Exploring Locum Tenens Opportunities in Urology: A Resident's Guide

Locum tenens work has become an increasingly important part of urology practice in the United States. For many urologists and urology residents, locum tenens opportunities offer a flexible, well-compensated way to explore different practice environments, pay down loans, or bridge career transitions while still practicing at a high level. This guide walks you through how locum tenens fits into a urology career—before, during, and after the urology residency and urology match process.

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Understanding Locum Tenens in Urology

Locum tenens (Latin for “to hold the place of”) refers to temporary physician coverage where you step into an existing practice, hospital, or clinic to provide care for a set period. In urology, this can range from a few weekend call shifts to several months of full-time work.

Why Locum Tenens Is Especially Relevant to Urology

Urology is a procedural specialty with:

• An aging workforce in many regions
• Persistent shortages in rural and underserved communities
• Increasing demand due to an aging population, cancer care, BPH, stone disease, and male infertility

This drives strong demand for urology locum tenens physicians in:

• Small community hospitals with a single urologist needing coverage
• Regional referral centers expanding services
• Academic centers needing interim coverage between faculty hires
• Military or VA hospitals requiring temporary civilian support

Because many hospitals must maintain at least basic urology emergency coverage (for stones, retention, trauma, testicular torsion, etc.), they often rely on locum urologists when permanent recruitment is delayed.

Types of Urology Locum Tenens Assignments

Common structures you’ll see include:

• Weekend or holiday call-only coverage
  • You provide ED and inpatient coverage, possibly some urgent consults, but limited clinic.
• Week-long or 7-on/7-off inpatient + call coverage
  • Cover ED, inpatient urology, and OR cases; occasionally see urgent outpatients.
• Full-time clinic plus OR blocks
  • You function as a temporary partner or staff surgeon, running your own clinic and operating list.
• Academic or subspecialty coverage
  • Fill in for uro-oncology, female pelvic medicine, or endourology services for a defined period.

Assignments can be local (driving distance), regional, or fully national. Many are ideal for urologists interested in travel physician jobs.

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When Locum Tenens Fits into a Urology Career

Locum tenens urology work can be strategically integrated at several stages:

1. After Urology Residency and Fellowship

For new graduates, going straight into locum work can help if you:

• Want to explore different practice settings (private, academic, hybrid, hospital-employed)
• Are unsure about geography and want to “test drive” cities before committing
• Need high-earning years early to pay down loans
• Are waiting for a permanent practice to finalize contracts, build an OR, or get credentialing

You’ll need full board eligibility (or certification timeline) and an unrestricted license. New grads should be selective, choosing assignments with good collegial support and not overly complex solo situations right away.

2. Mid-Career Urologists

Common motivations for mid-career urologists to pursue locum work:

• Burnout from call-heavy or high-volume permanent positions
• Desire for more control over schedule and location
• Interest in part-time or semi-retired practice while maintaining skills
• Family needs requiring temporary relocation or flexible work
• Income supplementation during a sabbatical or academic transition

You might choose to:

• Keep a primary permanent job and take occasional locum assignments for extra income
• Transition fully to locum tenens as a “career locum tenens physician”
• Use locum work as a bridge while rethinking long-term career goals

3. Late-Career and Pre-Retirement

For senior urologists, locum tenens can offer:

• A gradual taper rather than abrupt retirement
• Limited, highly controllable commitment (e.g., one week per month)
• Opportunities to practice where skills are highly valued
• Continued professional engagement without full-time administrative burdens

Hospitals often value experienced surgeons for locum roles, particularly for complex uro-oncology, reconstructive, or endourology.

4. Residents and Fellows: Planning Ahead

Residents cannot independently work as locum tenens urologists until licensed and board-eligible, but you can prepare by:

• Understanding how urology locum tenens fits into long-term career planning
• Talking with faculty who have done locum work or travel physician jobs
• Keeping your training broad (general urology skills are in high demand)
• Prioritizing excellent case logs in core areas (endoscopy, BPH procedures, scrotal surgery, stone surgery, basic oncology)

Consider locum tenens as one possible phase in your career—just as relevant to your future as the urology residency and urology match were to your training.

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Practical Benefits and Drawbacks of Urology Locum Tenens

Before you jump in, it’s essential to understand the real-world pros and cons specific to urology.

Key Benefits

1. High Earning Potential

Compared to many permanent jobs, locum tenens compensation can be very competitive:

• Daily or hourly rates often exceed employed equivalents when normalized
• Call stipends may be substantial in high-demand markets
• Travel, lodging, and malpractice are usually covered by the agency or facility

For a urologist with strong OR efficiency and broad skills, a few months of locum work can generate significant income—especially if you are willing to take high-demand call-coverage roles.

2. Scheduling Flexibility

You can:

• Block off entire months for family, travel, or personal projects
• Stack several assignments back-to-back during periods when you want to maximize income
• Decline assignments that don’t fit your schedule, preferences, or comfort zone

This flexibility is a major contrast to the relatively rigid schedules of many permanent urology positions.

3. Geographic and Practice Variety

Locum work lets you sample:

• Rural critical-access hospitals with basic urology needs
• Regional referral centers with complex case mixes
• Academic centers with subspecialty services
• Private groups in different health systems

This variety can be professionally refreshing and help you decide what you want long term.

4. Reduced Administrative Burden

While not completely free of bureaucracy, locum work usually includes:

• Limited involvement in hospital politics, committees, and long-term projects
• Less pressure around long-term patient panels and clinic backlogs
• More focus on direct patient care and operative work

For urologists burned out on EHR inboxes and meetings, this reprioritization can be appealing.

Important Drawbacks

1. Lack of Long-Term Patient Relationships

In urology, continuity matters—for cancer follow-up, chronic BPH management, stone prevention, and infertility. With locum tenens:

• You often hand patients back to a permanent team after your assignment
• You may not see the long-term outcomes of your treatment decisions
• Relationship-building is compressed

Some urologists miss the deep continuity and long-term rapport that comes with a stable practice.

2. Financial Uncertainty and Benefits

As an independent contractor (common in locum work), you typically:

• Don’t receive health insurance, retirement contributions, or paid time off
• Must manage your own taxes, retirement savings, and malpractice gaps
• May face periods with no assignment (and thus no income)

Careful financial planning and an emergency fund are essential.

3. Variable Work Environments

Not every site is well organized. Challenges can include:

• Limited or outdated equipment (e.g., old scopes, limited laser access)
• Insufficient support staff (e.g., no dedicated urology PA/NP)
• Incomplete or messy handoff from the outgoing urologist
• EHR learning curves at each new site

You must be adaptable and prepared to advocate for safe, appropriate resources.

4. Impact on Family and Personal Life

Frequent travel can strain relationships, especially if:

• You have a partner with a fixed job location
• You have young children or caregiving responsibilities for relatives

Some urologists manage this by:

• Choosing longer assignments with fewer relocations
• Selecting locations within reasonable travel distance from home
• Limiting locum work to a set number of weeks per year

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How to Get Started: Step-by-Step for Aspiring Urology Locum Tenens Physicians

If you’re considering locum work, here’s a structured approach.

Step 1: Clarify Your Goals

Ask yourself:

• Income vs. flexibility: Do you want to maximize income or prioritize schedule freedom?
• Short-term vs. long-term: Is this a brief bridge, or do you envision being a career locum tenens physician?
• Scope of practice: Are you comfortable with broad general urology and call? Do you need to limit to certain subspecialties?
• Travel appetite: Are you open to national travel physician jobs or prefer assignments close to home?

Your answers will guide how you work with agencies and which assignments you pursue.

Step 2: Ensure Credentials and Licenses Are in Order

For urology locum tenens roles, you’ll typically need:

• An unrestricted medical license in each state where you work
• DEA registration (and any relevant state-specific controlled substance licenses)
• Board eligibility or certification in Urology
• Updated CV with case logs or procedure volume summaries
• Professional references (ideally other urologists or chiefs of staff)
• Up-to-date CME and documentation on hospital affiliations

If you plan to work across multiple states, consider:

• Applying for the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) if eligible
• Prioritizing states with strong demand and locum-friendly licensing timelines

Step 3: Choose Locum Tenens Agencies (or Direct Contracting)

Most urology locum positions are brokered by agencies. When evaluating agencies:

• Look for those with a strong track record in surgical and hospital-based specialties
• Ask specifically about their urology caseload and markets
• Compare fee structures, support services, and malpractice coverage terms

Questions to ask:

• What is your experience placing urologists specifically?
• Can you share sample daily/call rates for recent urology assignments?
• What type of malpractice coverage do you provide (claims-made vs. occurrence)?
• Who covers tail coverage if needed?

Some urologists eventually negotiate directly with hospitals or groups, but most start with agencies to streamline the process.

Step 4: Evaluate Specific Assignments Carefully

For each proposed assignment, clarify:

Clinical Scope and Expectations

• What procedures are expected (TURP, HoLEP, URS/LL, PCNL, open vs. robotic surgery, vasectomies, scrotal surgery, cystectomy, etc.)?
• Is robotic access available and required?
• What is the typical call burden (in-house vs. home, average consult volume)?
• Are there other urologists on-site or are you truly solo?

Resources and Infrastructure

• What equipment is available (e.g., flexible ureteroscopes, laser type, endoscopic stacks, lithotripters)?
• Is there urology-specific OR staff and anesthesia experienced with urologic cases?
• Is there access to IR, nephrology, and other relevant specialties?

Logistics and Support

• Who handles scheduling and follow-up of your clinic and cases after you leave?
• How is documentation handled, and is there scribe support?
• Are travel, lodging, and car rental fully covered and arranged?

A red flag might be a hospital expecting you to perform complex procedures without appropriate tools or backup.

Step 5: Negotiate Contract Terms

Key elements to review and negotiate:

• Rate structure: Daily rate, call pay, overtime, and weekend differentials
• Schedule: Start/end dates, guaranteed minimum days per month, cancellation policies
• Scope and limits: Clear descriptions of what you will and will not do (e.g., complex reconstructive urethral surgery, pediatric urology, advanced robotics)
• Malpractice coverage: Limits, tail coverage, and any exclusions
• Licensing and credentialing support: Who pays fees and handles paperwork?
• Non-compete clauses: Particularly if you might consider a permanent job at the same site later

When in doubt, consider having a healthcare attorney review the contract—especially early in your locum career.

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Making Locum Work Sustainable: Clinical, Financial, and Lifestyle Tips

Success as a urology locum tenens physician requires more than just signing contracts. You need systems to protect your practice quality, finances, and well-being.

Clinical Practice and Safety

• Standardize your pre-op and post-op protocols
  Have personal templates for BPH surgery, stone surgery, scrotal operations, and oncology procedures. Adapt them to local standards but maintain your evidence-based core.

• Set clear boundaries about what you will do solo
  If you are uncomfortable performing certain high-risk surgeries without robust support, specify that up front.

• Document thoroughly but efficiently
  Learn quick documentation strategies for unfamiliar EHRs. Use smart phrases and personal templates when allowed.

• Clarify follow-up responsibilities
  Ensure there’s a plan for post-op visits, lab and imaging results, and long-term care once you leave.

Financial and Tax Planning

• Work with an accountant familiar with physician independent contractors.
• Track all income and expenses (travel not reimbursed, licensing fees, CME, equipment).
• Consider retirement vehicles suitable for independent contractors (e.g., SEP IRA, solo 401(k)) if you lack employer-sponsored plans.
• Maintain an emergency fund (often 3–6 months of expenses or more) to buffer gaps between assignments.

Lifestyle and Burnout Prevention

• Build “off weeks” into your schedule; avoid back-to-back 24/7 call assignments year-round.
• Develop routines to stay grounded on the road: exercise, diet, sleep, and social connection.
• If you have a home base, choose assignments that allow periodic returns and quality time with loved ones.
• Periodically reassess: Is locum work still serving your professional and personal goals?

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How Locum Tenens Intersects with the Urology Match and Early Career Planning

If you are still in the urology residency or recently matched into urology, locum work is not an immediate option—but it should be part of your long-term perspective.

During Urology Residency

Focus on building the foundation that will make you a safe and attractive locum candidate later:

• Broad procedural competency: Ensure your case mix covers emergency urology, common elective OR cases, and bread-and-butter clinic procedures.
• Autonomy under supervision: Seek graduated responsibility so you are comfortable independently managing acute scrotum, stone emergencies, and urinary retention.
• Professional reputation: You’ll need strong references attesting to your judgment, integrity, and technical skill.

As You Approach Graduation

• Decide whether you want to pursue a fellowship first. Some fellows later combine subspecialty work with general locum assignments, but general urology skills remain central for most locum roles.
• Consider whether you want a permanent job right away or if a year or two of locum work could help you explore regions and practice structures.
• Pay attention to credentialing and licensing timelines so you can transition smoothly after training.

Matching into Urology vs. Long-Term Career Flexibility

The urology match determines your training environment but not your lifelong practice pattern. Many urologists:

• Train in academic centers, then work in community settings
• Start in hospital-employed roles, then transition to independent or locum work
• Use locum tenens strategically between jobs or post-fellowship
• Explore travel physician jobs later in their career when personal circumstances allow

Understanding the locum market while still in training gives you more options and a sense of control over your future.

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FAQs: Locum Tenens Opportunities in Urology

1. Can a recent urology residency graduate start work as a locum tenens physician immediately?
Yes, many locum agencies and hospitals actively recruit board-eligible urologists. You will need an unrestricted license in the state of practice, DEA registration, and hospital privileges. Some sites prefer or require board certification, but many accept recent graduates within the board-eligibility window. Be selective with early assignments—start with places that offer backup and reasonable case complexity.

2. How much do urology locum tenens physicians typically earn?
Rates vary widely by region, call intensity, and urgency of need. Daily rates and call stipends in urology are often higher than many non-surgical specialties due to the scarcity of coverage. While exact numbers change year to year, experienced general urologists can often negotiate very competitive compensation, particularly in rural or high-need areas. Agencies can provide recent market data for comparison.

3. Do locum tenens urologists get malpractice coverage, and what should I look for?
Most agencies and facilities provide malpractice coverage for locum assignments. Key points:

• Clarify whether it is claims-made or occurrence-based coverage.
• If claims-made, confirm who pays for tail coverage after you leave.
• Ensure the policy limits are adequate for surgical practice in that jurisdiction.
• Ask if coverage includes all procedures you expect to perform (e.g., robotics, major oncology cases).

4. Is locum tenens compatible with having a permanent urology job?
Yes. Many urologists use locum work to supplement a permanent position. Common approaches:

• Taking periodic weekend call assignments at outside hospitals
• Working locum assignments during vacation weeks or sabbaticals (with employer approval)
• Doing locum work before starting a new job or between positions

Just be sure to review your primary employment contract for any restrictions on outside work, moonlighting, or non-compete clauses.

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Locum tenens opportunities in urology provide a powerful way to align your clinical practice with the lifestyle, geographic, and financial priorities that matter most to you. Whether as a short bridge between positions, a mid-career reset, or a long-term model for flexible travel physician jobs, understanding the locum landscape can make your urology career more adaptable, resilient, and rewarding.