What is the secret to separating yourself from all of the other available candidates in the industry? Keeping your licenses and certifications up to date!
In addition to work experience, obtaining and maintaining the correct certifications can put you at the top of the candidate list for that next assignment. We have provided some DOs and DON’Ts for obtaining or renewing your certifications and licenses:
- DON’T assume every facility will accept your certification(s). Each facility has different requirements you must fulfill before starting your assignment. Your Aureus Account Manager will inform you of any and all certifications you will need prior to starting. In addition, we can help you get those certifications and provide reimbursement!
- DON’T always believe everything you see on the Internet. Googling “BCLS” may not get you the appropriate website that provides the correct AHA information. A lot of websites will “say” they are AHA certified, but be sure to read the fine print. Signing up for an online class only will not give you the complete training you need to obtain a valid AHA card.
- DO be sure to go to these official websites in order to get the appropriate classes to obtain/renew your cards:
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
American Safety & Health Institute
Military certifications (no website, but all branches of the military administer these certifications)
- DO go online, to the official licensing website of the state in which you would like to travel next. It will provide you with all the necessary information to obtain your license in a timely manner, prior to your start date.
- DO contact your Aureus Account Manager to ensure you have ALL the details on how to go through the entire process quickly and efficiently.
- DON’T assume that because you have a compact license you can automatically work in another state. You must confirm that your active license is officially a compact license and meets that state’s requirements. Your Account Manager can walk you through this process and guide you to NLCA’s website that lists all of the compact states and their criteria: https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm
Venturing to a new location for your next assignment is always exciting. Your Aureus Account Manager is more than happy to guide you through the proper channels to ensure you have the correct information in getting your next certification and license.