What Psychological Services, Inc. does

Psychological Services, Inc. (PSI Services LLC) is a private testing and assessment company founded in 1946 and headquartered in Burbank, California, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Educational Testing Service (ETS). The company provides end-to-end assessment services to certification bodies, professional licensing boards, government agencies, healthcare organizations, IT companies, educational institutions, and federal/military clients across the Americas, APAC, and EMEA regions. PSI's service portfolio spans three pillars: test development (expert psychometric design and AI-powered content generation), multi-modal test delivery (global test center network, online proctoring, remote testing), and test security (audits, data forensics, risk assessment, and incident response).

The company's product surface includes proprietary platforms branded as AI Test Development and AI Test Prep (generative AI with human-in-the-loop quality assurance), alongside owned testing programs HiSET (high school equivalency, recognized by every U.S. state) and Skills for English (UK Home Office-approved English proficiency testing). Distribution is primarily through enterprise sales motions targeting test owners, supported by content marketing, case studies, podcasts, and a Knowledge Hub. PSI operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries including the 2021-acquired Propel International, and has completed at least 12 acquisitions since 2015 spanning talent assessment, online proctoring technology, and international expansion.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: project-based professional services for test development, managed services for test delivery via global infrastructure, and strategic consulting to grow credentialing programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on a quote-based, contract-specific B2B model tied to test volume, delivery modalities, and security requirements. PSI was previously backed by private equity firms ABRY Partners (2006) and Waud Capital Partners (2015) before transitioning to ETS ownership, and currently maintains 1,001-5,000 employees globally.

Name

Psychological Services, Inc.

Legal name

PSI Services LLC

Website

https://psionline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PSI Services LLC, founded in 1946 and ETS-owned, provides test development, multi-modal delivery, and test security services to certification bodies, licensing boards, government agencies, and professional associations across global markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Testing & Assessment Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Secure Browser, Device Lockdown & Exam Security Tools (EDAFADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Psychometric Standards, Test Development & Validation Authorities (EDADAFAG), Official GED/HiSET Testing Centers & Proctoring Services (EDAAABAF)

Keywords

• Test development services
• Certification testing
• Online proctoring
• Test center network
• Assessment solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Test Development Services: PSI provides expert test design, development, and psychometric analysis services to certification and licensure organizations. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services contracts for creating new assessments.
2. Test Delivery Services: Revenue generated through testing center network access, online proctoring, and multi-modal delivery capabilities. Organizations pay for access to PSI's global testing infrastructure and proctoring services.
3. Program Growth Services: PSI offers consulting and strategic services to help organizations grow their credentialing programs, including market expansion strategies and technology adoption.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Psychological Services, Inc. (PSI Services LLC) develops, delivers, and secures high-stakes tests for certification bodies, government licensing agencies, and educational institutions. Its offering spans AI-augmented test development and prep, multi-modal delivery through its global test center network and online proctoring, and dedicated test security services including audits, investigations, data forensics, web crawling, and incident response.

Product overview

PSI is a unified testing platform offering test development, multi-modal delivery, and test security services. The core portfolio includes AI-powered products (AI Test Development and AI Test Prep) for creating assessment content, complemented by Test Development and Global Test Delivery services enabling delivery through testing centers, online proctoring, and multi-modal formats. Test security offerings include Audits & Investigations, Data Forensics & Web Crawling, and Risk Assessment & Incident Response. PSI Programs encompass HiSET (high school equivalency) and Skills for English (English proficiency testing). The company serves certification, licensure, government, healthcare, IT, professional associations, federal, and military markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skills for English: English proficiency tests for work, study and residency, approved by the UK Home Office for visa applications
• HiSET

Products and services

• AI Test Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations can deliver exams anywhere, anytime through online proctoring and global testing centers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Propel InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2021PSI Talent Management acquired Propel International in November 2021, a global talent assessment and development consultancy. The acquisition doubled PSI's teams in the Middle East, secured presence in New Zealand, and enhanced service offerings for organizations needing to recruit, retain, and develop workforces globally. This strategic acquisition expanded PSI's international footprint and capabilities in talent assessment.
• ETS (Educational Testing Service)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSI is a subsidiary company of ETS (Educational Testing Service), one of the world's largest nonprofit educational measurement organizations. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides PSI with access to ETS's assessment science expertise, psychometric methodologies, and brand credibility in the testing industry.
• NCHEC (National Commission for Health Education Credentialing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCHEC partnered with PSI for delivering high-quality certification experiences. PSI supports NCHEC's certification program through test development and delivery services.
• BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCEN partnered with PSI for test development of new certifications. The partnership has enabled BCEN to develop and launch new certification offerings with PSI's support.
• The Linux FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Linux Foundation partnered with PSI to deliver exams anywhere, anytime without requiring physical testing centers. PSI provides online proctoring enabling The Linux Foundation's anytime, anywhere certification model.
• ABRSMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABRSM has an ongoing partnership with PSI to move exams to an anytime, anywhere delivery model. The partnership focuses on putting learners at the center of assessment plans and evolving as both organizations learn more about respective markets.
• ISACAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISACA works with PSI as a responsive partner focused on improving customer experience and innovating at every step in their certification programs.
• National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical AssistingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2010 where PSI has helped develop testing programs at the campus level, which has been fundamental to building the organization's business.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Examity: Online proctoring and identity verification provider competing directly with PSI's Online Proctoring product for higher education, certification, and licensure exam delivery.
• Meazure Learning: Test center operator (formerly Pearson VUE-exclusive centers, now independent) running secure proctored exam sites; competes with PSI's Test Center Network on facility partnerships and large-volume contracts.
• Pearson VUE: Pearson's assessment and clinical testing division; operates one of the largest global test center networks and competes head-to-head with PSI on certification, licensure, and government exam contracts across healthcare, IT, and finance.
• Prometric: Direct testing services competitor operating global test centers and online proctoring for certification and licensure programs; recently acquired by ETS (PSI's parent), intensifying overlap with PSI's portfolio.
• Kryterion / Webassessor: Online proctoring and assessment delivery platform serving IT certification bodies; competes with PSI's online proctoring and global delivery offerings, especially in technology credentials.
• Questionmark: Enterprise assessment platform for authoring, delivering, and analyzing tests; overlaps PSI's Test Development and Online Proctoring offerings, particularly for enterprise certification programs.
• ProctorU (by Yardstick): Live online proctoring service covering higher education and professional certification; competes with PSI's online proctoring for anytime-anywhere test delivery contracts.
• Scantron: Assessment solutions provider offering test development, scoring, and certification services; overlaps PSI's test development and certification program support, particularly in healthcare and licensure.

Emerging players

• Caveon: Test security and psychometrics consultancy specializing in data forensics and cheating analytics; competes with PSI's Audits & Investigations and Data Forensics product modules.

Broad incumbents

• Educational Testing Service (ETS): Parent organization of PSI and developer of TOEFL, GRE, and other flagship assessments; provides psychometric expertise and brand credibility to PSI while operating its own competing testing programs and now Prometric.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/psi-services-llc
• Xx.com/psiservicesllc
• Facebookfacebook.com/psiexams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Psychological Services, Inc.