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Healthcare Certifications

BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP — required certifications by specialty, renewal schedules, and how they affect your contract pay.

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Required Certifications by Specialty

What facilities require before your first day — and what earns you higher pay.

Universal Requirements

Every travel or contract assignment requires at minimum: BLS (Basic Life Support) from the American Heart Association. Many units — especially acute care — additionally require ACLS. Some facilities only accept AHA-issued certifications and will not accept Red Cross equivalents, so confirm before you renew.

Certification Requirements by Unit

Specialty / UnitRequiredPreferred / Pay-Boosting
ICU / Critical CareBLS, ACLSCCRN, PALS
Emergency RoomBLS, ACLS, PALSCEN, TNCC
Labor & DeliveryBLS, NRP, ACLSEFM, RNC-OB
Telemetry / PCUBLS, ACLSCCRN-K
OR / SurgeryBLSCNOR
NICUBLS, NRPRNC-NIC
Med / SurgBLSCMSRN
LPN / LVNBLSSpecialty-specific CEUs

Renewal Schedules

  • BLS — Expires every 2 years. Renewal takes ~3 hours in-person or via HeartCode blended learning.
  • ACLS — Expires every 2 years. Full renewal course required every other cycle.
  • PALS — Expires every 2 years. Often combined with ACLS renewal days.
  • NRP — Expires every 2 years. Online + simulation required for renewal.
  • CCRN / CEN / CNOR — Expires every 3 years via CEs or re-examination.

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13-week assignments across the US. Competitive tax-free stipends and housing.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything healthcare professionals ask us before their first assignment.

Does my facility accept Red Cross BLS?

Many hospital systems and Joint Commission-accredited facilities only accept American Heart Association BLS. Always confirm with your recruiter before renewing — renewing through the wrong provider can delay your start date if the facility rejects your card on day one.

Do certifications expire during a 13-week contract?

Facilities require that all certifications remain current for the full duration of the contract. If a cert expires mid-assignment you will typically need to renew it on your own time. Track expiry dates carefully — many compliance teams will flag an approaching expiration and pause submissions if renewal is not completed in advance.

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