Digital credentialing enters a new phase with the arrival of I.C.E. Exchange 2025 in Phoenix

The credentialing industry’s calendar is turning toward Phoenix this month, where the I.C.E. Exchange will host its 2025 edition. For years, the conference has been a gathering point for organizations shaping professional standards, but this year carries a particular significance for the city — and for Kryterion, the global testing company headquartered there.

Phoenix has gradually emerged as a hub for assessment technologies, and Kryterion has played a visible role in that shift. The company, known for its work in high-stakes test development and secure online delivery, was recently confirmed as an event sponsor. For a conference centered on the future of credentialing, the collaboration feels well-timed.

“We’re incredibly excited to join other credentialing leaders from across the country at this year’s I.C.E. Exchange, right here in our own backyard,” said Dr. Leslie Thomas, Chief Psychometric Officer at Kryterion.

AI is changing the architecture of modern credentialing

She noted that the pace of change in the field — especially with AI influencing how exams are built, validated, and administered — requires more than just technical updates. “It’s a moment for the industry to compare notes on how credentialing is being reshaped. This forum lets providers, innovators, and researchers look at where we’re headed, not just where we’ve been.”

The conference will feature more than 40 exhibitors and a packed schedule of sessions, workshops, and panels over four days. Attendees span dozens of professional sectors, from healthcare to skilled trades to emerging tech. Last year’s event in Miami Beach drew 932 credentialing professionals, underscoring the size and diversity of the I.C.E. community and its 350-plus member organizations.

Kryterion will also be represented on stage: Zach Irwin, Senior Psychometrician, alongside James Hellrung of NCCT, will share results from pilot studies using generative AI to develop exam items — a topic that continues to attract attention across the assessment world.