Locum Tenens for NPs and PAs

Locum tenens is a great option for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to consider. These locums resources will fill you in on all things locum tenens: how it works, tips and tricks, and stories of other PAs and NPs who have experience working locums.

Locum tenens 101: A beginner’s guide
for NPs and PAs

Testimonials

Find a new beginning

Ted Smith, PA
Emergency Medicine
With locums you work somewhere for a few weeks or a few months and then you get to go somewhere else.You kind of start all over. You start fresh. You feel like it’s a new beginning.
Read the full story

Full-time locums life

Cara Bosco, PA
Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care
The locum career gives people a huge ability to have that schedule flexibility, so if you want to be doing mission trips, volunteer work, you can structure your schedule. But there’s also massive opportunities for assignments.
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Flexibility to work with multiple agencies

Sophia Khawly, NP
Family Practice
I’ve narrowed down my top handful agencies I like to use, and those are going to be ones I know will always take my side.
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Enjoy work/life balance to spend more time with family

Jason Raehl, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
This has worked out really well; right now, we’re taking a month off and traveling together the whole time... I love the flexibility locums provides, so we can explore new places.
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Explore new places with locums

Terry Rand, PA
Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery
With locum tenens, you get to experience a lot of different places and people, but it’s not permanent. If it’s someplace that doesn’t fit, you get to leave, but if it is a good fit, maybe you can extend or even go permanent there.
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What are the compensation benefits for NPs and PAs working locum tenens?

Locums PA and NP jobs can pay up to $17 more an hour in comparison to full-time, permanent jobs. Some locums agencies pay per hour on a contract basis using a 1099, while other agencies — like CompHealth and Weatherby Healthcare — hire NPs and PAs as employees with a W-2, meaning they get benefits like 401k contributions and health insurance. Plus, most agencies cover the costs of travel, lodging, medical malpractice insurance, credentialing and licensing, and more.

Learn more about how locums compensation works

Use locums to your advantage to create a flexible career.

Locums tenens lets you decide where, when, and how you'd like to work. Many PAs and NPs who work locums do so because of the increased flexibility it provides them. Providers are able to schedule time off when they need it and tailor their working hours to what works best with their lifestyle, allowing them time to pursue other personal interests and hobbies outside of medicine. Many PA/NPs also leverage locums to travel and see new places, individually or with their families.

Read more about two different NPs who optimized their locums experience

Explore new career possibilities through locums.

By leveraging short-term locums assignments, you can test out new practice settings and expand your skill set. Whether you're looking to do locum tenens full time or on the side, there are a variety of different opportunities available. Traveling and working in new environments is also a great way to meet new people and make personal and professional connections.

Read more about Michelle Rensel’s journey as a locums NP

The Locumstory Podcast

Hear stories from real locum PAs and NPs.

Teaching nurse practitioners the ins and outs of working locum tenens – NP Ebony Thyme

Listen on: Apple | Google

Finding balance and the right travel assignment as a nurse practitioner, with Sophia Khawly, NP

Listen on: Apple | Google

Enjoying travel adventures, furry companions, and work/ life balance as a locum PA, with Terry Rand

Listen on: Apple | Google

Finding life-long friends, a love for giving back, and more time to be with family as a full-time locums PA, with Cara Bosco

Listen on: Apple | Google

Fighting healthcare shortages, adapting to new places, and state by state licensing with locums NP Kelly Lueck

Listen on: Apple | Google

Looking for more information about locum tenens for PAs and NPs?

Additional locums resources for PAs and NPs

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