Credentialing Workflow: ATS + Talent Platform

If your organization uses Bullhorn ATS together with Talent Platform, your credentialing process blends ATS credential management with candidate self-service credential submission in Talent Platform. This setup reduces manual work, supports automatic syncing of credential data, and provides a more efficient and transparent experience for both your team and your candidates.

This guide provides a high-level overview of how credentialing works when ATS and Talent Platform are connected, and where the systems interact.

Overview

In an ATS + Talent Platform workflow:

  • ATS manages Credential Requirements, Dynamic Match, compliance, and placement workflows.

  • Talent Platform collects credentials directly from candidates through forms, credential items, or skills checklists.

  • Credential Automation (if enabled) syncs credential uploads, expiration dates, license numbers, and requirement completion back to the ATS.

You may also choose not to use Credential Automation. This guide includes both scenarios.

ATS + Talent Platform Credentialing Workflow

1. Create Credential Requirements in ATS (Admin)

All credential definitions still originate in Bullhorn ATS.

Navigation: Menu > Admin > Credentials

Admins create:

  • Credential Requirements

  • Credential Requirement Groups

  • Transferable credentials (required for Dynamic Match)

  • Expiration settings

  • Descriptions that sync to Talent Platform

These credential definitions will be mapped into Talent Platform once it is configured.

More Detail:

2. Add and Maintain Requirements on ATS Records

Credential Requirements flow the same way as ATS-only credentialing:

  • Company > Job > Placement (Recommended)

  • Or can be added manually at:

    • Job

    • Internal Submission

    • Placement

    • Candidate (optional)

More Detail:

Transition from ATS to Talent Platform

Once your Credential Requirements are created and assigned in ATS, Talent Platform takes over the candidate-facing portion of the process.

  • ATS = defines the requirements

  • Talent Platform = collects the candidate’s actual credentials

The two systems work together: ATS determines what is needed, and Talent Platform gathers the information.

3. Configure Credentials in Talent Platform (Admin)

Talent Platform displays credentials to candidates, collects documents, and syncs data back to ATS.

Admins in Talent Platform must create or sync Credentials in Talent Platform.

Navigation: Configuration > Credentials

Credentials can be:

  • auto-synced from ATS during implementation

  • added manually later using their AltID (ATS credential ID)

Talent Platform credential configuration allows you to choose:

  • Visible to candidate

  • Require expiration

  • Require license number

  • Require completion date

  • Require back capture

  • Whether to upload as a file to ATS

More Details:

4. Map Talent Platform Credentials to ATS Requirements (Required for Sync)

Each Talent Platform credential must be mapped to its ATS counterpart.

Navigation: Configuration > Settings > Integrations > Bullhorn ATS > Entity Mappings

Rules:

  • One-to-one mapping only

  • Do not map credentials that are not meant to be candidate-facing

  • Mapping triggers the sync process of credential submissions back to ATS

More Details:

5. Candidate Completes Credentials in Talent Platform

Candidates complete credential items through:

  • their self-service profile

  • required onboarding workflows

  • forms (if mapped)

  • file upload

  • skills checklist submissions

Depending on credential configuration, they may submit:

  • expiration dates

  • license numbers

  • supporting files

  • back scans

  • completion dates

Talent Platform stores the information immediately, then syncs it back to ATS based on mapping.

6. Credential Automation Runs (If Enabled)

If Credential Automation is turned on, the system automatically:

  • Creates the candidate’s ATS Credential

  • Syncs expiration date, license number, completion date

  • Sends the file to ATS as a Credential File Attachment

  • Updates status in ATS based on rules

  • Links the credential to Placement Requirements when applicable

This eliminates most of the manual data entry in ATS.

If Credential Automation is not enabled:

  • The credential file syncs only to the Files tab, NOT the Credentials tab

  • No automatic credential creation

  • No placement matching

  • A recruiter must manually create and match credentials inside ATS

7. Match Credentials to Requirements

After credential data enters ATS—either automatically or manually—you confirm that requirements are satisfied.

Matching can happen through:

  • Placement Credentials tab

  • Candidate Credentials tab

  • Compliance Manager (recommended)

  • Credential Requirements list

Automatic matching via Dynamic Match occurs if:

  • Dynamic Match is enabled

  • Credential names match exactly

  • Credential status is in a “Complete” bucket

  • Credential expiration is valid

More Details: 

8. Monitor Expirations, Compliance, and Status

Since Talent Platform can collect ongoing updates, you can monitor compliance centrally in ATS:

  • Compliance Manager Dashboard

  • Candidate > Credentials tab

  • Placement > Credentials tab

  • Credential Requirements list

  • Placement List Columns (In Progress, Incomplete, Expiring)

More Details:

Key Takeaways for ATS + Talent Platform Credentialing

  • ATS manages the requirements; Talent Platform manages credential collection.

  • Every credential in Talent Platform must be mapped to a credential requirement in ATS.

  • Credential Automation (if enabled) completes the workflow automatically.

  • Without Credential Automation, credential uploads sync only as files—not full credentials.

  • Talent Platform dramatically reduces manual recruiter work.

  • ATS remains the system of record for compliance, matching, and placement workflow