Physician Locum Tenens
Application Procedures/Requirements

In order to obtain a Locum Tenens Permit you must hold a current license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in another state and that license must be current and in good standing.

There must be a written request from a duly licensed Nebraska physician or osteopathic physician which states the dates of intended practice of the locum tenens and the reason for requiring a locum tenens due to vacation, sickness or hospitalization or other similar leaves of absence; or

There is a time of public health emergency in the state of Nebraska such as one arising from incidents of widespread disease, natural or manmade disaster or similar causes. Or letter of authority to practice may be issued to an applicant by the Department upon the recommendation of the Board when there is a showing of good cause of a need for a locum tenens by a hospital in a health professional shortage area as defined in 172 NAC 88.  The health professional shortage areas can be found at the following link:  STATE DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS - MEDICAL & MENTAL HEALTH

Such showing of good cause shall include but is not limited to the following:

• The health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the health professional shortage area would be jeopardized;
• Inability to retain a permanent physician;
• Resignation or exodus of a physician; or
• Death of a physician.

A locum tenens cannot practice in Nebraska for more than three months in any twelve month period.

Application Procedures

1. A completed application for Locum Tenens Permit.  The locum physician must complete the front and back of the actual application.
2. Attachment A must be completed by the Secretary of the State Medical Board that issues a license which is current. This may be submitted on the State Medical Board's own form. This may be from ANY state board where the locum physical holds a current, unrestriced license to practice.
3. A Locum Tenens Permit may be REQUESTED in two ways:
   1. Written request from a duly licensed Nebraska Physician or osteopathic physician due to vacation, sickness or hospitalization or other leaves of absence (complete Attachment B - Requesting Physician form).  This form MUST be signed by the Physician.
   2. Written request from a hospital in a health professional shortage area (complete Atachment B - Shortage Area form).  This form MUST be signed by the Hospital Administrator or CEO.
4. Required fee of $100.00

All applications must be approved by the Board of Medicine and Surgery prior to issuance of a Locum Tenens Permit.  The applicant will receive a letter of authority to practice from this office.  If such a letter is not received prior to the starting date, the locums physician should not begin practice until he has contacted this office.   If the locums physician begins practice prior to approval to practice as a Locum Tenens, he is in direct violation of the laws of the State of Nebraska.

Please allow at least two weeks for processing of locum tenens application.    Please have only one person contact our office to check on status.

If there are malpractice cases, misdemeanor/felony charges or any other regulatory matters, the application may need to be reviewed at a Board of Medicine and Surgery meeting before a license may be issued. Click here for board meeting dates and times.

The Locum Tenens Permit granted by the Board upon acceptance of the completed application will only be granted for the period specified on the application and for the physician requesting such replacement and in no way may exceed 90 days in a 12-month period.   However, a physician may serve additional locum tenens, provided he or she does not exceed the 90 days of service during the 12-month period from the date of the issuance of the initial locum tenens. The authority to serve EACH locum tenens must be obtained directly from this office for EACH term of service.