As the marketing manager here at PracticeLink, I’m always looking for ways to keep myself current with the trends, best practices and skills needed to do my job. In a world where everything is constantly changing and evolving, continuing education is critical. As industries change, so do the technologies, strategies and skill sets needed to ensure success and career growth. We know this to be true for the physician recruitment industry too.

If you’re looking to stay abreast of today’s physician recruitment industry and the skills needed to source and recruit the best talent, I’d suggest you take a look at these three certification programs. The knowledge you’ll gain from these programs will keep you ahead of the game and in the know!

1. The ASPR Fellowship Program: The Association of Staff Physician Recruiters has the most robust continuing education program available to in-house physician recruiters. There are three levels of certification through ASPR: AASPR or Associate, DASPR or Diplomat, and FASPR or Fellow. Wouldn’t all of those credentials look good behind your name? You will have three modules to complete and test on, although you are not required to take the modules — just the tests. According to the ASPR website, this program is “the most comprehensive, authoritative resource for individuals seeking to develop and test their skills and knowledge within a broad spectrum of topics including physician/provider recruitment, onboarding and retention, human resources, and relevant legal issues.”
2. Physician Recruitment Intensive Training (PRIT): This intensive training is put on by physician recruitment industry expert Roger Bonds. During this weeklong training course, which is held once a quarter throughout the year, you can get face-to-face time with industry leaders! Some of the topics you’ll learn about while at a PRIT meeting include physician recruitment best practices, compensation strategies, social media for physician sourcing, budgeting, and hospital/physician alignment, just to name a few. According to the PRIT website, you can obtain three different certifications for attending PRIT: CMSR or Certified Medical Staff Recruiter, RCMSR or Recertified Medical Staff Recruiter, and FMSD or Fellowship in Medical Staff Development.
3. PracticeLink University Recruiter Workshops: PracticeLink hosts 10-12 recruiter workshops every year in conjunction with our PracticeLink Live! physician job fairs. These three-hour workshops for in-house recruiters are worth 2.5 ASPR CEUs. The workshop offers participants different strategies that maximize the visibility of their employer brand and position their organization as an employer of choice to positively impact their recruiting efforts. It covers the effects of changing technology on recruitment and best practices and strategies, and it provides a detailed overview of PracticeLink’s recruitment solutions. At the end of this course, recruiters will be able to successfully leverage the knowledge they have gained to:
   1. Attract both active and passive candidates
   2. Recruit strategically through multimedia
   3. Get the most out of PracticeLink and maximize the practical tactics in their toolboxes

Knowledge is power. If you want to be a great leader in your industry, you need to stay informed. The great Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” As physician recruiters, you’re changing the world by recruiting the physicians needed to heal your communities — stay educated!