The freedom to choose your own schedule, work environment, and location is intriguing to many physicians, but how do you go about landing a great locum tenens assignment? Begin by working with a staffing agency like Interim Physicians to find the ideal job for you, then follow these seven easy steps to land your next locums assignment.

1. Have all of your ducks in a row. Make sure all of your state licenses are active and up to date. Update your CV with your education, work experience, and reliable references and include any special skills or certifications that will make you stand out in a crowd.

2. Connect with a recruiter who knows your specialty at the right firm. The job process for one specialty may not apply to another. A great physician recruiter will understand the intricacies of  your specialty, and know the right people in a desired location. Not all staffing agencies are created equal, so when choosing a locums company it’s important to research and choose a reputable one with a proven track record like Interim Physicians. A leader in locum tenens for nearly 40 years, Interim Physicians knows what hospitals want and can place the right physician in the right assignment at the right time.

3. Work with a recruiter to decide on the job type and location you want. It’s important for your recruiter to get a good sense of who you are and your medical background. This is your opportunity to talk about your skills, board certification, malpractice history, availability, and location preferences. Would you prefer to work at a small local hospital in the tranquil Northeast, or in a fast-paced city hospital on the coast? Urban or rural, inpatient or outpatient, a skilled recruiter will be able to find the right locums assignment for you. If you have multiple active state licenses, let us know.

4. Commit to an assignment. After you’ve worked with your recruiter to narrow it down to a few job options, it’s time to choose one and have your recruiter submit your name, CV, and availability. Then it’s up to the client to accept or decline. This process can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. Know that your recruiter is working hard on your behalf.

5. The Credentialing Process. You’ve been accepted by the client congratulations! Now it’s time for credentialing. Your recruiter and Interim Physicians’ Quality Assurance team will handle all the details and paperwork. This is when we’ll contact your references and verify all education and work history. This is also when you’ll be approved for malpractice insurance provided to you by Interim Physicians while on assignment. If a facility requires special privileging for an assignment, your recruiter will pre-fill the application with all of your information and send to you for review and signature. Once returned to us, the privileging process can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days, depending on the facility.

6. Travel and lodging. In most cases, your travel and lodging expenses will be covered by either the client or the staffing agency. Interim Physician’s travel professionals request airline, hotel, and rental car preferences and try to accommodate you whenever possible. We’ll work to get you the best flight that fits your schedule and gets you to your assignment on time. Should you have an emergency after hours, our travel professionals are available by phone 24-hours a day.

7. Begin your assignment. Once your travel and lodging arrangements have been made, your next step is to prepare for your assignment. Make sure you have your schedule and know your start date. Your recruiter will stay in contact with to make sure everything is going smoothly. Then once you begin working, make sure you stay up to date on your work logs in order to receive your weekly paycheck. Finally, take some time to explore your new city and share your photos with us. We love seeing our doctors providing quality care throughout the country.