Health screenings and license checks for healthcare assignments

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Applies to: Workers placed on clinical healthcare assignments in the US — both W-2 employees and independent contractors. Non-clinical assignments (including administrative or support roles at a healthcare site) and assignments outside the US do not carry these extra requirements. For screening in general, see Why is the background check taking longer than expected?

Summary: Clinical healthcare roles require more screening than a standard assignment. In addition to a criminal history check, you will usually need verification of your professional license and a healthcare sanctions check, and some screenings require you to attend an appointment and enter the date in your portal. Your assignment cannot start until these are ordered and cleared, so completing your part quickly is the single biggest thing you control.

Why healthcare assignments screen differently

Healthcare facilities are legally required to confirm that the people delivering clinical care are properly licensed and are not excluded from federal or state healthcare programs. Those obligations flow through to staffing, so Ascen has to complete the same checks before you can begin a clinical assignment. This is a requirement of the role, not a judgment about you.

The requirement follows the type of work, not the client. A clinical role triggers it even at a facility where you have worked before in a non-clinical capacity.

What you will be asked to complete

The exact package depends on your role, your state, and the facility. For a clinical healthcare assignment it commonly includes:

Identity and criminal history checks — confirming your identity against your Social Security number, plus national and county-level criminal record searches.
Professional license verification — confirming the license or certification your role requires is real, current, and in good standing with the issuing board.
A healthcare sanctions check — confirming you do not appear on the federal or state lists of individuals excluded from participating in healthcare programs. Most people have never interacted with these lists in any way.

Depending on the facility you may also be asked for a drug screening, an occupational health screening (for example immunisation records or a TB test), or required training. Some states and facility types add their own checks on top — your onboarding will show exactly what applies to you.

Scheduling a screening appointment

Most checks run in the background with nothing further from you. Drug screenings, health screenings, and in-person training are different — they need an appointment, and the platform asks you to tell it when you plan to attend.

Log in at app.ascen.com and open your onboarding checklist.
Complete the Screening step. This is where you give consent and provide the information the screening provider needs.
Go to the Screening Schedule step. You will see the prompt "Please enter the date you plan to attend your scheduled screening", with a card for each screening that needs one.
Enter the Appointment date for each screening listed, then select Continue.

Entering the date does not book the appointment for you — it tells Ascen when to expect your results so nobody chases you unnecessarily. Watch your email for the provider's instructions on where and when to go.

If you have already been screened through Ascen

You generally do not have to repeat a screening you have already completed. When you move to a new assignment, a qualifying check you completed previously through Ascen is carried over to the new assignment automatically wherever it can be.

You may still be asked to repeat something if the new role requires a check your previous package did not include, if the facility or state mandates its own check, or if the earlier result has expired. A screening you completed on your own or through another employer usually cannot be reused, because the consent and chain of custody have to run through the screening provider.

What can hold things up

Something is waiting on you. By far the most common delay. The provider has emailed you for consent, a document, or identity information, or an invitation link expired. Check your spam folder.
Licence details do not match. Verification is done against the issuing board's records, so the name and licence number on your profile need to match the board exactly. A married name, a middle initial, or a typo in the licence number is a frequent cause.
Your licence is up for renewal. A licence that has lapsed, or is mid-renewal with the board, cannot be verified as current. Renew before your start date where you can.
Court or board response times. Some county courts and some state boards still respond manually and cannot be expedited by anyone.
A missed appointment. If you cannot make a scheduled screening, say so early — rebooking is quick, a no-show is not.

Your rights during screening

Screening is run by a professional screening provider, and you are asked to give written consent before anything starts. You are entitled to know what is being checked, to receive a copy of your report, and — if something in a report would count against you — to be told before any final decision is made and to dispute information you believe is inaccurate. If you want a copy of your report or want to dispute an entry, email support@ascen.com and we will point you to the provider's dispute process.

Who to contact

Ascen (support@ascen.com) — anything about the screening itself: what is still outstanding, a check that appears stuck, a name or licence-number correction, a copy of your report, or a dispute. Ascen is your employer of record and owns this process.
Your staffing partner — scheduling questions only: your start date, which site you are assigned to, and whether a start date can move while a check finishes.

Why is the background check taking longer than expected?
How long do background checks and drug tests take?
Completing identity verification (and what to do if it fails)
Why your pay might be on hold (and how to fix it)

This article explains how screening works at Ascen and is not legal advice. Licensing requirements are set by your state board — check with them for questions about your own licence.