As is likely true for you, credentialing is my career. Those of us in the profession are extraordinarily fortunate that our work is engaging, intellectually stimulating and most importantly, vital to the health, safety, trust and well-being of the public.

Those of us who have been in the field for a while know that there was no clear path of entry into the world of credentialing, few tools were available to enhance professional knowledge and resources for identifying qualified credentialing personnel to hire were few and far between. Most of us simply fell into credentialing and hired individuals who appeared to have the capacity to learn about it.

I fell into credentialing 24 years ago, and “The I.C.E. Handbook” and I.C.E. (then the National Organization for Competency Assurance [NOCA]) annual conference were the main two resources available to help get me up to speed. Even some years later, I specifically recall asking then new I.C.E. Executive Director Denise Roosendaal, a colleague with whom I had served in a volunteer capacity at another organization, how a credentialing organization executive director/CEO could hire highly skilled credentialing personnel — our academically prepared psychometric colleagues exempted — with relative confidence.

Credentialing has come a very long way since then, and much of that advancement is due to I.C.E.

I.C.E. was, and remains, at the forefront of leading a previously arcane field into a recognized and highly respected profession. Thanks to I.C.E., there are now many valuable resources and tools — such as webinars and workshops offered by the I.C.E. Academy — to help those new to the field learn the fundamentals, and mid-level and experienced professionals access advanced/specialized content.

Additionally, I.C.E. has created well-defined credentialing career pathways to provide guidance and direction to aspiring or current credentialing professionals, and an informative assessment-based certificate for credentialing specialists. This is aimed at advancing careers and aiding hiring managers in readily identifying individuals with the knowledge and skills needed for credentialing positions.

I.C.E. also developed a Career Leadership Development Program for those newer to credentialing, and in a recent yet truly landmark event, the I.C.E. Certification Council launched a professional certification program for the credentialing professional and corresponding exam content outline.

In large part due to the vision and dedication of I.C.E., including its many board and committee members who have come before, credentialing is now a profession with a clear pathway to entry and advancement. Like you, I am sure, I am proud to be a part of a profession that does so much for so many in a variety of professions as well as the greater public.

Make no mistake, however, I.C.E. does not rest on past accomplishments. It continues to be at the forefront of credentialing in a host of ways, providing value to its members as well as advancing the profession a whole. A few recent and noteworthy examples include:

• The publication of the groundbreaking and thought-provoking report, “The Future of Credentialing,” with related tools to help credentialing organizations navigate this time of profound change and position themselves for successful futures
• Active participation in the Professional Certification Coalition, a nonprofit group addressing legislation that affects professional certification programs
• The provision of invaluable resources so organizations can respond to rapid changes in the environment and testing industry, such as the pivot to live remote proctoring

Twenty-four years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed I’d have taken this path in credentialing, because there was little to no path to follow. It’s incredible to reflect on the progress we’ve made as a profession, and I hope you take a moment to note that as well. I appreciate I.C.E. for all that it has done and continues to do to advance the profession of credentialing.