Credentialing is the process of verifying your qualifications to practice at a specific facility. In locums, it happens with every new placement. Here's what it involves and how Falcon manages it.
What credentialing covers
- State medical license in the state where the assignment is located
- DEA registration (federal + state controlled substance licenses where required)
- NPDB query (National Practitioner Data Bank)
- Hospital privileges at the specific facility
- Malpractice history verification
- Board certification verification
- BLS/ACLS/ATLS certifications as required by specialty
How long does it take?
Timeline varies by state and facility. State licensing can take 4–12 weeks depending on the state and your license history. Hospital privileging adds 2–6 weeks on top of that. The total credentialing timeline for a new assignment in a new state typically runs 6–16 weeks. This is why starting the process early matters — and why Falcon runs credentialing in parallel with placement, not after.
Expedited licensing options
Several mechanisms can accelerate the process:
- Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) — available to eligible physicians, allows expedited multi-state licensing
- Emergency licensing — some states issue temporary licenses for urgent coverage needs
- Locum tenens licenses — a small number of states offer short-term locum-specific licenses
What Falcon handles
Falcon manages the entire credentialing process. Your advisor tracks deadlines, gathers required documents, submits applications, and follows up with state boards and facility credentialing offices. You provide the documents — we do the rest.
What you need to have ready
- Current CV with complete work history (no gaps)
- Copies of all current state licenses
- DEA certificate(s)
- Board certification certificate
- Malpractice insurance history with dates and coverage amounts
- Five years of work history with contact information for verification
- Three professional references
Bottom line
Start early. Credentialing timelines can delay assignment start dates if not initiated immediately after placement. Falcon's advisors initiate the credentialing process the moment you accept an assignment — not after paperwork is signed.