As healthcare staffing agencies and organizations expand their contingent workforces, credentialing has become one of the most time-consuming and critical aspects of workforce management. Whether you’re hiring travel nurses, locum tenens providers, or allied health professionals, ensuring that each worker is properly credentialed is non-negotiable. This raises an important question for agencies and HR leaders: Do Employer of Record (EOR) providers offer credentialing support?
The Short Answer: It Depends
Not all EORs are created equal. Some offer credentialing support as a core service—particularly those focused on healthcare or other highly regulated industries—while many others do not.
EORs typically focus on handling the employment relationship: onboarding, payroll, benefits, insurance, taxes, and compliance. Credentialing, however, falls into a more specialized category. It’s not just a matter of checking boxes—it involves verifying licenses, certifications, work history, background checks, and other requirements that vary widely by state, profession, and even specific facilities.
Why Credentialing Matters in Healthcare
Credentialing is the backbone of compliance in healthcare. Without proper credentialing:
- Patient care may be compromised.
- Providers and staffing agencies may be exposed to liability.
- Start dates can be delayed, causing revenue loss and operational bottlenecks.
- Workers may have a poor experience, leading to higher turnover.
For healthcare staffing firms using EORs, the ideal partner isn’t just handling employment paperwork—they’re also helping to accelerate credentialing workflows or at least seamlessly integrate with credentialing partners.
Some EORs Offer Healthcare Credentialing Support
Only a small number of EOR providers, like FoxHire, understand the complexity of healthcare employment and have built credentialing support into their offerings. These providers may:
- Perform license verification and track renewals.
- Support background checks and drug screens.
- Ensure compliance with facility- or state-specific credentialing requirements.
- Provide a portal for both workers and employers to manage documentation.
These capabilities allow healthcare staffing agencies to reduce administrative burden, improve placement speed, and deliver a better candidate experience. FoxHire’s capabilities in this area are more extensive and built specifically for the healthcare industry.
The Importance of U.S.-Based Credentialing Support
When credentialing support is offered, where it’s done matters. Many EORs operate internationally or outsource credentialing operations offshore. That might work for generic tasks, but U.S.-based credentialing support is critical in healthcare. Here’s why:
- U.S. regulations vary by state and change frequently. A domestic team is more likely to understand the nuances of state boards, licensing bodies, and health system expectations.
- Speed matters. Delays due to timezone differences or miscommunication can lead to missed start dates.
- Accuracy and accountability are non-negotiable when patient safety is involved.
- Worker confidence and satisfaction rise when they know their EOR understands the U.S. healthcare system and can guide them through credentialing without confusion.
In short, U.S.-based credentialing support doesn’t just streamline operations—it builds trust with healthcare professionals and clients alike.
What to Ask When Evaluating an EOR
If you’re a staffing agency or HR team in healthcare, here are some key questions to ask potential EOR partners:
- Do you offer credentialing support? What does that include?
- Is your credentialing team based in the U.S.?
- How do you handle ongoing license tracking and renewals?
- Can you integrate with our existing credentialing or applicant tracking system (ATS)?
- What’s your experience supporting credentialing in healthcare specifically?
- How does credentialing work within Managed Service Provider (MSP) programs or when using a Vendor Management System (VMS)?
Conclusion
Credentialing is not a nice-to-have in healthcare—it’s a must-have. If you’re partnering with an Employer of Record to streamline employment, make sure they can support (or at least integrate with) your credentialing process. Better yet, choose an EOR with U.S.-based credentialing support built for the complexities of healthcare. It’s an investment in speed, compliance, and workforce satisfaction.
