Rory McCorkle
November 4, 2025
Credentialing programs with limited candidate bases must operate under tight budgets with lean teams. However, just because some credentialing exams might have smaller numbers of test takers, it doesn’t mean their tests are exempt from meeting the same rigor and reliability as their larger counterparts. The question is: how can these programs create robust exams under these constraints and remain profitable?
In an episode of Beyond the Test – Strasz Talks, Strasz Director of Business Development, Rory McCorkle sat down with Eric D’Astalfo, Vice President of Business Development at Pearson VUE and ATP Treasurer, to unpack how small-volume programs can thrive amid financial challenges and competition.
The Reality of Small Credentialing Programs
Smaller credentialing programs often have fewer candidates and bring in less revenue for their organizations. However, program officers must do the same amount of work to develop a valid, high-stakes exam whether they test 100 candidates or 10,000. Developing a credentialing program involves time-consuming activities—job analyses, item writing and review, forms assembly, scoring, equating, and maintaining accreditation documentation— which all demand expertise and consistency. In these organizations, staff wear many hats, which requires a versatile team that can manage test development in addition to business operations.
Adapting to Change: AI, a Surge of New Programs, and a Crowded Marketplace
In recent years, there have been shifts in the credentialing landscape. Some healthcare-related programs saw surges in volume after the pandemic, while others are slowly recovering. Emerging technologies, such as AI, are beginning to help smaller companies automate customer service, personalize communications, and scale processes that used to require larger teams, D’Astalfo said. The explosion of alternative credentials, such as micro credentials and badges, are also beginning to compete with smaller, more established certification programs.
“For small certification programs, the best response is to double down on standards,” D’Astalfo said. “Even if they don’t pursue full accreditation right away, aligning with NCCA or ISO 17024 helps demonstrate rigor and differentiate from less-credible options.”
Advice for Credentialing Leaders
Asked what guidance he’d give to new small-program leaders, D’Astalfo suggests the following.
- Offer practice tests and learning materials to help generate revenue, while helping candidates build confidence in pursuing the full credential.
- Don’t silo yourself. Reach out to stakeholders—educational institutions, employers, accrediting bodies, and peers. The credentialing industry offers resources, partners, and peers ready to share best practices.
- Hire versatile people. Until you are able to expand your talent base, reach out to vendors and industry partners to supplement expertise.”
“Small programs sometimes don’t realize how much they can learn from peers—both small and large,” D’Astalfo said. “Networking through ATP, I.C.E., or other groups provides cross-pollination of ideas, templates, and processes that can save programs from reinventing the wheel.”
Pearson VUE: A Big Partner for Small Programs
Pearson VUE operates globally, delivering high-stakes exams that certify and license individuals in a variety of sectors. The company manages a worldwide network of test centers and partnerships across virtually every industry. However, two-thirds of Pearson VUE’s clients deliver 10,000 exams or fewer annually. They often work with partners like Strasz to help them manage test items and reviews, publish test forms, and schedule exams at test centers.
- Pearson VUE Facts
- Delivers nearly 21 million exams annually
- Operates 5,500 test centers in more than 180 countries
- Offers exams in 47 languages
- Employs over 5,400 staff worldwide
How Strasz Supports Small Credentialing Programs
Strasz Assessment Systems, a longtime Pearson VUE partner and advocate for small testing organizations, helps small-to-medium size credentialing programs scale through flexible technology and hands-on support.
- Technology That Scales With You. Strasz’s Pro! Platform streamlines item banking and exam development, and its AI-automated Test Assembly tool helps programs build psychometrically valid forms in minutes. These tools give smaller programs the tools to build strong tests and expand capabilities over time.
- Affordable Access to Enterprise-Level Tools. Strasz can help organizations analyze and optimize blueprint management, workflow automation, and data. Combined with Pearson VUE delivery, these tools help small testing programs meet the same level of quality and security standards as larger organizations.
- Partnership and Personalization. Because small teams juggle multiple responsibilities, Strasz provides responsive customer support and tailored solutions to meet clients’ needs. As Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez of the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board recently shared, “Our partnership with Strasz has allowed us to deliver in-person exams all over the world via Pearson. Through the Strasz team, we’re able to resolve issues in real or almost real-time.”
- Streamlined Psychometrics and Data Insights. Organizations can partner with Strasz to analyze item performance and maintain defensible testing data—without the need to hire a full-time psychometrician.
- Automation to Offset Limited Staff. Strasz automates complex, time-consuming steps like test form construction, approval workflows, and version control, helping small teams maintain compliance and efficiency.
- Deep Industry Alignment. As a member of ATP and trusted Pearson VUE partner, Strasz brings decades of expertise in supporting programs of all sizes through accreditation, migration, and modernization.
“At Strasz, we help small credentialing organizations do more with less by leveraging automation, analytics, and personalized service to deliver secure, defensible exams without expanding headcount,” said McCorkle. “For small programs especially, collaboration isn’t optional—it’s the key to sustainability.”