, I think it could quickly get very chaotic,” she says. “I think that’s essential.”
Hayes points out that a reputable agency can help you with all aspects of locum tenens work.
“You’ll have a dedicated person who is your go-to for payroll, travel, and credentialing and will help you find opportunities. You’re building a relationship with someone you can call up at any time, who’s there to help you with anything related to the position,” she says.
Work with the best: 6 top locums agencies to consider
4. Be mindful of the culture and environment while on assignment
Dr. Duane Webb, a gastroenterologist with many decades of experience, says locum tenens providers must work hard to make the staff feel they’re a good fit.
“A locum has to realize that they are not there to rearrange the furniture in the house; they are there as a guest,” he says. “If you’re a reformer or a revolutionary in terms of your medical practice, it may not be the best fit. You have to be very careful not to rock the boat. You adjust to the situation you are in and work with it. Be very diplomatic, and always be positive about where you are working.”
Hayes echoes Dr. Webb’s advice about acting as a guest in a new work setting.
“Don’t go into a facility expecting to change their processes or be really vocal about things. Obviously, if there’s a risk, bring that to their attention,” she says. “Just remember that you’re not the administrative person or owner. Be prepared to acclimate to the different environments you’re going to.”
Dr. Long says she sticks to her “home base” (the operating room, NICU, and pediatric ward) on an assignment.
“I try to introduce myself to people there. Whatever surgeon I’m covering for, I ask them how they do things,” she says. “I look at it as my job is to support them in their practice, so there’s different attitudes. That’s worked really well.”
5. Find an accountant to answer tax questions
No list of locum tenens transition tips is complete without a suggestion to consult with a tax expert. Because locum tenens providers are independent contractors, the locum agency won’t withhold taxes from paychecks. Instead, you’ll need to pay quarterly estimated tax payments based on your income.
“From a payroll perspective, working as a locum is going to be very different, as far as not taking out taxes or having benefits,” Hayes explains. “Having a good accountant that you can work with to advise you on taxes is important.”
Be prepared: How finances work for locum tenens
6. Talk to a provider who has already worked locum tenens
Dr. Long says she was first drawn to locum tenens because of a friend’s experience with part-time locum tenens work.
“The father of one of my colleagues was a general surgeon, and he had been in private practice all his life and finally decided he wanted to slow down but not quit,” she recalls. “He was the first individual that I met who was doing locums. He was a very respected man, and he said how much he enjoyed it and what a good path it was for him at the end of his career when managing his practice had become too much.”
If you don’t know another colleague who has worked locum tenens, your consultant may be able to connect you with someone.
“There are a lot of locums out there. If locum tenens is something you’re considering but hesitant on, we’re more than happy to get another past locum to chat with you and give you some insider information,” Hayes says. “I think physicians are starting to see it’s more common where they didn’t previously. Hopefully, they’re not as scared or hesitant as they have been in the past.”
7. Try a short locum tenens assignment before committing to it long term
Dr. Connelly points out that there are a lot of unknowns when starting a new assignment — living arrangements, travel reservations, unfamiliar electronic medical records, and new staff members, to name a few. She recommends trying locum tenens before leaving full-time practice.
“Putting your toe in the water and being careful not to make a long-term commitment until you’ve tried it is important. Just give it a try and see if it fits you because there’s a lot you find out when you get there that you did not anticipate,” she says. “I would recommend not committing long-term until you’ve trialed it. You’ll know after one or two trips if this is good for you or not.”
Though switching jobs can be challenging, the benefits of earning a higher salary, setting your own schedule, enjoying more flexibility, and traveling the country can make the change to locum tenens well worth the effort.
Weatherby Healthcare has the expertise to help you find the locum tenens assignments that are right for you. Give us a call at 954.343.3050 to speak with a consultant or view today’s locum tenens job opportunities.
