The Beyond Traditional Credentials track highlights credentials other than certifications and licenses. This track features presentations on assessment-based certificate programs, micro-credentials, stackable credentials, and other types of non-traditional credentials.

Examples of topics include:

• The strategic use of non-traditional credentials to support workforce development, upskilling, and DE&I
• The value and implementation of digital badging
• Development of stackable credentials to support career pathway advancement
• Psychometric considerations and approaches to psychometrics for non-traditional credentials
• The relationship between needs assessment, curriculum development, and assessment development in non-traditional credentials
• Development of non-traditional credentialing programs, including partnerships with academia, community groups, workforce boards, or industry partners
• The quality controls and standards necessary for non-traditional credentials to support integration into traditional frameworks
• Considerations, opportunities, and challenges of incorporating non-traditional credentials into certification and/or licensure programs
• Accreditation for non-traditional credentials, including evaluating the need and feasibility, establishing appropriate firewalls, and maintenance
• Utilizing AI in non-traditional credentials

The Business of Credentialing and Program Operations track focuses on topics related to running a high performing credentialing organization as a business. This track features presentations on organizational governance, strategic and operational decision making, legal and ethical issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), international expansion, strategic partnerships, and vendor relationships.

Examples of topics include:

• Governance and strategic planning
• Volunteer recruitment, selection, engagement, and management
• Identifying, implementing, and evaluating DE&I initiatives for credentialing programs and key stakeholder groups
• Test administration policies, procedures, and considerations, including test delivery modalities
• Considerations for modifying, merging, or sunsetting credentialing programs
• Maintenance of certification for voluntary certification programs
• Stakeholder management, including testing partners, regulators, internal, and external customers
• Business continuity and risk management, lessons learned, proactive assessment, and mitigation planning
• Pricing strategies, competitive pricing, regional and global pricing variance
• Legal considerations, including recognition of certification and recertification in legislation
• Professional conduct and disciplinary program policies, procedures, and challenges
• Applications of AI to credentialing business operations
• Credentialing profession history and career trajectories
• International considerations, such as peer-based certification program requirements (vs. licensure), localization, and translation
• Evaluating credentialing programs for accreditation consideration and application, business considerations, governance, fiscal, and operational impacts.

The Credentialing Innovations track highlights the ideas, technologies, and strategic shifts redefining professional certification. As AI advances, workforce models evolve, and digital trust becomes essential, credentialing organizations must consider how credentialing programs are designed, delivered, validated, and sustained. This track explores emerging technologies, global and societal forces, and bold business models shaping the future of credentialing, ensuring programs remain relevant, resilient, and trusted.

Examples of topics in the Credentialing Innovations track include:

• Future of Credentialing, including roadmaps and recommendations
• Introduction to innovations, identifying opportunities and evaluating options
• Strategic and practical applications of AI for credentialing programs
• Global workforce shifts, their impact on credentialing, and how credentialing organizations can respond
• Innovation driven by disruption and emerging technologies
• New business and governance models
• Innovative and evolved approaches to psychometrics and test development
• Evolution of remote and hybrid proctoring
• Gamification, simulation, and immersive testing experiences

The Data Management, Privacy, and Test Security in Credentialing track focuses on the practices, tools, and decision-making needed to protect sensitive candidate data and maintain the integrity of credentialing programs. Sessions address how organizations collect, use, and safeguard data; comply with privacy and security regulations; and respond to evolving risks to exam and program security. This track offers practical guidance and real-world examples relevant to certification professionals at all career stages.

Examples of topics include:

• Data Management, Privacy, and Test Security Basics:
  • Understanding candidate and exam data: what to collect, why it matters, and how it is used
  • Data privacy basics for certification programs (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, and global considerations)
  • Best practices for data collection, storage, retention, and disposal
  • Identifying and reducing bias in data collection and reporting
  • Introduction to test security concepts and common threats that impact data collection and use
• Tools and processes for secure data collection and management
• Data security audits: purpose, scope, and how to prepare
• Process improvement strategies to strengthen test and program security
• Incident response planning and crisis management for data or security breaches
• Legal and ethical considerations in data management and test security
• Security challenges and considerations in international testing markets
• Trends in data forensics and investigation of security incidents
• Evolving threats to exam and program security (e.g., proxy testing, item harvesting)
• Technology and methodologies for secure remote and online testing, including proctoring solutions
• Biometric authentication in testing: benefits, risks, and implementation considerations
• Policy development and governance considerations related to artificial intelligence (AI)
• Future directions in exam and credentialing program security

The Marketing ,Communications, and Program Growth track focuses on strategies to fuel program awareness, value and growth. It highlights innovative ways to communicate and engage with key stakeholders. This track features sessions designed to help credentialing organizations develop, implement, and improve their marketing and communications strategy and tactical execution.

Examples of topics include:

• Innovative social media strategies
• New ways to capture and use current data for strategic planning/marketing
• Using data visualization strategies to communicate to stakeholders
• Defining and responding to competitive threats
• Conducting market research to understand what employers and the public need to know about your certification
• How to develop, measure, and promote the benefits of your value proposition
• Developing effective marketing and communication programs with a small staff
• Soliciting feedback from the public and other stakeholders
• Communicating with your stakeholders during and after a crisis
• How to identify emerging and diverse target markets for your certification program
• Creative marketing methods to inspire diversity, equity, and inclusion
• How to use digital credentials to promote credentialing programs
• Maximizing your website presence and addressing accessibility and compliance
• Increasing your communication reach with video, podcasts, and exhibits
• Using AI tools to augment written and graphic content creation
• Marketing and communications 101

The Standards and Accreditation track focuses on insights and guidance on credentialing standards, including The NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, ISO/IEC 17024 Standard, and the ICE 1100 Standards for Assessment-Based Certificate Programs. Sessions in this track deliver practical tools and strategies for navigating the accreditation process, ensuring ongoing compliance with these standards, and the value of accreditation.

Examples of topics include:

• Why seek accreditation?
• How do the different accreditations vary in their approach?
• How to choose the right accreditation standard for your program's needs
• Quality assurance principles and practices
• Implementing quality assurance
• Documentation best practices
• Basic tools for process improvement
• Maintaining compliance after accreditation
• Reaccreditation readiness
• Understanding and promoting the value of accreditation
• Business considerations for seeking accreditation
• Maintaining firewalls between parent organizations, certification bodies, education departments, and service providers
• Policy development
• Implementation of AI policies and procedures
• Use of AI to assist in the accreditation process

The Test Development and Psychometrics track highlights best practices and innovations in test development and psychometrics. From job analysis to item and exam development through standard setting and ongoing exam maintenance, this track focuses on lessons learned from tried-and-true methodologies and emerging approaches to test development and psychometrics.

Examples of topics include:

• Identifying and developing effective types of assessments for individual credentialing programs
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) considerations in test development and psychometrics
• Strategies for addressing and assessing inclusiveness and accessibility of exam content
• Best practices and innovations in job analysis and competency modeling
• Innovations and enhancements in item development
• Test design considerations
• Best practices and innovations in standard setting methodologies
• Methods for monitoring, evaluating, and enhancing an existing assessment
• Use of  AI in examination development process 
• Practical and technical considerations in performance-based testing
• Performance-based testing
• Psychometrics 101
• Test Development 101

 

The I.C.E. Exchange is designed for all levels of credentialing professionals in both the public and private sectors. Organizations bring professionals ranging from new associates to Executives.

• Approximately 22% of our attendees are C-level
• 27% are at the director level
• 21% are at the manager level

I.C.E. Exchange attendees have a wide variety of experiences:

• 30% of attendees have 0-6 years’ experience
• 15% of attendees have 6-10 years’ experience
• 20% of attendees have 10-15 years’ experience
• 35% of attendees have over 15 years’ experience

The top reason for attending the conference is educational programming and networking opportunities. This speaks to the overall feel of the conference; the opportunity for the credentialing community to connect and exchange ideas.

To ensure the I.C.E. Exchange has sufficient content for the range of attendee experience levels, all proposals must be categorized into one of the following levels:

Introductory

• Introduce terminology and basic concepts related to the topic area
• Suitable for attendees who are new to this content
• 101 type session

Intermediate

• More in-depth coverage of a topic and/or may focus on a specific area of credentialing
• Provide guidance on implementation, application of knowledge, and/or share lessons learned
• Suitable for attendees who have mastered the fundamentals of the content and would like to gain more extensive knowledge

Advanced

• Discuss technical information, new or cutting-edge developments, and/or strategic considerations
• Suitable for experienced credentialing professionals, attendees who are experienced, and/or have advanced knowledge in this content area

I.C.E. accepts proposals for the following types of sessions:

• Half-day Pre-conference workshop— Scheduled for 3 hours on the first day of the conference, November 17
• Concurrent session— 60-minute presentations. A request for a longer session length can be submitted for consideration (up to 75 minutes). You will be asked to provide an explanation for why you need additional time. Examples of concurrent session formats include:
  • Traditional Concurrent Session: The traditional concurrent session type that features a lecture on a given topic of the presenter’s choice and may also include audience participation, such as a question-and-answer period or audience polling.
  • Debate: Debate sessions feature presenters who represent each side of one or more controversial topics and a moderator who introduces the topic(s) and oversees the debate, including timing. A traditional debate involves the moderator stating a proposition and each side is permitted an equal amount of time to present arguments in favor of and in opposition to the argument. Typically, each side will also have an opportunity to present a rebuttal. Variations on the traditional debate format are permitted.
  • Panel Discussion: Panel discussions feature a panel of experts on a particular topic and a moderator. The goal of the panel discussion is to hear from a variety of individuals with different experiences or perspectives on a topic. The moderator’s role is to introduce the topic, pose questions, facilitate audience questions, and ensure that all panelists have the opportunity to speak. The session should generate spontaneous interaction among panelists, and between panelists and the audience in response to questions posed by the moderator.
  • Mentoring Session: Mentoring sessions are designed to foster professional growth through guided discussion, shared experience, and peer learning. These sessions may include structured conversations or small group discussions. Active participation and dialogue are central to this format.
  • Collaborative or Working Session: Collaborative sessions emphasize shared problem-solving, co-creation, or applied learning. Presenters facilitate activities such as guided exercises, case-based discussions, or working groups where participants contribute ideas and solutions.
  • Alternative Format: Session delivered in a unique format of your own design. Submitters propose their own unique format and describe it in the proposal. A request for a longer session length can be submitted for consideration (up to 75 minutes). You will be asked to provide an explanation for why you need additional time.
• Facilitated Discussions—60 minute session that is focused on audience networking and discussion. AV is not provided for these sessions. Examples of formats include:
  • Roundtable Discussion: A facilitated discussion between all session attendees, with the opportunity to break in to small groups to answer questions, discuss issues, solve problems, etc.
  • Networking Session: A session focused on facilitating relationship-building between attendees. Sessions are organized around a general topic, and presenters will create opportunities for attendees to network and learn from each other.
• Lightning Learning session—15 minute session focused on a specific topic, that shares 3-5 ideas that an individual can directly apply in their work.
• E-Poster—A single PowerPoint slide of information displayed throughout the conference, with the opportunity for authors to host an informal 10-minute discussion.

The Program Committee endeavors to create the most diverse presenter population possible, in support of I.C.E.’s DE&I philosophy, and invites speakers who bring a variety of perspectives to present.

Typically, I.C.E. Exchange presenters are professionals with expertise in various aspects of developing and maintaining credentialing programs:

• Administrative and organizational staff of certification and assessment-based certificate programs
• Psychometricians and other credentialing professionals focused on assessment and methodology
• Credentialing researchers and faculty
• Individuals who have worked with credentialing consultants to develop or enhance credentialing programs
• Credentialing vendors and consultants*

*I.C.E. Exchange attendees value examples of practical application. If you are submitting a proposal and are an employee of a company that provides products or consulting services to credentialing organizations, you must co-present with at least one additional organization. Preference will be given to vendors/consultants who partner with a credentialing organization. If two or more vendors/consultants are presenting together, preference will be given to those who submit a proposal that distinctly represents the credentialing organization perspective.

Session proposals that are judged to include marketing or advertisements for products and services will not be accepted.

Session Limitations for Speakers

To promote diverse content, viewpoints, and presentation styles, speakers are not permitted to present more than two concurrent sessions at the conference.

Promotion Limitation 

Promotion of specific product solutions or services is not permitted in educational sessions. The inclusion of such material may preclude the organizers from being allowed to submit proposals for future I.C.E. conferences. To avoid this, please be careful that your case study does not accidentally turn into a product solution showcase.

All proposals MUST be submitted through the online proposal system by 11:59 pm ET on the deadline and MUST include all required fields. Late proposals will not be accepted by the I.C.E. Program Committee.

2026 Proposal Timeline*

• February 25: Call for Proposals Opens
• March 30: Call for Proposals Closes
• June 1: Proposals Notifications Shared with Main Contacts

*Specific dates subject to change

Tips for Submitting

You can complete your proposal in multiple sittings. Remember to submit your proposal before the deadline. Only the proposal submitter can make edits to the proposal.

To prepare to submit, gather your information and resources before beginning the application. You may consider typing all required information in a separate document before copying and pasting (in plain text) and can download a Word document of the 2026 I.C.E. Exchange Proposal Form. The following information will be asked:

• Title
• Proposal Category (your session format: concurrent, facilitated discussion, e-poster, etc.)
• Track (with the option to select a secondary track)
• ICE-CCP Content Domain session aligns with
• Target Audience - Role and Program
• Target Audience - Level of Content
• Session Description* (brief description of your session)
• Learning Objectives 
• Presenter information and bios (to be completed by each individual)

* If your proposal is accepted, the session description will be listed in conference promotional pieces including the website and mobile app. The session description should be written with particular attention to attracting attendees and submitted in the correct format on the proposal submission form. I.C.E. reserves the right to edit session descriptions as needed to fit in marketing materials. I.C.E. requests session descriptions are approximately 300 words.

Main Contact

The individual who submits the proposal will serve as the point of contact with I.C.E.. Their responsibilities include: (1) answering any questions I.C.E. may have regarding the proposal, (2) accepting to present the session on behalf of all session presenters, and (3) confirming session information. Please confirm in advance that any presenters listed in your session proposal are committed to speaking in -person if your session is selected.

If this is your first time submitting a proposal to present at the Exchange, you will need to set up a profile and agree to the Privacy Policy.

• When you access the submission site for the first time, under "New Users" click "Join Now."
• Enter your personal information
• Set up your Access Key, which will be your password
• Review, sign and agree to the Consent Form

If you submitted a conference proposal to I.C.E in the past 3 years, you could use the log-in credentials you created.

• When you access the submission site, you will enter your information under the "Already a User?" section.
• Enter the email address you used to submit a profile previously.
• Enter your Access Key (your password). If you forgot your password, click "Lost your Access Key?"

Entering a Proposal

• Start by entering your title and session format 
• Enter your presenters (up to four total)
  • Add each presenter's name, e-mail, title, and role they will serve on your session (presenter or moderator).
  • If you, the proposal submitter, are also speaking, add yourself as a presenter.
  • "Invite" each speaker to complete their profile information. They will receive an e-mail with the session title, the proposal submitter's name, and a request to add their profile information. Invited speakers can preview the full submission but cannot make session changes.
• Complete the proposal form, entering all required information. Click "Save" after each access.
• When ready, click submit and receive your confirmation email. 

Review below for tips on using the site. 

Create a New Profile
If you have not previouly submitted a proposal, you will need to set up a new profile. Under "New Users" click "Join Now" to set up your profile. Be prepared to review and sign a consent form.

Invite Presenters to Add their Information 
When adding presenters, you can "Invite" each individual to complete their own profile information. It will send them an e-mail with the session title, the proposal submitter's name, and a request to add their profile information. Invited speakers can preview the full submission but cannot make session changes.

Proposal Access
I.C.E. recommends you enter your proposal once you are ready to submit (a word document of the form is available online). However, you can save and come back later to make edits. Don't forget to submit before the deadline.

I.C.E. will require all presenters to agree to our presenter policy. 

Those submitting a proposal understand that all individuals listed as part of the presentation team must register and pay for the I.C.E. Exchange conference as well as assume responsibility for any expenses related to travel to the Exchange if accepted; there are no exceptions to this policy.

In 2026, all sessions will be hosted in person. We recommend you confirm all your co-presenters can attend the conference in person before you submit.

After the original proposal is accepted, speaker substitutions or additions must be requested in writing and approved by the I.C.E. Program Committee. The committee reserves the right to help identify an appropriate speaker/presenter or reject a previously accepted session based on speaker changes.

Cancellation Policy 

Once a session has been accepted and printed in promotional materials, it imposes a serious burden on I.C.E. to cancel. Please do not submit a proposal if you are uncertain that you will be able to fulfill your obligation to organize and conduct the session. 

If for any reason you anticipate a change in your ability to present at an in-person event, please notify I.C.E. staff at speakers@credentialingexcellence.org.We may use content for those who cannot travel for future educational programming.