Tried and Tested Podcast

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP, speaks with Angela Macauley, PMP, President and CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, about workforce demand, candidate pipelines, and the role credentialing organizations can play in helping professions stay visible, relevant, and understood. Drawing on nearly 20 years at NBCOT across marketing, communications, governance, strategy, and organizational leadership, Angela shares a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing occupational therapy and the future professionals entering the field. As workforce needs shift and younger generations discover careers in new ways, Angela explains why credentialing organizations must think beyond certification as a final step and consider how they communicate value much earlier in the candidate journey. The conversation covers future-facing messaging, social media and digital outreach, education-to-workforce alignment, employer expectations, public protection, and how professions can make their pathways feel both credible and compelling to the next generation. What you’ll learn: Why candidate demand and workforce visibility are becoming strategic priorities for credentialing organizations How professions can communicate value before future candidates are actively thinking about certification Why occupational therapy must remain visible, understandable, and compelling to the next generation How younger audiences discover careers through digital channels, peer networks, and online communities What future candidates need to understand about cost, time, flexibility, growth, and long-term relevance Where education, certification, and employer expectations may need stronger alignment How credentialing organizations can support public protection while making career pathways feel accessible What workforce-led marketing can teach programs about messaging that resonates with prospective candidates Who should listen: Certification and credentialing leaders focused on workforce demand Program leaders responsible for candidate pipelines and future growth Marketing and communications teams supporting credentialing or professional associations Occupational therapy leaders and stakeholders thinking about the future of the profession Education and workforce partners aligning preparation with employer needs Organizations trying to make career pathways clearer, more visible, and more compelling Leaders balancing public protection, professional standards, and candidate engagement About the Guest: Angela Macauley is President and CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), where she has spent nearly 20 years working across marketing, communications, governance, strategy, and organizational leadership. Her experience has given her a broad perspective on credentialing and the opportunities and challenges facing the occupational therapy profession. She leads NBCOT’s strategic direction and its work to uphold the standards that support safe, competent occupational therapy practice and advance its mission of public protection.

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP speaks with Chad Buckendahl, PhD, ICE-CCP, Managing Partner at ACS Ventures, about how assessment, credentials, and workforce readiness can be better connected across the learner journey. Drawing on his work in program design, evaluation, standard setting, policy, legal issues, and validation studies across credentialing and education, Chad explores why school, work, and professional credentialing should not be treated as separate systems. As more education and credentialing leaders look for ways to connect classroom learning with future careers, Chad explains why durable skills, quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, and career-connected credentials deserve closer attention. The conversation covers credentials as checkpoints across lifelong learning, the role of high school in building workforce-ready skills, the risks of siloed systems, the importance of validity, reliability, and fairness, and why AI literacy should start with being a critical consumer of new technologies. What you’ll learn: How credentials can serve as checkpoints across a lifelong learning pathway Why school, workforce, and professional credentialing systems need stronger connections What durable skills, including reading, communication, and quantitative reasoning, mean for career readiness Why data interpretation may be one of the most important skills students need for work and life How high school credentials can help students explore career pathways without narrowing opportunity What education and credentialing leaders should consider before adding workforce credentials to school programs Why AI literacy should focus on critical thinking, source credibility, and responsible use How multidisciplinary learning can help people adapt as work, technology, and assessment continue to evolve Who should listen: Education and assessment leaders connecting school outcomes to workforce readiness Credentialing and certification professionals exploring earlier career pathways K-12 and secondary education leaders evaluating workforce-related credentials Employers and workforce development teams focused on durable skills and talent pipelines Psychometricians and program evaluators working across education and credentialing Policy and program leaders responsible for validity, fairness, and quality assurance Organizations thinking about how AI and technology should shape future-ready skills About the guest: Chad Buckendahl, PhD, ICE-CCP, is a Managing Partner with ACS Ventures, LLC with an emphasis in program design, evaluation, standard setting, policy, and legal issues. Dr. Buckendahl has designed and led development and validation studies for programs in credentialing and education. He regularly contributes thought leadership through professional conference presentations, white papers, journal articles, and book chapters. He currently serves on the joint committee for the revision of the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, technical advisory committees in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for diverse licensure, certification, and education programs; and previously served on volunteer committees for the Association of Test Publishers (ATP), Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.), International Test Commission (ITC), and National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME).

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP speaks with Haley Vanness, CAE, ICE-CCP, CMP, AAiP, Vice President of Water Professionals International, about WPI’s journey toward building trust in AI adoption. Drawing on her work leading certification programs for water and wastewater professionals, Haley shares how WPI approached AI intentionally, starting with a practical use case that could support candidates, engage subject matter experts, and build confidence with the board and stakeholders. As credentialing organizations explore where AI can responsibly fit into program strategy, Haley explains why WPI began with practice exam development before expanding into broader operational opportunities. The conversation covers board confidence, stakeholder communication, SME review and oversight, candidate preparation, AI governance, application and renewal workflows, exam development, and why successful AI adoption depends on solving real problems, staying transparent, and scaling only after trust has been built. What you’ll learn: Why WPI chose practice exam development as a practical starting point for AI adoption How board oversight, stakeholder expectations, and public trust shaped WPI’s approach Why AI adoption should begin with a real program need, not a technology announcement How subject matter experts supported item development, rationales, references, and review What changes when SMEs move from manual creation toward validation, refinement, and oversight How AI-supported practice tools can help candidates understand concepts, not just answer questions Where AI can support operations such as communications, applications, renewals, and candidate support Why governance, transparency, and human oversight are essential as AI use expands Who should listen: Credentialing and certification leaders exploring AI adoption Program owners balancing innovation, governance, and stakeholder trust Assessment professionals involved in item development, practice tests, or exam preparation Subject matter expert committees adapting to AI-supported workflows Licensure and certification organizations serving public safety professions Operations and product teams looking for responsible ways to use AI Organizations moving from small AI pilots toward broader program strategy About the Guest: Haley Vanness is the Vice President of Water Professionals International (WPI), where she leads strategic initiatives and oversees the development and growth of certification programs serving water and wastewater professionals worldwide. During her tenure, she has played a key role in expanding WPI’s in-house certification programs, enhancing their value, improving operational efficiency, and increasing engagement across the industry. Her work focuses on advancing workforce development, modernizing credentialing practices, and integrating innovative solutions—including artificial intelligence—into certification and program operations. Haley collaborates closely with industry partners, subject matter experts, and organizational leadership to ensure programs remain relevant, data-driven, and aligned with evolving workforce needs. With a background in neuroscience, psychology, and credentialing, she brings a unique, analytical approach to program design and strategic decision-making. Haley is passionate about building sustainable systems, strengthening professional pathways, and supporting the continued growth and recognition of water professionals.

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP speaks with Pam Young Brown, a product strategy consultant working at the intersection of skills assessment, credentialing, and workforce development. Drawing on her experience leading certification and learning products at Amazon Web Services and the Graduate Management Admission Council, Pam shares a practical perspective on where credentialing is headed and what it takes to build programs that remain meaningful as skills, technology, and workforce expectations evolve. As organizations move from talking about the future of credentialing to actually building it, Pam explains why modernization must start with customer needs, clear outcomes, and a realistic view of organizational risk. The conversation covers shorter skill shelf lives, lifelong learning, microcredentials and badges, employer trust, technology-enabled assessment experiences, the role of AI in exam development and security, and how credentialing organizations can balance innovation, speed, rigor, and credibility. What you’ll learn: Why the pace of change is forcing credentialing organizations to rethink how quickly programs evolve How shorter skill shelf lives are reshaping certification, microcredentials, and lifelong learning Why credentialing should tell a broader story about a person’s skills, experience, and growth What learners and employers need in order to understand and trust newer credentialing models How technology can improve exam development, security, and candidate experience when tied to a clear strategy Why speed and efficiency should not come at the expense of quality, validity, or reliability How organizations can balance incremental improvements with more disruptive innovation Where to start when moving from future-of-credentialing conversations to practical action Who should listen: Credentialing and certification leaders modernizing their programs Assessment professionals balancing innovation, rigor, and trust Product leaders building skills assessment or workforce learning solutions Workforce development teams focused on upskilling and future-ready talent Organizations exploring microcredentials, badges, or new skill recognition models Employers and talent leaders evaluating how credentials signal capability Teams trying to move from strategy discussions to practical implementation About the guest: Pam Young Brown is a product strategy consultant working at the intersection of skills assessment, credentialing, and workforce development. She was previously the product leader for the certification program at Amazon Web Services and director of product management at the Graduate Management Admission Council. At AWS, Pam revamped the AWS Certification portfolio, expanding into AI certifications, accelerating time to market, and introducing new microcredentials to meet the evolving needs of tech learners. At GMAC, she led the digital transformation of the test prep product portfolio, forging new partnerships and launching digital learning offerings to support candidates preparing for graduate management education. With over a decade of experience shaping credentialing products at two of the most recognized names in assessment, Pam brings a practitioner's perspective on where the industry is headed and what it takes to build credentials that are meaningful and future-ready.

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP speaks with Stephen G. Sireci, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Educational Assessment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, about AI and the new challenges facing educational testing. Drawing on his work in psychometrics, validity, fairness, educational measurement, and test development, Stephen explores how AI is reshaping what assessment professionals can do, and what they must continue to scrutinize carefully. As generative AI becomes part of test development, scoring, translation, accessibility, reporting, and candidate preparation, this conversation examines what should change and what must remain foundational. Stephen discusses how assessment can better support learning, why AI outputs still require human interrogation, and what personalization means for long-standing ideas of standardization. He also explores validity evidence in AI-supported workflows, cultural and linguistic fairness, micro-credentials, and why validity research remains essential to the future of the testing profession. What you’ll learn: How AI is expanding what assessment professionals can do across the testing lifecycle Why assessments are increasingly being used to support learning, not only measure it What personalized assessment models could mean for validity, fairness, and traditional ideas of standardization Why AI outputs need to be interrogated, evaluated, and supported by evidence How AI may affect test development, scoring, alignment, translation, and accessibility What candidate use of AI means for defining the construct being assessed Where cultural and linguistic context matters when applying AI in assessment Why validity research remains central as testing programs adopt new technologies Who should listen: Educational testing and assessment leaders evaluating AI-enabled change Psychometricians and measurement professionals focused on validity and fairness Test developers exploring AI-supported item development, scoring, or alignment Credentialing and certification leaders considering AI’s impact on workforce skills Language assessment and multilingual testing professionals Researchers and graduate students working in educational measurement Organizations balancing innovation, defensibility, and public trust in testing About the guest:Stephen G. Sireci, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Educational Assessment in the College of Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned his Ph.D. in psychometrics from Fordham University and his master and bachelor degrees in psychology from Loyola College Maryland. Before UMass, he was Senior Psychometrician at GED Testing Service, Psychometrician for the CPA Exam and Research Supervisor of Testing for the Newark NJ Board of Education. He is known for his research in validity and fairness of educational tests, and for innovations in test development. He currently serves/has served on several advisory boards including the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, Duolingo English Test, and technical advisory committees for Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Montana, Puerto Rico, and Texas. He is a Fellow of American Educational Research Association and of Division 5 of American Psychological Association, and a lifetime member of the National Academy of Education. He is a past President of International Test Commission, Northeastern Educational Research Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education. His UMass honors include School of Education’s Outstanding Teacher Award, Conti Faculty Fellowship, Public Engagement Fellowship, Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity Award, and the Chancellor’s Medal. He also received the Messick Memorial Lecture Award from Educational Testing Service/International Language Testing Association.