Whether you’re a first-time locum or a seasoned traveler, one step stands between you and your assignment: credentialing. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. Every healthcare facility requires it to verify your training, licenses, background, and more.

Understanding the process — and staying organized — will make every assignment smoother. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Credentialing?

Credentialing is the formal process healthcare organizations use to verify your professional qualifications. This includes your education, licenses, certifications, malpractice history, work experience, and references.

Locum tenens providers must be credentialed at each facility they work with — even if it’s just a short assignment. The process ensures that you meet the hospital’s clinical and legal standards.

How Long Does Credentialing Take?

It varies by facility and specialty, but here’s a general range:

• Standard credentialing: 30–60 days
• Fast-track or urgent fills: 1–3 weeks
• Academic or government facilities: 60–90+ days

Your first credentialing experience will take the longest, since you’ll need to collect and submit all your documentation from scratch. After that, the process gets much easier — especially with a good agency to manage it for you.

What Will You Need to Submit?

Your locum agency will guide you through every requirement, but most credentialing packets include:

• Updated CV (in month/year format)
• Medical licenses (active and expired)
• DEA certificate(s)
• Board certifications
• Medical school and residency diplomas
• Immunization records (especially for hospitals)
• Background check authorization
• Peer references (usually 2–3 within the last 2 years)
• Explanation of any malpractice claims or gaps in employment

Tip: Save all your documents in a secure cloud folder. This will speed up future assignments significantly.

Does Each Facility Require New Credentialing?

Yes. Credentialing is facility-specific. Even if you’re working within the same hospital system in different cities, you’ll still need to go through the process separately. However, some systems share credentials internally to reduce duplication.

Privileging may also be required for certain specialties (e.g. surgery, ER, OB). This process grants you permission to perform specific procedures or duties within that facility.

What About Hospital Orientation?

Once credentialing is complete, many facilities require an orientation before your first shift. This may include EMR training, hospital policies, security access, and a tour of the unit. Some orientations are remote or self-paced; others are on-site.

Be sure to build orientation time into your schedule — especially for first-day travel.

How Agencies Help Streamline It

A great locum agency like Odyssey Staffing makes credentialing much less painful. Here’s how:

• They assign a dedicated credentialing coordinator to walk you through the process.
• They track expiration dates for your documents.
• They submit your completed packet directly to the facility.
• They push for urgent processing when time is tight.
• They cover costs for drug screens, immunizations, and background checks (in most cases).

Many agencies will also store your documents for future use, which makes onboarding with the next facility much faster.

Tips to Avoid Delays

• Keep your CV and license info updated regularly.
• Have your references ready and notify them in advance.
• Respond quickly to emails or requests from your agency’s credentialing team.
• Explain any employment gaps or malpractice issues clearly and upfront.
• Don’t delay submitting required forms — many credentialing packets have strict timelines.

Conclusion

Credentialing is a critical part of the locum tenens journey. While it may feel tedious at times, being proactive and organized can save you weeks of delay. With an experienced agency handling the logistics, you can focus on what matters most — delivering outstanding patient care wherever you're needed next.