Your first locum tenens assignment: What to expect when you work with CompHealth

Thanks for expressing interest in CompHealth! You've taken the first step by talking with your recruiter, and this guide is designed to answer what comes next. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about locum tenens, explain who you’ll work with at CompHealth and what our teams handle, and set expectations for the first assignment—and beyond. You’ll be able to move forward with your recruiter and find a job that fits your needs. Let’s get started.

Why locum tenens?

Locum tenens, which is Latin for “hold the place of,” is a term to describe temporary positions available at hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Facilities hire locum tenens to add staff during periods of higher patient census, provide care to underserved populations in remote areas, cover for a healthcare provider on leave, or fill in temporarily during a search for a full-time physician.

While locum tenens is a valuable service for facilities and patients, the physicians who take these assignments also benefit. Here are a few reasons they enjoy locum tenens work:

Setting a more flexible schedule

You can decide where and when you want to work and take months off in between assignments if it works for your family and finances.

Supplementing your income

Many physicians keep their full-time job and accept locum tenens jobs on the weekends to put away extra cash or pay down student loan debt.

Relieving burnout

A change of pace through a locum tenens assignment can help doctors remember what they like about practicing medicine and give them a break from the paperwork and politics of a full-time position.

Exploring new settings

Some doctors refer to locum tenens as a “try before you buy” situation, where you can practice in different locations to see if you like the area or facility before potentially moving there or taking a permanent job.

How does locum tenens work?

When you call CompHealth about locum tenens, we’ll get to know you and start looking for jobs that fit your specific needs and interests.

Initial conversation

You’ve already chatted with a recruiter so they can learn more about your specialty, reasons for pursuing locum tenens jobs, and work preferences. They also ask about your schedule (how often and where you want to work), desired job locations, and compensation.

After this conversation, your recruiter begins looking for locum tenens opportunities you might be interested in.

Application and profile

You’ll create a login for the MyCompHealth portal, a web browser, and a mobile app that allow you to manage your locum tenens assignments. This will require you to upload your:

Curriculum vitae

Licenses and certifications

Work history

References

While gathering this information can take time, the sooner you complete your profile, the sooner your recruiter can share it with hiring managers. You can also log into MyCompHealth to set your availability, which notifies your recruiter so they can focus only on jobs that match your schedule.

Other benefits of MyCompHealth include:

• Viewing open locum tenens jobs and clicking to let your recruiter know you’re interested

• Checking your credentialing status and seeing which documents you’ve uploaded (more on this below)

• Seeing the dates of both upcoming and completed assignments

• Logging your time once you’re on assignment (you can also do this in the mobile app)

• Looking at flight itineraries and rental car information

• Finding first-day notes, including the schedule, facility address, parking requirements, and contact information

Opportunity matching

Now that your recruiter knows what you’re looking for, they will send you assignments that match your preferences and explain all the details, including the location, schedule, patient volume, and salary. If you decide you only want a text or email instead of a phone call—or that you want to hear from them less often—let your recruiter know. They won’t move forward on any positions without your approval and want you to be happy with the process.

Facility presentations

When you decide you’d like to pursue a locum tenens opportunity, your recruiter will submit your profile to the facility’s hiring manager. They may also schedule interviews with facility employees (not always required) on your behalf. The recruiter can negotiate the salary and finalize all assignment logistics, communicating everything with you.

Assignment confirmation

If a facility selects you for a locum tenens assignment, you’ll sign a contract that outlines your schedule, the terms of the job (e.g., whether you’re on call or working holidays), salary, and start date. Your recruiter will help with the contract and can answer any questions you have.

Licensing and credentialing

Once you’ve confirmed your first assignment, CompHealth is ready to help with the next steps (often the most complex): licensing and credentialing. Dedicated teams will contact you to obtain the required documentation and assist with hospital credentialing and state licensing (if needed). This process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the type of facility you’ll be working at and the state.

Assignment preparation and travel

CompHealth also has teams that coordinate your travel and housing while you’re on your assignment. They’ll arrange a flight or rental car for you, along with an apartment or hotel near the facility, and send you all the details—including contacts at the facility, your schedule, and a number to call if you need help.

Start your assignment

The start date of your new locum tenens job will be here before you know it! You’ll arrive at the facility, complete their onboarding process (if they require it), and start working with your new colleagues and patients. CompHealth will be there throughout everything, and your recruiter will check in to see how the assignment is going.

Who you’ll work with at CompHealth

You’ve already met your recruiter, who will be in touch with you about job opportunities. They will remain your point of contact at CompHealth. Additionally, about 50 days from your assignment start date, you’ll begin working with an assignment coordinator, who can answer any questions if your recruiter is unavailable.

CompHealth also has several different specialized teams that handle all aspects of your assignment. They include:

Licensing and credentialing

Coordinators will email you to get the necessary forms, documents, and references for the physician credentialing and licensing processes (as required).

Hospital privileging

Depending on your job, you may need to be authorized to work at a specific facility and for the health system. Another coordinator will work with you to get all the paperwork.

Housing and travel

No matter how long your assignment lasts, travel and housing coordinators will arrange your flight, lodging, and rental car. They can also accommodate family members or pets for an additional fee.

Each team specialist brings their own expertise to the job and also has contacts with facilities and travel companies throughout the country. This means fewer delays and a streamlined path to your assignment start date.

Hear from your peers: What physicians say about working with us

What CompHealth handles

When you work with CompHealth, they pay for the following:

CompHealth also handles all the logistics of your assignment. If you experience an issue on the job, whether it’s a problem with your housing or transportation, or something happens at the facility, you can call your recruiter or assignment coordinator for help resolving it. We even have an in-house claims management team to help if a malpractice claim is submitted while you work with us or after the assignment ends.

First locum tenens assignment expectations

All the details about your assignment will be available in the MyCompHealth portal, including the contact at the facility. Here are several tips from seasoned locum tenens physicians to make your first few days go smoothly:

How pay works

Your pay as a locum tenens physician will vary based on several factors, including:

• State

• Type of practice area (rural settings pay more because it is more difficult to attract full-time physicians)

• Length of assignment

• Shift type (you can earn a higher salary if you work weekends or holidays)

• Specialty demand

• Patient census

Once you’re on assignment, you’ll enter your time through the MyCompHealth mobile app or online portal. CompHealth then pays your hourly rate weekly through direct deposit.

Depending on your assignment, you may be classified as a W-2 or 1099 employee. Locum tenens physicians are most often employed as independent contractors, which means you will be responsible for paying state and federal taxes (CompHealth does not automatically deduct these from your paychecks). If you don’t have benefits through a full-time position, you’ll also need to secure healthcare coverage through a spouse or partner’s plan or through a health exchange and enroll in a retirement savings plan as well.

You will often earn a higher hourly rate as a locum tenens physician than as a salaried provider, but your total annual income depends on the number of assignments you take each year.

Tips for success

Now that you know what to expect when you work with CompHealth, check out these suggestions for a successful locum tenens experience:

Have specific goals in mind from the beginning. Physicians work locum tenens for many different reasons, so be clear about your motivations before you take an assignment. If your main goal is to earn a higher salary to pay off student loans, you may want to prioritize jobs in rural areas or with weekend schedules, which often pay more. If you'd rather have more time to travel, tell your recruiter about the various areas of the country you’d be interested in exploring.

Stay in contact with your recruiter. We understand that life is busy, and we want to make sure you don’t miss out on an opportunity you’ll love. A quick text or call to tell your recruiter whether you’re interested in a job goes a long way and can help them understand your preferences.

Keep your documents organized. While CompHealth is ready to help you with paperwork when you’re applying for jobs and once you’ve reached the licensing and credentialing stage, the processes go much faster if you have updated your CV, medical licenses, and diplomas, and know where they are.

Be flexible and willing to try new things. You may have a specific locum tenens assignment in mind: a beach locale in the winter or a quiet mountain retreat in the summer. That dream job may not come for a long time—and while you’re waiting for it, you might discover that a facility in a state you hadn’t planned on is an even better fit.

Get advice from other locum tenens physicians. Thousands of physicians take locum tenens assignments each year, and some of them may even be current colleagues. Ask them what they like about the jobs, what they wish they’d done differently, and where they enjoy working.

Quick checklist

Use this checklist to prepare for your first assignment with CompHealth.

Before you leave

• Confirm credentialing is complete

• Review your contract and pay details

• Verify travel and housing

• Download any apps you’ll need, like MyCompHealth and map or gas station guides

Before day one

• Confirm schedule and expectations

• Visit the facility and check in with your recruiter or assignment coordinator

• Get EMR access

• Save key contacts

Bring along

• ID, medical licenses, and certifications

• Work attire

• Essential tools

• Notebook or note app on phone or tablet

During the assignment

• Track your hours

• Stay in communication with your recruiter

• Keep receipts and notes

• Write down what went well and what can improve in the future

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get started on a locum tenens assignment?
Once you have provided the necessary paperwork, such as your CV, education, certifications, and references, your recruiter can begin searching for jobs that match your preferences. Depending on credentialing and licensing (which vary by state and facility), you could be on your assignment anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months.

Do I have to travel?
Not always. You can often find assignments within a few hours of home.

How do I get paid?
CompHealth will pay you via direct deposit either weekly or biweekly. Your contract will include details on pay structure and schedule.

Is malpractice coverage included?
Yes, CompHealth provides claims-made malpractice insurance, including tail coverage.

Do I receive healthcare benefits?
Since locum tenens physicians are generally classified as independent contractors, they do not receive healthcare benefits from CompHealth or from the facility where they’ll be working. Physicians often keep their coverage from their full-time positions if they work locum tenens part-time, get health insurance through a spouse or partner’s employment, or pay for benefits through a healthcare marketplace.

Next steps

Your recruiter will be your point of contact at CompHealth and can answer specific questions and help you explore available locum tenens assignments.

Interested in locum tenens opportunities in your specialty? View current locum tenens openings or give us a call at 800.453.3030. You’re closer than you think—and CompHealth will support you every step of the way.