I like to start the year slow—ease into things and really savor that fresh-start energy. And that’s exactly why I’m publishing my “Top 5 Certification Thoughts for 2025” in February. (Definitely not because January was a blur of catching up after the holidays.)
This year promises to bring steady progress and new opportunities for credentialing professionals to refine and expand their programs. More specifically, the certification landscape continues to evolve in response to workforce demands, technological advancements, and changing expectations around education.
Here are five key trends shaping the industry this year—plus how ROC-P can help you navigate them.
1. Balancing vendor independence with support 🤝
A big theme in 2025: Organizations want more autonomy but also... more support. It sounds contradictory, but it makes perfect sense to me. You don’t want to wait on a vendor just to tweak an email template or a workflow setting, but when it comes to major strategic initiatives, you also want expert guidance.
With ROC-P, you get the best of both worlds. Our configurable platform empowers your team to handle everyday tasks and tweaks yourself—no more bottlenecks for small changes—while our support and client success teams are ready when you need deeper expertise. Whether you’re looking for quick knowledge base resources or a strategic consultation, we’re here to help you succeed.
2. Filling employment gaps with new credentials 🧑🎓
With economic uncertainty and education costs rising, people are turning to credentials and certifications as a faster, more cost-effective way to gain skills and boost their employability. From my background in staffing and hiring, I can tell you: Hiring managers love clear, demonstrable qualifications. And more organizations are stepping in to provide them—either by launching new credentials or expanding existing programs.
If you're thinking about creating a new credential, ROC-P makes it easy. You can set up a new credential, complete with a customized application, workflow, fees, and pathways—all ready to launch when you are. We live for growth and innovation.
3. The shift away from credential pathways 🏃♀️➡️
The traditional “application first, exam second” model isn’t the only way to do things anymore. Some credentialing bodies are even skipping exams entirely, shifting to experience-based qualifications instead.
This approach won’t work for every industry, but it makes sense for many. With ROC-P, you have the flexibility to support any pathway or workflow, meaning you’re not locked into one way of doing things. Whether your logic includes exams, experience validation, or a combination of the two, our platform can adapt to meet your needs.
4. Modernizing credentialing processes for better experiences 💽
Many credentialing processes today stand out for the wrong reasons—paper applications, file uploads to static websites, or systems that operate as simple databases rather than comprehensive platforms. This creates a user experience that doesn’t match the seamless, modern digital experiences candidates are used to everywhere else in their lives.
Your organization may be fortunate not to face steep competition from other credential providers, but you are competing for the time and resources of credential holders. To keep these individuals engaged throughout their careers, it’s essential to evolve and provide experiences that feel modern and valuable.
ROC-P helps keep things fresh with automated workflows, intuitive dashboards, and applicant-friendly features. That means a better experience for candidates, along with less time spent on manual admin work by your team. Everybody wins!
5. Configurability without complexity 🛠️
Technology should help you innovate, not hold you back. Credentialing organizations need configurability—the ability to adjust and evolve without the heavy cost and rigidity of custom development.
That’s where ROC-P shines. Our SaaS solution balances configurability with ease of use, giving you the flexibility to evolve your processes without getting tangled in complexity. You get the power of customization without the sticker shock (or the maintenance nightmares). Let’s figure out how to deliver your goals together!
Julia Crowley is Business Growth Director for ROC-P. Contact her here.