Modernizing credentialing is essential to remain relevant and uphold the trust that defines our profession. But as credentialing professionals, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of innovation and tradition. On the one hand, we’re tasked with evolving and growing our programs to keep pace in a fast-changing world. On the other, we’re guardians of public trust – a responsibility that demands rigor, fairness, and transparency.
In a recent episode of the Tried and Tested podcast, I sat down with Jared Zurn, Chief Programs Officer at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), to explore how credentialing bodies are approaching modernization while maintaining trust. His insights highlighted challenges and opportunities that are common across many certification and licensure programs.
Modernizing credentialing with integrity: three practical strategies
During our conversation, Jared shared how NCARB is approaching change. While every organization’s path will differ, three themes stand out that apply broadly across the credentialing landscape.
- Engage stakeholders continuously – Successful programs don’t introduce changes overnight or in isolation. Ongoing consultation with licensing boards, regulators, and other stakeholders builds understanding and buy-in.
- Challenge orthodoxy thoughtfully – Tradition isn’t always a reason to preserve a process. Leaders are increasingly willing to question what no longer serves their stakeholders. It is possible to call out things that don’t serve the profession anymore, while still respecting the values that underlie your program.
- Define minimal competency for today’s world – The goal isn’t to make credentialing easier or harder, but to make it clearer and more aligned with what professionals actually need to demonstrate now. We need to ensure that every credential holder is minimally competent in today’s context – not yesterday’s.
Public trust is built on clarity
Modernizing credentialing doesn’t mean abandoning rigor. As Jared emphasized, “We’re not here to make things easier, we’re here to make them better.” That mindset – innovation with accountability – is one many organizations are now adopting. The key is aligning what we measure with what actually matters in professional practice.
Modernizing credentialing often means re-examining assumptions about what qualifies someone to practice safely and competently. For example, one commonly held belief in many industries is that experience equates to competence. We need to challenge this notion head-on.
Relying too heavily on experience can undermine the very trust we’re trying to protect. Instead, many organizations are pushing for more direct, valid assessments of competence, including evaluations that go beyond time served to focus on actual performance. This approach not only maintains standards but enhances them by ensuring every credential holder meets a meaningful benchmark.
From doing to deciding: the shift to judgment-based assessment
Another change we are seeing is a shift from task-based to judgment-based competency. Historically, credentialing exams have focused on whether candidates can perform specific tasks. But many professions today have become more about making sound decisions than just completing a series of pre-defined tasks.
Across many fields, professionals are being asked to synthesize information, evaluate complex scenarios, and make critical judgments. Credentialing must evolve accordingly.
Technology as a catalyst, and a consideration
Technology is both accelerating the need for credentialing reform and enabling new ways to deliver it. AI-powered tools, remote proctoring, performance-based simulations, and dynamic item generation are transforming how we assess knowledge and judgment.
But with innovation comes complexity. Credentialing programs must think carefully about fairness, accessibility, and security in digital delivery. Psychometric soundness remains essential – regardless of whether a test is delivered on paper or supported by AI. The most successful organizations treat technology as an enabler, not a shortcut.
Read how AI can transform Maintenance of Certification (MOC) into a more meaningful experience.
Bringing the profession along
One of the most important and often overlooked parts of credentialing modernization is cultural. Change can create anxiety, especially among long-standing professionals, boards, or educators accustomed to a certain model.
That’s why transparent communication and compelling storytelling matter. Leaders need to articulate not just what’s changing, but why it matters for the future of the profession. Sharing examples, piloting changes, and highlighting benefits for candidates and the public all help build a shared sense of purpose and reduce resistance.
Equally, building trust with regulators involves more than compliance. It requires clear documentation of the rationale for change, the data to support it, and a collaborative approach to risk management. When regulators are engaged early and treated as partners, they can become powerful allies in helping programs evolve responsibly.
Key takeaways for credentialing leaders
- Trust is earned through transparency, not just tradition.
- Validity matters more than familiarity, so question proxies like experience.
- Judgment is the new frontier of professional competence.
- Stakeholder engagement is essential to navigating change.
Strengthening credentials
As my conversation with Jared revealed, modernizing credentialing programs is both necessary and possible without compromising trust. By aligning our assessments with real-world demands, we don’t weaken the value of a credential, we strengthen it.