It’s always exciting when a new certification is created to meet a marketplace need. This time, the need just so happened to be a certification for credentialing professionals.

In late 2021, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) developed the Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) to recognize the knowledge, skills and abilities in governance, program operations, and assessment development and validation for credentialing professionals.

I.C.E. Publications and Editorial Committee member Steven Garner, PMP, CAE, ICE-CCP, recently spoke with a member of the first cohort of ICE-CCP certification holders, Mary Rehm, CAE, ICE-CCP, about her certification journey. Learn about the remote proctoring aspect of the exam, the benefits of having this certification and advice for those in pursuit of the ICE-CCP below.

What attracted you to pursue the new ICE-CCP certification?

With more than 20 years of experience in credentialing, I was glad that there was an option for skill validation outside of a doctorate, which I did not have an opportunity to pursue earlier in my career.

How did you prepare for taking the exam?

I treated this program as a validation of the knowledge and skills I have gained over the years as a test developer, psychometrician and director of certification. Since the exam did not have the quantitative requirements for the psychometrics part of my role, I felt confident I would do well. I reviewed the content outline, assessed my comfort level in each of the domains and felt that I was prepared to take the exam. 

What was the remote proctoring exam experience like for you?

Before the exam, I took time to clean my office space and cover my bookshelf and notes that are on my desk — this took me about an hour. The security scan did not take very long, and there were no issues, so I was able to begin my exam fairly soon after my session started.

Since my office door has windows to my living room space at home, I put a screen up so no one could look in while I was taking the test. I also put a sign on the office door stating that my test was in progress.

How do you see your career being impacted now that you earned the ICE-CCP?

I feel validated in my experience having achieved the ICE-CCP. It was a personal choice to seek this validation. As someone who hires test development staff, I will use this certification in my hiring process. I encourage others who wish to be promoted within the credentialing industry to seek the ICE-CCP too.

What plans do you have for the maintenance of certification process?

Since I engage in conferences and continual professional development already due to the nature of my work, I expect to be able to meet the maintenance requirements.

What advice might you offer to those considering the pursuit of ICE-CCP certification?

I offer the same advice that I give to applicants for certification programs I manage — take time to review the syllabus and self-rate or assess where you feel your current knowledge level is for each major domain or topic. As professionals, we tend to recognize where our strengths and weaknesses lie. For those topics that you feel you are not as strong, seek books, courses and other opportunities to gain knowledge in those areas.