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.

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.

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.