Locum CRNA Jobs in California

What Life Is Like in the State of California

California is one of the most diverse and dynamic states in the country, spanning massive metropolitan areas, high-acuity academic medical centers, agricultural valleys, coastal towns, mountain communities, and remote rural hospitals. For CRNAs working locum tenens assignments, California offers some of the broadest clinical opportunities in the nation—from advanced cardiac and trauma programs to high-volume outpatient centers and underserved rural hospitals in medically short regions. While the cost of living is high in many major cities, compensation, case variety, and lifestyle options make California a highly attractive locum market.

1. CRNA Work Environment

• Diverse Practice Settings:
  • CRNAs in California work within expansive health systems such as Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, Stanford Health Care, Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare, Dignity Health, Providence, Adventist Health, and numerous county and regional hospitals.
  • Assignments range from Level I trauma centers and major academic hospitals to mid-sized community facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, GI suites, obstetric units, and rural hospitals spread across the Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, and northern coast.
  • Due to the sheer size of the state and ongoing provider shortages—especially outside major metros—locum CRNAs consistently find openings across many different clinical environments.
• Supervision Model & Scope:
  • California is a non-supervision (opt-out) state, which allows CRNAs to practice without mandatory physician supervision in facilities that choose to grant autonomy.
  • In many academic and large private systems, anesthesiologists remain involved through team-based models; however, rural hospitals often rely heavily on CRNAs for primary anesthesia delivery.
  • The California Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CANA) advocates for CRNA interests, scope protection, and modernization of practice structures across the state’s varied healthcare systems.
• Locum Demand & Case Mix:
  • California’s massive population create steady demand for locum CRNAs in general surgery, OB, ortho, ENT, oncology, GI, and cardiology-related procedures.
  • Major academic centers offer complex cases, including cardiac, neuro, thoracic, trauma, transplant, and robotics, while rural settings may expect broad generalist coverage and more independent practice.
  • Facilities in the Central Valley, far Northern California, and the Inland Empire often face recruitment challenges and rely significantly on locums, sometimes offering higher pay or flexible schedules.

2. California Licensing & Travel Notes

• Licensure: CRNAs must hold a California RN license and CRNA certification from the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). California is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, meaning out-of-state providers must complete full licensing.
• Turnaround Time: Licensing can be lengthy—commonly 8–12 weeks or longer—due to background checks, document processing, and verification requirements. Early preparation is strongly recommended.
• Malpractice Coverage: Most agencies provide claims-made malpractice coverage; some facilities may supplement coverage through organizational policies. Always confirm OB, trauma, and specialty coverage when relevant.
• Nearest Airports: Major airports include LAX, SFO, SAN, OAK, SJC, SMF, BUR, and ONT; smaller regional airports improve access to more remote assignments.
• Travel Considerations: Traffic congestion in major metros can significantly affect commute times. Mountain regions, deserts, and northern rural areas require careful seasonal travel planning due to snow, heat, fires, or closures.

3. Cost of Living

• Housing & Short-Term Stays:
  • California’s housing costs vary widely. Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, and coastal cities are among the most expensive in the country.
  • More affordable options exist in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, Sacramento region, and rural northern counties, where short-term rentals and extended-stay housing are more accessible.
  • Locums should compare commuter distances against housing costs, as onsite or nearby housing can drastically improve quality of life in dense urban regions.
• Everyday Expenses:
  • Groceries, utilities, and transportation reflect urban cost structures in major cities, while smaller and rural markets are more moderate.
  • Parking can be costly in city centers, especially near major academic hospitals. Rural and suburban hospitals typically offer free parking.
• Financial Trade-Offs:
  • Although the cost of living is high, California often provides strong locum pay rates—especially in rural, high-need, or high-acuity settings.
  • Assignments that include housing, travel stipends, and flexible scheduling offer excellent earning potential despite regional expenses.

4. Major Cities & Assignment Locations

• Los Angeles & Southern California:
  • Southern California hosts world-class medical centers such as UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
  • Locum CRNAs may see complex surgical cases, trauma, cardiac, transplant, and highly specialized services, along with large outpatient surgical volumes.
  • Assignments can span from high-acuity downtown hospitals to suburban community systems across Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.
• San Francisco Bay Area & Northern California:
  • UCSF, Stanford, and Sutter Health anchor a competitive healthcare market with cutting-edge specialty care and advanced surgical programs.
  • Higher complexity cases and busy OR schedules are common, with opportunities in cardiac, oncology, trauma, and neurosurgery.
  • Outpatient and ASC assignments offer appealing schedule predictability but may be located in very high-cost living areas.
• Central Valley (Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto):
  • This region has some of the state’s greatest need for locum CRNAs due to large populations and chronic provider shortages.
  • Assignments include general surgery, OB, ortho, GI, and moderate-acuity hospital work, with occasional trauma in larger cities.
  • Housing is significantly more affordable than coastal regions, improving net income for locums.
• San Diego & Coastal Southern California:
  • Scripps, Sharp, and UC San Diego create a robust clinical environment with steady surgical demand.
  • Case mixes range from general surgery to advanced cardiac and high-risk OB, depending on the facility.
  • Beach proximity, mild climate, and strong healthcare infrastructure make this region popular for CRNAs.
• Rural Northern, Mountain, and Desert Regions:
  • Hospitals in Redding, Eureka, Chico, Bishop, and remote mountain or desert towns often rely heavily on locum CRNAs.
  • Assignments may include broad autonomy, call coverage, and hands-on management of diverse cases in resource-limited settings.
  • These regions typically offer strong compensation and slower-paced lifestyles outside clinical hours.

5. Lifestyle & Recreation

• Outdoors & Recreation:
  • California offers a vast array of outdoor experiences: beaches, deserts, lakes, forests, mountains, and national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, and Redwood National and State Parks.
  • Outdoor recreation includes surfing, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, and year-round mild weather in many regions.
• Cultural Access:
  • Major cities offer rich arts, food, entertainment, and international culture, while smaller communities provide local festivals and close-knit social scenes.
  • Locum CRNAs can take advantage of world-class dining, museums, concerts, and cultural events on days off.
• Climate:
  • California’s climate varies dramatically—from Mediterranean along the coast to alpine in the mountains and arid in desert regions.
  • Wildfire seasons, heat waves, and winter storms in select regions may impact travel and scheduling during certain months.

6. Things CRNAs Should Know

• Transportation & Commuting:
  • Most assignments require a personal car due to the state’s size and limited public transit outside major cities.
  • Metro areas like LA and the Bay Area have heavy traffic; commute times must be planned carefully around shift schedules.
• Scheduling & Workload:
  • High-volume hospitals and academic centers often have demanding OR schedules with complex service lines.
  • Rural facilities may expect broader responsibilities, including OB, call coverage, and emergency case management.
• Practice Culture & Onboarding:
  • Credentialing varies but may be detailed in large systems; onboarding is typically structured and thorough in academic environments.
  • Clarifying expectations for autonomy, supervision, and scope of practice helps locum CRNAs integrate efficiently across diverse workplaces.
• Professional Community:
  • California CRNAs benefit from a large, active professional network supported by CANA, which provides education, policy updates, and leadership opportunities.
  • Locums who return to California regularly often secure recurring assignments within popular systems and facilities.