Credentialing Overview: Bullhorn ATS + Bullhorn Automation

When your organization uses both Bullhorn ATS and Bullhorn Automation, credentialing becomes partially automated. This setup reduces manual steps while still giving recruiters and credentialing specialists visibility and control within ATS.

This guide provides a clear, high-level understanding of how credentialing works when you use ATS + Automation only (no Talent Platform).

Big Picture: What Each System Does

Bullhorn ATS

• Stores all Credential A record of qualification and/or clinical practices history. Example for Light Inustrial: Fork Lift Certification Example for Healthcare: Nursing License Requirements

• Stores all Candidate Credentials & Credential Files

• Tracks expiration, status, and matching

• Drives your compliance workflow

Bullhorn Automation

• Monitors credential expiration dates

• Sends notifications (to staff or to candidates)

• Automatically adds or adjusts Credential Requirements on Jobs

• Helps ensure Jobs inherit the right requirements

• Helps ensure Credential updates don’t fall through the cracks

Automation does not collect credentials, since there is no Talent Platform, all collection must happen manually in ATS.

More detail:

• Understanding Credentialing in Bullhorn ATS

• Creating Credential Requirements and Groups

• Update Credential Automation Step

• Expiring Credential Notification with Automation

How Credentialing Works in ATS + Automation

1. Defining Credential Requirements (ATS)

Requirements must be created and maintained in ATS:

• Admin > Credentials (create Credential Requirements)

• Optional: Create Credential Groups for efficiency

• Assign requirements to:

  • Companies

  • Jobs

  • Internal Submissions

  • Placements

  • Candidates (optional)

More detail:

• Creating Credential Requirements and Groups

• Assigning Credential Requirements to Records

• Flowing Credential Requirements

  Add requirements at the Company level to flow into Jobs automatically.

2. Adding Credential Requirements to Job Records (ATS)

When a Job is created:

• Requirements flow from the Company

or

• They can be added directly to the Job

Automation Enhancement:

Use “Update Credential Requirement Requirement a Candidate needs to be placed in a Job (e.g., a test, documentation evidence, or license)” step to auto-apply requirements to Jobs (helpful when Jobs are VMS-generated and skip Company inheritance).

More detail:

• Flowing Credential Requirements

• Update Credential Automation Step

3. Adding Credential Requirements to Placements (ATS)

When a Placement The relationship between a hiring organization, Job opportunity, and a Candidate; describes an employee’s potential or current job within an organization is created:

• Requirements flow in from the Job

or

• Can be added manually to the Placement

Automation does not add requirements to Placements—only ATS handles this part.

More detail:

• Assigning Credential Requirements to Records

4. Collecting Credential Files (Manual in ATS)

Since Talent Platform is not being used:

• Candidates must submit credential files directly to your team

• Your team uploads them in ATS > Credentials tab

• You can:

  • Upload files

  • Match candidate credentials to requirements

  • Update statuses

  • Archive expired credentials

  • Track expiration dates across all placements

More detail:

• Managing Candidate Credential Files

• Managing Expired Credentials

• Viewing Expiring and Expired Credentials

5. Tracking Progress and Compliance (ATS)

Compliance is tracked in multiple locations:

• Candidate > Credentials tab

• Placement > Credentials tab

• Credential Requirements List

• Compliance Manager

More detail:

• Viewing Candidate Credential Information

• Using the Credential Overview Card

• Matching Credentials With Credential Requirements

• Compliance Manager

What Automation Adds

Credential Expiration Notifications

Automation can notify:

• The Candidate Owner (internal)

• The Candidate (external)

• A shared compliance inbox

Trigger options include:

• “Center on Credential Expiration Date”

• Only send for specific credential types (optional)

• Only send for any credential (global expiration monitoring)

More detail:

• Expiring Credential Notification with Automation

Adding or Managing Requirements Automatically

Automation supports:

• Add Credential Requirement

• Replace Credential Requirement

• Clear/Reset Credential Requirements

This is particularly helpful for:

• VMS-generated Jobs

• Roles with consistent credential packages

• Facility-specific requirement sets

• Expired requirement refresh workflows

More detail:

• Update Credential Automation Step

Using Lists with Automation

List logic can target:

• All candidates with active credentials

• Candidates with specific credential types

• Jobs missing required credentials

• Jobs at a specific facility or category

• Candidates whose credentials will expire in X days

More detail:

• Expiring Credential Notification with Automation

• Update Credential Automation Step

Key Takeaways

• ATS is the source of truth for Credential Requirements and Candidate Credentials.

• Automation enhances ATS by keeping credentials updated, monitored, and maintained without manual effort.

• Credential collection remains manual—Automation does not gather documents.

• Automation prevents compliance gaps with expiration monitoring and requirement updates.

• This setup is ideal for clients who want automation efficiencies but do not use Talent Platform.