Certification Process

Becoming an Alliance Certified Ethical Recruiter (CER) allows international recruitment firms that actively recruit health care professionals to the U.S. to be recognized for their commitment to fair, ethical, and transparent recruitment practices.

In completing the application process, recruiters must demonstrate their compliance with the Alliance Health Care Code for Ethical International Recruitment and Employment Practices (Code). They must agree to additional oversight by the Alliance and participation in (re)mediation processes as necessary to resolve compliance issues.

To become a CER, recruitment firms must complete a three-step process:

  1. Application
    The recruiter submits the application form found on our Application page. In this application, the recruiter attests to abiding by each provision of our Code and demonstrates compliance by providing copies of recruitment materials and standard employment contracts.
  2. Survey
    The Alliance disseminates a survey to all health professionals recruited by the firm in the past three years. This survey allows the employees to share their experiences with the recruitment firm.
  3. Public Comment Period
    Other individuals or organizations have the opportunity to share information or concerns that they might have about the recruitment firm seeking certification. The public comment period lasts for thirty days and is announced on the Alliance website and on social media channels of the recruitment firm.

In some cases, a certification application may also be brought before the Alliance Advisory Board’s Compliance Committee for additional review.

Once a recruiter has completed all the necessary steps and met all requirements to demonstrate their compliance, the recruiter becomes an Alliance Certified Ethical Recruiter

There is no application fee. Once approved, CERs pay an annual certification fee based on revenue or size.

If you have questions about our certification process, please contact us at staff@cgfnsalliance.org.

Certification Eligibility

Any organization that recruits foreign-educated health professionals (FEHPs) to work in the United States is encouraged to apply for Alliance Certification. Such organizations include:

  • Staffing firms – Under the staffing model, a FEHP signs a contract with the staffing firm and continues to be an employee of the firm for the duration of their contract.
  • Placement firms – Under the placement model, the recruitment firm matches each FEHP to a health care institution, where the worker then signs a contract directly with the employer.
  • Direct hiring – Under the direct hiring model, there is no third-party recruitment firm involved in the process. A FEHP signs a contract directly with the hospital or institution where they will be working when they arrive in the U.S.

To achieve full status as an Alliance Certified Ethical Recruiter, an organization must have been actively recruiting FEHPs to the U.S. for at least one year. If your organization does not meet this requirement, you may be eligible to complete the process as an Alliance Certification Candidate. Please contact us at staff@cgfnsalliance.org to learn more about this opportunity.

Benefits of Certification

Alliance Certification gives you the opportunity to set your business apart by adopting and promoting ethical international recruitment standards and submitting your practices to additional Alliance oversight. Benefits of being an Alliance Certified Ethical Recruiter include:

  • Affirming your organization’s commitment to ethical, responsible, and transparent recruitment practices.
  • Gaining recognition among a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Serving as an industry leader by submitting your recruitment practices to Alliance oversight.
  • Improving the quality of recruitment and client confidence in your organization.
  • Increasing the global exposure of your business.
  • Setting your business apart from other recruitment organizations by using the Alliance Certification Seal in your marketing.

Certification Seal

The Alliance Certification Seal distinguishes Certified Ethical Recruiters (CERs) as organizations that are committed to ethical international recruitment practices and have submitted to additional oversight by the Alliance. CERs are encouraged to display the seal on their website and marketing materials in order to set themselves apart—both to foreign-educated health professionals searching for a recruiter and to health care institutions looking to partner with a recruitment firm.

Only current Certified Ethical Recruiters are authorized to use the Alliance Certification Seal.

Apply for Certification

All international recruitment firms and entities which recruit health professionals to work in the United States are encouraged to apply for Alliance Certification. By applying for certification, a recruiter attests that they comply with all provisions of our Health Care Code for Ethical International Recruitment and Employment Practices.

This Certification Application sets forth the requirements for certification. Organizations interested in obtaining certification should complete the application and submit it along with the specified supporting documentation to the Alliance for review. If approved, the organization is authorized to use the Alliance Certification Seal in its recruitment efforts.

Any information provided in the application process will remain confidential. The Alliance strictly protects any proprietary information disclosed by your organization. If you have any questions about the Code, the certification process, or this application, please contact us, and we would be happy to discuss it further with you.

Staffing Firms
Under the staffing model, a FEHP signs a contract with the staffing firm and continues to be an employee of the firm for the duration of their contract.

Placement Firms
Under the placement model, the recruitment firm matches each FEHP to a health care institution, where the worker then signs a contract directly with the employer.

Direct Hiring
Under the direct hiring model, there is no third-party recruitment firm involved in the process. A FEHP signs a contract directly with the hospital or institution where they will be working when they arrive.