Resources · 5 min read
What documents do you need to work agency nursing shifts in California?
The license, ID, BLS card, TB screening, background check and résumé agencies and hospitals ask for before a per diem shift, and how to keep them current.
Published by AMP Staffing Network on . Reviewed by the AMP Staffing Network team.
Why the paperwork comes first
Hospitals and facilities only accept agency staff whose credentials are complete and current, and they can ask to see them at any time. AMP Staffing Network keeps every nurse at 100% credential compliance and runs competency testing, so the first thing a recruiter does after your pre-application is collect your documents. Having them ready is the fastest way to your first shift.
The core set
- An active California license: RN, LVN, CNA or RT, in good standing.
- Government-issued photo ID.
- A current BLS (CPR) card. Most hospitals expect American Heart Association BLS for healthcare providers.
- A recent TB screening. Facilities typically want one from the past 12 months.
- A résumé with your recent experience, units and charting systems.
- A background check, which AMP arranges as part of onboarding.
- Immunization records that facilities ask for, which vary by facility and season.
Extras for specialty units
Critical care and emergency units usually ask for ACLS, and pediatric units for PALS. If you hold them, send them with your application: they open more shifts. If you don't, tell your recruiter which units you want to work and they will say what the facility expects.
Keeping documents current
Every card and screening has an expiry date, and a lapsed one means a missed shift. Write the dates down, renew early, and send AMP the new copy as soon as you have it. AMP's team tracks expiry dates and reminds you before a document runs out.
How to send them
Start with the short pre-application and attach your résumé. A recruiter contacts you at the time you choose and tells you exactly which documents to send and how. Photos taken on your phone are fine as long as every corner and date is readable.