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3 Licensing Tips for Locum Tenens Physicians

Posted by VISTA Staffing on Apr 12, 2016 10:15:00 AM

locum tenens physiciansIf you have decided to shift your career to the world of locum tenens, it’s important to understand the individual state licensing requirements to qualify for positions across the nation. This post will focus on three licensing tips for locum tenens physicians.

1. Prepare and Provide a Current Work History

To successfully meet licensing requirements in each state and be eligible for locum jobs you must prepare a complete chronological CV. It must include your full work history and the respective month/year worked at each job. If there are any gaps in employment history, then you will need to explain the reasons. You will then submit the completed CV to the state board.

In addition to a CV, other documents may be needed for verification of employment eligibility. These documents may include: references, certifications, medical school records, and previous state licenses you may have held.

2. Provide All Malpractice and Personal Court Case Documents

If applicable, you will need to declare all malpractice and personal legal issues and be prepared to submit the necessary documentation. A legal history does not necessarily preclude you from obtaining a license. However, it’s best to be transparent from the beginning and submit all documentation; this will ensure the licensing procedure runs more smoothly.

3. Be Patient with the Process  

June and July tend to be the slowest months for the boards to move applications through the licensing process; this is due to the influx of residency applications as programs come to an end. The good news is that several states issue temporary licenses while locum tenens physicians wait for permanent licenses. These states include Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Several state boards require all licensing applications to be reviewed at board meetings, which are often held only once per quarter. In applicable states, a temporary license may be issued in the interim so physicians can begin working as soon as possible. Some states may also issue a temporary license to providers while they are awaiting background check results.

Be aware that some state boards have chosen to use the Medical Board of California’s List of Recognized Medical Schools to determine license eligibility. If an applicant attended a medical school that is not on this approved list, then a license will not be issued. This is to ensure a comparable educational standard.  

As you move from state to state, it’s important to note the different physician licensing requirements. Some offer a less restrictive licensing process while others are quite rigorous. You don’t have to go through the process alone. A locum agency can assist you so you can get to work as quickly as possible.

Guide to Locum Tenens

Topics: Licensing & Credentialing

 

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About VISTA Staffing Solutions

VISTA Staffing Solutions has over thirty years of experience providing award-winning customer service to clients and providers alike. Headquartered in Salt Lake City with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston, and employs approximately 1,000 people between corporate staff and field clinicians and contracts with over 2,500 physicians across 60+ specialties and subspecialties. VISTA helps U.S. hospitals, medical practices, and government agencies optimize their physician staffing, ensure quality and continuity of care for patients, and maintain financial stability. As a leading provider of U.S. Locum Tenens and Permanent Physician Search Services, VISTA also operates VISTA Select, a first-of-its-kind technology and services solution utilizing advanced data and analytics to provide healthcare organizations with customizable workforce optimization solutions.