Survey Shows that Pockets of Strength Exist in Credentialing Industry, Despite the Economy

A recent survey conducted by Prometric of North American certification and licensure programs in the Healthcare, Information Technology, Associations, Academic Institutions, Financial Services, Government Organizations and Professional Services industries indicated the following:

• Professionals who earn credentials directly influence the nation’s pool of available talent and are a valuable indicator of the economy’s overall health.
• Maintenance and upkeep of credentialing exams is important, especially in a poor economy.
• International expansion appears to offer an opportunity for growth for credentialing programs.
  

Bill Murtagh, Senior Vice President, Client Services and Sales at Prometric, commented on the results by stating, “Since there are distinctions between the requirements for licensure and certification programs it is certainly logical that some market spaces are more susceptible to the economic cycle than others, though it is notable that almost all organizations seem to recognize the importance of keeping existing exam content up to date. In addition, as globalization continues and countries increasingly rely upon each other for essential services and expertise, there seems to be a general push toward establishing internationally accepted standards of practice. This supports our supposition that those test sponsors who are able to expand their assessments into the global marketplace can mitigate adverse economic conditions and accelerate their growth.”

Source: Business Wire, July 7, 2009