Healthcare certifications to look for
Prioritizing candidates with the right credentials can strengthen your skill-first hiring efforts. Here are some healthcare certifications to add to your job description.
1. BLS certification
Offered through the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross and other organizations, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification demonstrates that a candidate can respond to urgent health crises at your practice or facility.
To gain BLS certification, healthcare professionals complete a training course that usually covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) usage and best practices for identifying life-threatening medical emergencies.
You may add BLS certification as a qualification to your job descriptions for licensed practical nurses (LPNs), nursing assistants, medical assistants, phlebotomists or emergency medical technicians (EMTs). In fact, 30.28% of healthcare job postings on Indeed mention the credential.¹
2. ACLS/PALS certification
Medical professionals who direct or deliver care to patients at high risk for heart-related health emergencies often need training in life-saving medicine. As a result, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is a common healthcare certification for physicians, physician assistants (PAs), registered nurses (RNs) and surgical technicians.
Listed in 8.97% of the job postings on Indeed, ACLS certification involves coursework similar to the BLS certification with advanced education regarding cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is a similar certification that focuses on delivering life-saving medicine to infants and children. The credential appears in 3.62% of healthcare job postings, including those for pediatricians and pediatric nurses.
3. Medical assistant certification
If your state doesn’t require licensing for medical assistants (MAs), you may look for other ways to ensure candidates have the necessary skills for the position. MA certification can help identify individuals with demonstrated knowledge and skills relevant to the role.
Almost 4% of the healthcare job postings on Indeed include MA certifications. MAs may pursue the following options:
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Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
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National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
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Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists (AMT)
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Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
4. ARRT certification
Healthcare certifications from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) are common requirements for jobs in medical imaging and found in 3.07% of the healthcare job postings on Indeed.
The ARRT establishes strict education and experience prerequisites for its certifications and requires imaging technologists to pass exams prior to gaining health certification. Certified professionals must also receive ongoing education to maintain certification status.
You can look for ARRT healthcare certification on the resumes of:
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Bone densitometrist
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Radiology assistants
5. DEA certification
If your open position involves administering, prescribing or dispensing controlled substances, such as opioids and amphetamines, candidates likely need Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certification. The credential is earned online through the DEA and appears in 1.4% of healthcare job postings on Indeed.
Some positions you may require a DEA certification for include:
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Pain management physicians
6. Phlebotomy certifications
Because most states don’t require phlebotomists to obtain professional licensing, voluntary certification is a common job qualification. Around 1.16% of all Indeed healthcare job postings include the credential, which usually requires a training program and an exam.
Several widely recognized phlebotomist certifications include:
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Certified Phlebotomist from the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)
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Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) from the National Phlebotomy Credentialing Excellence (NPCE)
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National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT) from NCCT
7. Home health aide certifications
Nationwide, home health aides (HHAs) must complete at least 75 hours of training before working with patients. However, state licensing is less common in the field.
Home health aides who wish to demonstrate their experience and skills may pursue voluntary healthcare certifications. Some, like HHA certification through the American Caregiver Association (ACA), are online certifications that involve a virtual training course and a final exam.
Others, such as the Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) credential from NCCT, meet the general experience and educational prerequisites without specific training courses.
An HHA certification on resumes typically indicates a candidate has demonstrated competency in delivering basic medical care to patients in home settings. Around 0.91% of healthcare job postings on Indeed mention home health aide certification.
8. Physician board certifications
Although specific requirements vary, certifying medical boards typically require physicians to complete a residency or fellowship and pass an examination.
When hiring a physician, you can consult the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to determine which board certification is necessary to work in the desired specialty. To expand your potential pool of candidates, you may wish to list Board Certified/Board Eligible (BC/BE) in your job description.
Found in 3.52% of all healthcare job postings on Indeed, the BC/BE qualification indicates you’re willing to hire physicians who already hold board certification and those who’ve completed the requirements but haven’t taken the certifying exam.
9. TNCC certification
ER nurses, ICU nurses, flight nurses, critical care nurses and trauma nurses care for patients suffering from life-threatening injuries. When hiring for these positions, finding Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification on a resume shows the candidate has advanced training in the standards of care for severely injured patients. This credential appears in 0.82% of all healthcare job postings on Indeed.
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) offers the TNCC credential as one of its online healthcare certifications. To gain the health certification, RNs must complete a two-day virtual training program and pass an exam.
Frequently asked questions about healthcare certifications
What is a health certification?
A health certification is a credential that a healthcare professional pursues through a professional organization or certifying body. Typically, candidates must meet prerequisites, such as passing an examination or having a certain number of years of related work experience, to gain these credentials.
What’s the difference between healthcare certificate programs and healthcare certifications?
Typically, healthcare certificate programs provide education related to specific topics and last for a shorter period than two- and four-year degree programs. Upon completing the program, students receive a certificate of completion.
Healthcare certifications are voluntary credentials healthcare professionals pursue to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
Should I verify a health certification?
Some employers verify health certifications as a part of a background check for employment, especially if the job description lists the credential as a required qualification. Depending on your company policies regarding background checks, you may ask the candidate to provide proof of certification or contact the certifying body directly.
Consult your legal counsel for advice on how to comply with regulations when performing employment verifications and background checks.
¹Indeed data (US), November 2023-November 2024
