Certified Health Care Recruiter (CHCR) Credential

Enhance Your Health Care Recruitment Career with CHCR Certification

Recruiting in any industry is tough, but health care recruitment comes with its unique set of obstacles—budget constraints, limited resources, shortages of experienced professionals, and constantly evolving reimbursement policies. That’s where the Certified Health Care Recruiter (CHCR) designation from NAHCR comes into play.

Earning the CHCR credential validates your expertise and showcases your dedication to health care recruitment. In a survey, five out of six CHCRs pursued certification to affirm their skills, and four out of six believe it demonstrates their commitment to the profession.

If you are already CHCR certified and are looking to learn more about recertification, please click here. 

Certified Health Care Recruiters

Investing in your CHCR certification can elevate your recruitment strategy, boost your professional credibility, and open doors to invaluable resources and networks. Are you ready to enhance your health care recruiting career?

View a list of current Certified Health Care Recruiters

Amanda Mahatzke

Amanda Mahatzke, Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner at WellNow Urgent Care, shares: "One of the most impactful benefits of obtaining my CHCR certification is that my confidence has grown as a recruiter. It makes me feel extremely confident in not only my ability as a recruiter but as a valuable asset to my company and beyond. I feel like I have earned respect in my field and enhanced my credibility with not only my hiring team but my prospective applicants as well. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner!"

Brooke Dunkum

Brooke Dunkum, CHCR, RACR, System Director of Talent Acquisition at Riverside Health System, adds: "My membership with NAHCR and the completion of the CHCR exam has opened so many doors and resources to enrich my career in Recruitment. The network and experts that you have access to as a part of the NAHCR is invaluable as we continue to work through a difficult labor market."

Examination Date

The next certification examination will be offered online on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Application Deadline

Applications must be received at least two weeks' prior to the exam date. Registration for the October 2nd exam will close on  Friday, September 18, 2026. 

Registration for the October Exam is available here.

The CHCR exam is offered online twice each year. The Spring exam is typically held in March or April, while the Fall exam is usually scheduled for October or November. The online application form is made available approximately five (5) months prior to each exam date.

Candidate Requirements

Candidates must have at least two years' experience as a health care recruiter.

Technical Requirements

  1. You must have an active Internet connection with a minimum speed of 1 Mbps, webcam, microphone and speakers/headphones.
  2. You will need a Windows based laptop or desktop (MacBook is also supported).
  3. You must have admin rights to your computer. Restricted user profiles will face permissions issues.
  4. The assessment is not supported on restricted network i.e. corporate networks, college or university networks, VPN, etc. Please ensure that the exam is taken on a private or unrestricted network.

Examination Fees

Exam Fees: $475 for members and $670 for non-members 

Payment may be made by credit card (VISA, MasterCard or American Express), cashier's check or money order made payable to NAHCR. Examination registration fees are not refundable or transferable and expire in one year. 

General Examination

The CHCR exam is composed of approximately ninety (90) questions covering the essential topics for today’s health care recruiters.

Topic

Approximate Percentage on Exam

The Recruitment Process

41%

The Law and Recruitment

16%

The Selection Process

16%

Strategic Recruitment Plans

9%

Compensation and Benefits

4%

The Recruiter’s Job Description

3%

Recruitment Metrics

11%

Candidates will have approximately two hours to complete this examination.  

Resource Guide

Upon confirmation of their eligibility to sit for the exam, candidates will be provided with a link to a downloadable resource guide. Please note that the resource guide is a supplement to learned experience, not a substitute for the general health care recruiting knowledge needed to pass the exam. 

Exam Results

Exam results will be emailed to the candidate’s email address within two (2) weeks of the examination. 

Recertification Process & Requirements

Already a CHCR? Members who hold the CHCR must recertify their credentials every two years. This can be done through either continuing education or reexamination. Click here for more information about recertification.