All moves, med school to late career · Early career · Mid career · Late career · reviewed October 27, 2026 · oldest source check October 21, 2026
The decision. Giving notice, reducing hours, or setting a last day.
What changes
- The AMA recommends mutual without-cause termination with at least 90 days' notice and a 30-day cure period. Employer and physician notice periods are often unequal.AMA, physician contracting do's and don'ts · checked October 21, 2026
- PSLF counts a payment only while the borrower works full-time, an average of at least 30 hours a week, for a qualifying employer. The borrower must also work for a qualifying employer when applying and when the loan is forgiven.34 CFR 685.219, Public Service Loan Forgiveness · checked October 21, 2026
- Tail coverage typically costs 150% to 250% of the mature annual claims-made premium. A new employer's prior-acts (nose) coverage can replace it.Andwise: malpractice tail coverage costs by specialty · checked October 21, 2026
- Individual disability policies commonly define the insured's occupation as the one held when disability begins, and measure residual benefits against average prior earnings over a period the policy sets. How hours reduced before a claim count depends on the policy's own definitions.The Standard, individual disability outline of coverage, form 9145(2/10)CA; Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission, disability income uniform standards review · checked October 27, 2026
- A non-governmental 457(b) plan pays deferred compensation from the employer's assets, which stay subject to its general creditors until paid. Separation from employment is one of the events that permits a distribution.IRS, non-governmental 457(b) deferred compensation plans; 26 U.S.C. §457 · checked October 27, 2026
- In 30 of 51 jurisdictions, a statute voids physician non-competes or sets their limits. Some statutes turn on how the job ended: Texas SB 1318 (2025) voids a physician covenant after an involuntary discharge without good cause.Andwise: non-compete laws by state; Tex. S.B. 1318 (89th Leg., R.S. 2025), enrolled text · checked October 21, 2026
Who is paid for what
How each party at this decision is paid, and what its role does not include. The page states payment structures only, not intentions.
Malpractice carrier
Collects a one-time tail premium when a claims-made policy ends, unless a new policy's prior-acts coverage takes over.Andwise: malpractice tail coverage costs by specialty
Not part of its role Deciding who pays for tail; the contract decides that.
The departing employer
No published source recorded yet.
Not part of its role Releasing or narrowing a covenant, unless the contract or state law requires it.
Costs that come later
What is agreed at this decision, and when its cost arrives.
- Notice period (at signing or renewal)Lands at The earliest possible last dayContract checker: if you leave
- Non-compete (at signing or renewal)Lands at Where and when the next job can beNon-compete laws by state
- Bonus and relocation repayment (at signing)Lands at The last paycheck, or a repayment from after-tax payBonus repayment after tax
- Tail coverage (at signing)Lands at The last day of coverageTail coverage costs
- PSLF progress (since training)Lands at Hours below 30 a week, or a for-profit next employerCompare repayment plans
Dates for a calendar
Contract dates come from the terms the contract checker read, saved in this browser only; a start date places them. Rule changes come from the site's feed of dated changes. The calendar file is built on this device.
Deadlines, and who sets them
- Set in the contractThe notice period
- Set by lawPSLF: employment at a qualifying employer when applying and at forgiveness34 CFR 685.219, Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Tools, in the order this decision uses them
Leaving a job
The exit in order: how the contract ends, notice, repayment, tail, the non-compete.
Contract checker
Restates the exit terms it finds at a chosen month.
Part-time and reduced hours
Hours a week to cover a spending floor, and months of savings.
Employed, part-time, contract or nonclinical work
Employed, part-time, independent and nonclinical paths side by side.
Tail coverage costs
Estimated exit cost by specialty.
Bonus repayment after tax
What repaying a signing bonus costs.
Questions for a professional or the other party
Counsel
- On the planned last day, which covenants and repayment terms still apply?
- Does the reason for leaving change the non-compete or who pays tail?
The employer
- Does reducing hours change benefits eligibility, the non-compete, or the tail obligation?
The malpractice carrier
- What does tail cost on the planned last day, and does a reduced schedule change the premium before then?