Credentialing is the process by which a hospital or healthcare facility verifies that a physician is qualified, licensed, and competent to provide the services they're being hired to perform. For locum tenens physicians, it's the single biggest source of delays between accepting an assignment and actually starting work.
Understanding how credentialing works — and how to move through it faster — can mean the difference between starting an assignment in three weeks or three months.
QUICK SUMMARY — 7 THINGS EVERY LOCUM PHYSICIAN NEEDS TO KNOW
Credentialing takes 60–90 days on average — but can be done in 21–30 days with the right agency
Incomplete applications cause most delays — missing one document can pause everything for weeks
Keep a complete credentialing packet ready — CV, licenses, DEA, board certs, references
IMLC streamlines multi-state licensing — one application gets you licenses in 40+ states
Committee meeting schedules are the bottleneck — miss one by a week, wait another month
Provisional privileges can get you started faster — some facilities allow this while full credentialing completes
Respond to requests immediately — every day you delay is a day added to your start date
What Credentialing Actually Involves
When a facility credentials a locum physician, they're verifying:
- Medical education and training — medical school, residency, fellowship
- Board certification — current, active certification in your specialty
- State medical licensure — active license in the state where you'll be working
- DEA registration — federal and state controlled substance registration if applicable
- Malpractice history — any claims, settlements, or disciplinary actions
- Hospital privileges history — any restrictions or revocations at previous facilities
- References — typically two to three from recent supervisors or colleagues
- Work history — verification of employment for the past five to ten years
Each of these items needs to be verified through primary sources — meaning the facility contacts your medical school, the ABMS, your state medical board, and the NPDB directly. They can't just take your word for it.
The Two Phases of Credentialing
Phase 1: Application and Document Collection
This is where most delays happen. The facility sends you (or your agency) a credentialing application, and you need to provide:
- Completed application form
- Copy of current medical license(s)
- DEA certificate
- Board certification certificate
- Malpractice insurance certificate
- CV with complete work history (no gaps)
- Explanation of any malpractice claims or disciplinary actions
- References with current contact information
- Photo ID
The most common delay: Incomplete applications. Missing a single document — an expired DEA certificate, a reference who doesn't respond, a gap in your work history — can pause the entire process for weeks.
Phase 2: Primary Source Verification and Committee Review
Once your application is complete, the facility's medical staff office begins verifying everything. This involves:
- Contacting your medical school and residency program
- Querying the NPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank)
- Verifying your state medical license with the state board
- Contacting your references
- Reviewing your malpractice history with your insurance carrier
After verification is complete, your application goes to the credentials committee — typically a group of senior physicians who meet monthly or quarterly. They review your file and vote to grant privileges.
This committee meeting schedule is often the biggest bottleneck. If you miss a committee meeting by a week, you may wait another 30 days for the next one.
Average Credentialing Timelines
| Scenario | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Industry average | 60 – 90 days |
| Agency with established facility relationship | 30 – 45 days |
| Expedited credentialing (agency + facility cooperation) | 21 – 30 days |
| Provisional privileges (some facilities offer this) | 7 – 14 days |
Some facilities offer provisional or temporary privileges that allow a physician to start working while full credentialing is completed. Not all facilities offer this, and it typically requires a supervising physician to be available. Ask your agency if provisional privileges are an option for your assignment.
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)
If you plan to work in multiple states, the IMLC is one of the most valuable tools available to locum physicians. The Compact allows physicians who meet certain eligibility requirements to obtain medical licenses in multiple member states through a streamlined process.
IMLC eligibility requirements:
- Hold a full, unrestricted medical license in your principal state of licensure
- Have passed USMLE or COMLEX within three attempts
- No history of disciplinary action, criminal conviction, or controlled substance issues
- Board certified in your specialty
How it works: You apply through the IMLC portal, designate your principal state, and select the additional states where you want licenses. The Compact coordinates with each state's medical board. Instead of filing separate applications in each state, you complete one application.
Timeline: IMLC licenses typically take 30 to 60 days — significantly faster than applying to each state individually, which can take 90 to 180 days per state.
Current member states: 40+ states participate in the IMLC. Check imlcc.org for the current list.
How to Speed Up Your Credentialing
The physicians who get credentialed fastest are the ones who are most prepared. Here's what you can do:
Maintain a Complete Credentialing Packet
Keep a current, organized file with:
- Updated CV (no gaps, all dates accurate)
- Copies of all current licenses and certifications
- DEA certificate (federal and state)
- Board certification certificate
- Malpractice insurance certificate with claims history
- List of references with current contact information
- Explanation letters for any malpractice claims or disciplinary actions
When a new assignment comes up, you can submit everything immediately instead of scrambling to gather documents.
Respond to Requests Immediately
The credentialing process stops every time the facility is waiting on you. When the medical staff office sends a request — for additional documentation, a clarification, a missing date — respond the same day. Every day of delay is a day added to your start date.
Choose an Agency with Strong Facility Relationships
Agencies that have placed physicians at a facility before have established relationships with the medical staff office. They know the process, they know the contacts, and they can often expedite reviews. An agency placing its first physician at a facility has none of that advantage.
At <a href="/why-locumsone">Locums One</a>, we've built deep relationships with the facilities in our network and have dedicated credentialing staff who manage the process proactively.
Don't Wait to Start the Process
Credentialing can't begin until you've accepted an assignment and submitted your application. The sooner you commit and submit your documents, the sooner the clock starts. Waiting a week to decide costs you a week of credentialing time.
What Happens If You Have a Malpractice History
Having a malpractice claim in your history doesn't automatically disqualify you from credentialing. Most physicians have at least one claim over the course of a career. What matters is:
- The nature and outcome of the claim
- Whether there was a payment made
- Whether there were multiple claims in a short period
- Whether the claims suggest a pattern of behavior
You'll need to provide a written explanation for any claims. Be factual, professional, and concise. Facilities are looking for context, not excuses.
Disciplinary actions from state medical boards are more serious and will require more detailed explanation. If you have a disciplinary history, discuss it with your agency before applying to assignments — they can help you identify facilities that are more likely to grant privileges given your specific history.
Maintaining Your Credentials Once You Have Them
Once you're credentialed at a facility, maintaining those credentials requires:
- Reappointment — most facilities require reappointment every two years, which involves a simplified re-verification process
- Keeping licenses current — expired licenses immediately suspend your privileges
- Maintaining certifications — expired board certification or ACLS/PALS can trigger a review
- Reporting changes — any new malpractice claims, disciplinary actions, or criminal matters must be reported to the facility
The easiest way to stay on top of this is to set calendar reminders for every expiration date — licenses, DEA, board certification, ACLS, PALS — at least 90 days in advance.
The Bottom Line
Credentialing is unavoidable in locum tenens work, but it doesn't have to be the bottleneck it is for most physicians. The physicians who move through credentialing fastest are the ones who stay organized, respond quickly, and work with agencies that have the facility relationships to expedite the process.
If you're planning your first locum assignment, start gathering your credentialing documents now — before you've even accepted a position. The preparation you do today directly translates to income sooner.
<a href="/contact">Talk to our team</a> about how we help physicians get credentialed in 21 days instead of 90.