For decades, the traditional physician career path was relatively straightforward: complete training, join apractice or health system, build a patient panel, and settle into a long-term role.
That path still makes sense for many physicians. But today, more doctors are asking whether there isanother way to practice medicine—one that gives them more flexibility, variety, and control over theircareers.
That is where locum tenens comes in.
Rather than viewing locum tenens as something physicians do only between permanent jobs, more doctorsare considering it as a deliberate career option. For some, it may mean greater control over their schedules.For others, it may mean exploring new communities, supplementing income, reducing administrativeresponsibilities, or simply creating a different kind of professional life.
And interest is growing. According to research from Weatherby, 14% of physicians reported currentlyworking locum tenens, compared with 5% a decade earlier. Another 26% said they were very or extremelyinterested in trying it.
So why are more physicians taking a closer look?
One of the biggest draws of locum tenens is choice.
A traditional permanent position often means committing to a specific location, schedule, patient population, organization, and set of responsibilities. For physicians who know exactly what they want, that structure can be a great fit.
But priorities can change.
You may want to work more for a season of your life and less during another. You may want to spend several months in a new city. You may want to step away from a permanent position without stepping away from medicine.
Locum tenens can give physicians more flexibility to make those decisions on their own terms.
The goal isn't necessarily to work less.
It is to have more say in how, where, and when you work.
Choosing a permanent position is a significant decision.
Physicians aren't only evaluating compensation. They're also considering leadership, culture, support staff, patient volume, technology, workload, location, and overall fit.
A job description can only tell you so much.
Locum tenens can give physicians the opportunity to experience different practice environments firsthand. Instead of wondering whether a particular organization or market would be a good fit, a physician can gain real experience before making a long-term commitment.
For early-career physicians, that exposure can be especially valuable.
It can help answer questions like:
That experience can make future career decisions more informed.
Locum tenens doesn't look the same for every physician.
Early-Career Physicians
For physicians just beginning their careers, locums can provide exposure to different clinical environments before settling into a permanent role.
Working in different locations and facilities can help physicians better understand what they want from their long-term career.
Mid-Career Physicians
For established physicians, the motivation may be different.
Locums can provide an opportunity to supplement income, explore a new market, take a break from administrative responsibilities, or create more flexibility around family and personal commitments.
It can also give physicians an option when they're ready for a change but aren't ready to leave clinical medicine.
Late-Career Physicians
For physicians approaching retirement, locums can offer another way to remain clinically active without maintaining the same commitment as a traditional full-time position.
Instead of viewing retirement as an immediate stop, some physicians may prefer to gradually reduce their workload and continue practicing in a way that better fits their priorities.
Compensation is another reason physicians may consider locum tenens.
Depending on the assignment, physicians may find competitive compensation along with travel and housing arrangements. That can make locums appealing for doctors looking to supplement their income without taking on another permanent position.
But compensation shouldn't be the only consideration.
The highest-paying assignment isn't automatically the best assignment.
A physician should also consider the schedule, clinical expectations, location, support, duration, and how the opportunity fits into their larger career goals.
The right assignment is one that makes sense as a whole—not just one that looks attractive on paper.
Practicing in one environment for years can provide stability and deep familiarity.
But variety has value, too.
Locum physicians may work with different teams, patient populations, systems, and practice environments. That can broaden clinical experience while helping physicians understand how different organizations operate.
For some physicians, that variety is part of the appeal.
Instead of seeing their career as one straight path, they can use different assignments to build experiences that align with where they want to go next.
One of the biggest misconceptions about locum tenens is that choosing temporary work means committing to a temporary career.
It doesn't.
A physician might use locums for a few months while deciding what comes next. Another might use it for several years. Someone else may make locum tenens their primary way of practicing.
There is no single path.
Locums can be a career, a transition, a supplement, or simply an opportunity to try something different.
That flexibility is part of what makes the model increasingly relevant to physicians today.
Not every assignment will be the right fit.
Before saying yes, physicians should look beyond the compensation and understand what the opportunity actually involves.
Consider asking:
What will my schedule look like?
Understand shifts, call responsibilities, weekends, expected hours, and how much flexibility you will actually have.
What will my clinical responsibilities be?
Ask about patient volume, procedures, scope of practice, support staff, and expectations.
What is included?
Clarify travel, housing, transportation, licensing, credentialing, malpractice coverage, and other logistics.
What support will I receive?
Know who your point of contact will be and what support is available before and during the assignment.
How does this fit my bigger career plan?
Consider what you want the assignment to help you accomplish—not just what it offers today.
The question doesn't have to be:
"Should I become a locum physician?"
A better question may be:
"Would having more flexibility in how I practice help me accomplish what I want next?"
If stability and a long-term home are your highest priorities, a permanent position may be the right choice.
But if you're looking for greater flexibility, want to experience different practice environments, are curious about a new market, or simply want more control over your professional life, locum tenens may be worth exploring.
Start with what matters to you.
Your specialty. Your schedule. Your financial goals. Your family. Your career plans. Your definition of professional fulfillment.
Then consider whether locum tenens can support those priorities.
There isn't one right way to build a physician career.
For some doctors, that means spending decades in one organization. For others, it may mean moving between opportunities, exploring new places, changing their schedule, or taking assignments that fit different seasons of life.
Locum tenens gives physicians another option.
You don't have to commit to an assignment just because you're curious about it. The first step can simply be learning what's available and having a conversation about what might make sense for you.
Explore locum tenens opportunities with Relode and start a conversation about what comes next.
Why are more physicians considering locum tenens?
Many physicians are looking for greater control over their schedules, professional lives, and career decisions. Locum tenens can provide flexibility without the same long-term commitment as a permanent position.
Is locum tenens only for physicians early in their careers?
No. Physicians at different stages may use locums for different reasons, including career exploration, supplemental income, flexibility, or transitioning toward retirement.
Can locum tenens help me explore a permanent opportunity?
Yes. A temporary assignment can give physicians firsthand experience with a practice environment before deciding whether a longer-term opportunity is right for them.
What should I consider before accepting a locum assignment?
Look at more than compensation. Consider the schedule, clinical responsibilities, location, support, travel and housing arrangements, malpractice coverage, and how the assignment fits your larger career goals.