Top Certifications to Renew or Earn Before the New Year
Table of Contents
As the year winds down, I see the same pattern every December: clinicians start thinking ahead. New goals. New contracts. New opportunities. Search interest spikes around nursing certifications, continuing education for nurses, and career advancement, and for good reason.
From my years practicing as a respiratory therapist in high-acuity pediatric ER and ICU settings, I know firsthand how much the right certification can impact not only patient outcomes, but also your confidence, mobility, and earning potential. Now, working alongside clinicians across the country at Nomad, I see how credentials directly influence which jobs open up to you, especially in competitive travel roles.
If you’re setting your sights on 2026, here are the
top certifications to renew or earn before the new year
, and how they can open the door to more opportunities in your clinical career.
Why renewing certifications before the new year matters for travel clinicians
December is a strategic window for three reasons:
Licenses and certifications unlock jobs early in the year. Many facilities begin finalizing staffing needs for Q1 before January.
Credentialing delays can cost you weeks of pay. Letting a cert lapse, even briefly, can pause offers.
CEUs now = flexibility later. Completing continuing education before year-end keeps you travel-ready when the right job pops up.
At Nomad, we help clinicians navigate these requirements every day, and we consistently see faster placements for travelers whose credentials are current and complete.
2026 Must-have certifications for travel nurses
1. Basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
These are table stakes for most acute-care roles, but they’re also among the most common reasons applications stall. Keeping BLS and ACLS current also helps prevent delays when applying for travel nurse contracts and completing credentialing.
Required for most inpatient travel nurse contracts
Frequently audited during credentialing
Easy to renew now, and frustrating to rush later
💡Pro tip: Make sure your expiration date extends through your entire assignment, not just the start date.
2. Pediatric advanced life support (PALS)
If you’re open to pediatric units, emergency departments, or mixed-acuity facilities, PALS can significantly expand your options.
Often required for ED, ICU, and pediatric assignments
Highly valued in high-acuity environments
Especially relevant for travelers targeting children’s hospitals
Even if pediatrics isn’t your primary specialty, this certification can make you more versatile and competitive. PALS renewal requires focused preparation, similar to ACLS, and keeping it current can significantly increase your eligibility for pediatric and emergency assignments.
3. Critical care registered nurse (CCRN)
For ICU nurses, this is one of the most respected credentials you can hold.
Signals advanced critical thinking and clinical expertise
Can unlock higher-paying ICU travel contracts
Builds long-term career credibility beyond travel
Facilities don’t just see letters, they see readiness.
4. Certified emergency nurse (CEN)
Emergency departments move fast, and so do travel opportunities in emergency care.
Demonstrates strong emergency and trauma knowledge
Increasingly preferred for ED travel roles
Differentiates you in high-demand markets
If you thrive in controlled chaos, this certification speaks your language.
Top allied health certifications for 2026 travel jobs
Allied health professionals—especially respiratory therapists, imaging specialists, and rehab clinicians—are seeing growing demand. Certifications matter.
2. Registered respiratory therapist credentials (RRT)
RRT and specialty credentials
As a respiratory therapist, I can’t stress this enough: keeping your National Board for Respiratory Care credentials current is essential.
RRT is required for most travel respiratory roles
Specialty credentials (like neonatal or pediatric focus) increase job access
Critical during flu season and respiratory surge periods
Clinicians with a CRT may still qualify for some travel roles when facilities accept it, but the RRT credential is more broadly required across clients and provides access to a wider range of opportunities.
Advanced airway management and ventilation expertise remain in high demand across travel assignments, especially during respiratory surge periods.
Respiratory therapists who maintain ACLS, PALS, or NRP in addition to their NBRC credentials are often eligible for a wider range of travel assignments. Many facilities prefer or require these life support certifications for clinicians who work in emergency departments, intensive care units, or pediatric settings. Keeping these certifications current supports faster credentialing and increases access to high acuity roles.
Read, ‘Travel respiratory therapist career guide’.
2. Key certifications for imaging, laboratory, therapy, and surgical clinicians
Allied health travelers continue to see growing demand across imaging, laboratory, therapy, and surgical services, and maintaining the right certifications is essential for staying competitive in the travel job market. Many facilities require BLS for all allied health professionals, and ACLS, PALS, or NRP can be key for clinicians working in acute care, pediatric settings, or procedural environments. Keeping these certifications current helps avoid onboarding delays and supports faster placement into high demand travel roles.
Imaging professionals rely on national credentials such as ARDMS, CCI, ARRT, and NMTCB to qualify for roles in ultrasound, cardiac and vascular imaging, radiology, CT, and MRI. ARDMS credentials renew every December, which makes timely completion important for travelers applying to early year assignments. These certifications improve job access and help clinicians qualify for advanced modality positions that often offer higher pay and greater scheduling flexibility.
For travel laboratory roles, certifications from ASCP, AAB, or AMT are required for placement in high complexity labs. Travelers with current laboratory credentials typically experience smoother onboarding and greater access to specialized roles in microbiology, hematology, blood bank, and molecular testing.
Surgical services professionals, including certified surgical technologists and surgical assistants, benefit from maintaining NBSTSA, ABSA, or NCCSA certification. These credentials demonstrate readiness for a wide range of OR environments and can help travelers secure assignments in high acuity or specialty surgical units.
Therapy professionals, including PTs, OTs, and SLPs, increase mobility and assignment eligibility by keeping national credentials and life support certifications current. BLS is often required across therapy settings, and additional certifications can support placement in acute care, inpatient rehab, and specialty programs.
Across all allied health disciplines, travelers who maintain both their specialty credentials and their life support certifications tend to qualify for more assignments, complete credentialing faster, and secure roles in competitive markets. Keeping these credentials current is one of the most effective ways to expand opportunities and stay travel ready.
Why completing CEUs before the new year matters for travel clinicians
Many states reset continuing education requirements at the end of the year, which can affect both nursing and allied health licensure. Travel clinicians often manage multiple state licenses at once, so completing CEUs early helps avoid renewal complications and ensures all licenses remain active during assignment searches. Certification and licensure lapses can delay credentialing and may limit the roles you qualify for. Planning ahead supports faster placement into early year contracts and reduces the stress of completing renewals during busy travel seasons
Keeping track of CEU progress and renewal dates is also helpful for clinicians who move between assignments quickly. Using a consistent system to organize certificates and expiration dates can make annual renewal cycles easier to manage and helps prevent missed deadlines that might interrupt your ability to take on new travel roles.
How Nomad supports your credentialing journey
At Nomad, credentialing is a core part of how we support clinicians throughout the job search process. Our team identifies the certification and licensure requirements for each live job so you know exactly what you need before you apply. We also help you stay ahead of deadlines by monitoring expiration dates and providing guidance on renewals. This level of support helps reduce credentialing delays, shortens your onboarding timeline, and keeps you eligible for more travel assignments.
When your certifications and licenses align with job requirements, the entire process moves more smoothly and you can focus on securing the assignments that fit your goals.
Looking ahead to 2026
Renewing or earning key certifications now is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the upcoming year. Staying current keeps more job options open, protects your income, and positions you for competitive travel opportunities in early 2026. Clinicians who complete renewals before the new year often move through credentialing faster and are ready to accept strong assignments as soon as they appear.
If you are ready to put your certifications to work, explore travel nurse and allied health jobs on Nomad and see which credentials are unlocking the most opportunities right now.
Here’s to entering the new year prepared, confident, and ready for what comes next.
Related Reading
I am with Nomad and LOVE them...they really love feedback and are open to hearing what nurses need and want.