MCP & API

Ascen gives staffing agency partners two direct paths into the back office: an MCP server for AI agents and a REST API for your platform, so onboarding, timesheets, payroll, and billing data are always one call away.
Ascen MCP & API
When to Use Which
Example Tools
How They Work
Use Cases
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What is Ascen MCP & API?

Ascen exposes the back office in two ways, so your team or your agents can work in the way that fits your stack.

‍Ascen MCP — a Model Context Protocol server. Connect it to an AI assistant or agent. The agent calls Ascen tools in natural language.

Ascen API — a REST API covering the same objects. Call it from your platform, ATS integration, or scheduled jobs.

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Ascen's MCP is for staffing partners on Ascen — agencies, platforms, and their engineering teams. MCP and API access are turned on per partner account.

  • Authentication: OAuth 2.1 for agents connecting to MCP, API keys for platform API integrations‍
  • Hosting: Hosted by Ascen. Nothing to run.‍
  • Access: Enabled per partner account on request‍
  • Writes: Confirmed by a person before they execute (MCP)
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When Should You Use MCP vs. the API?

Ascen's MCP and the API were built for different kinds of work.

MCP puts a model in the driver's seat, letting it decide the next step rather than following a fixed sequence. It's built for connecting to tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, or a custom agent, and every write pauses for human confirmation before it executes. Use it for exceptions, chasing down information, ad-hoc questions, and week-end close- the kind of work that benefits from judgment in the moment.

The API runs your code through a fixed sequence, no decisions, just execution. It's built for connecting from your platform, an ATS sync, or a cron job, and writes execute as sent with no pause for confirmation. Use it for bulk sync, high-volume work, and anything that needs to run the same way every time.

Most partners use both. API for the pipeline. MCP for the judgement calls around it.

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Example Tools

create_contractor

Add a worker

create_assignment

Place a worker on a job, client, and rate

list_screening_packages

See available background check and drug test packages

create_timesheet

Submit hours for a period

update_timesheet

Correct hours before approval

decide_expenses

Approve or reject submitted expenses

list_payroll_runs

See past and pending runs

get_paycheck

Pull one worker's pay detail

list_invoices

See what's been billed to each client

run_report

Run any saved report for a date range

get_report_results

Get the rows back

A sample of what's available. Full reference at http://docs.ascen.com/

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How Do You Connect to Ascen MCP & API?

Four quick steps take you from request to first call.
  1. Request access. We enable MCP and/or API on your partner account and send connection details.
  2. Connect. Add Ascen to your MCP client, or add API credentials to your code.
  3. Sign in with OAuth. The connection is scoped to your account's existing permissions.
  4. Call tools. Reads return immediately. Writes over MCP stop and ask a person to confirm first.

Supported MCP clients: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor, any MCP-compatible client.

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Ascen MCP & API Use Cases

Each one is a prompt and the tools it triggers.
  • Onboard a placement. "Onboard the two RNs we placed at Mercy General. W-2, start Monday, standard healthcare screening." → list_screening_packages, create_contractor, create_assignment
  • Chase missing timesheets. "Which timesheets are missing this week and who approves them?" → list_assignments, list_timesheets, get_client
  • Report on margin. "Gross margin by client for August. Flag anything under 18%." → list_reports, run_report, get_report_results
  • Quote a rate. "Employer cost on a $58/hr RN in Ohio?" → get_rate_quote
  • Close the loop with your ATS. Connect your ATS MCP alongside Ascen MCP. One agent reads the placement from your ATS and creates the assignment in Ascen. No re-keying.
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Already working with Ascen?
Contact your account manager or sales@ascen.com. Tell us which you want, MCP, API, or both, and we'll provision the connection and credentials and walk your team through setup.

‍New to Ascen?
Talk to sales to see if Ascen's a fit for your agency, then get MCP and API access as part of onboarding.
"
An Extension of Our Team
As a business owner, Ascen has allowed us to focus on building relationships, finding exceptional talent, and serving our clients, with complete confidence that back-office operations, compliance, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration are handled with excellence. They've become an extension of our team, and we're incredibly grateful for the partnership we've built together.
Keith G.
Co-Founder
–
IT & Engineering Staffing Agency
"
Most Important Tool for Our Business
The Ascen platform has been the most important tool for our business.
Founder & CEO
–
Light Industrial Staffing Firm
"
It's So Good, I Don't Think About It.
After starting our staffing agency, Ascen has been very responsive, and the platform is great. Don't take this the wrong way, but it's so good, I don't think about it.
Founder & CEO
–
IT Staffing Firm