I.C.E.

What I.C.E. does

I.C.E. (Institute for Credentialing Excellence) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional membership organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that serves credentialing professionals and certification bodies across more than 40 industries including healthcare, finance, construction, engineering, fitness, and human resources. Founded prior to 2013, the organization provides education, networking, research, and standards resources to the credentialing industry. Its core mission centers on advancing credentialing quality through accreditation services, professional certifications, and industry publications.

The organization's product portfolio spans five core areas: (1) the ICE-CCP (I.C.E. Certified Credentialing Professional) certification — a 155-question examination establishing professional competency in credentialing; (2) NCCA and ACAP accreditation programs, which serve as the recognized standards frameworks for certification programs and assessment-based certificate programs respectively; (3) the annual I.C.E. Exchange conference attracting cross-industry participation; (4) the Certificate Program for the Credentialing Specialist delivered as assessment-based online courses; and (5) the Leadership Development Program, an 11-month cohort experience for mid-career professionals. Supporting products include the I.C.E. Handbook (3rd Edition), a research library of industry reports, digital badging services via BadgeCert/Accredible/Credly partnerships, live workshops on psychometrics and NCCA accreditation, and a Personify-powered member community platform.

I.C.E.'s revenue model combines membership dues, one-time certification and accreditation fees, conference registrations, publication sales, and continuing education program fees. Pricing tiers differentiate member versus non-member rates across certifications, with bulk discounts available for organizational purchasers. The go-to-market motion is event-driven, leveraging annual conferences, webinars, workshops, and online courses to engage credentialing professionals. The organization maintains strategic partnerships with testing service providers (PSI Services, Prometric, Pearson VUE, Heuristic Solutions), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for continuing education reciprocity, and digital badging platforms for credential verification.

Name

I.C.E.

Legal name

Institute for Credentialing Excellence

Website

https://credentialingexcellence.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

I.C.E. (Institute for Credentialing Excellence) is a nonprofit professional membership organization that administers the ICE-CCP certification, NCCA and ACAP accreditation programs, and the annual I.C.E. Exchange conference for credentialing professionals across 40+ industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Credentialing accreditation services
• Professional certification programs
• Membership association services
• Certification body standards
• Credentialing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for credentialing professionals and organizations providing access to resources, directories, and networking opportunities.
2. ICE-CCP Certification: Professional certification exam fees for credentialing professionals ($750 non-member, $500 member), with re-testing at $250 for unsuccessful first attempts.
3. I.C.E. Exchange Conference: Annual conference with varying credit hour packages ranging from 3 to 26 credit hours depending on attendance level and workshop participation.
4. Certificate Program: Assessment-based certificate program for credentialing specialists ($1,450 non-member, $1,250 member) delivered as sequential online courses with quizzes.
5. Leadership Development Program: 11-month cohort program with registration fee of $1,750, includes Strength Finders tool, publications, I.C.E. Handbook, virtual workshops, and conference registration.
6. Publications Sales: Sales of Certification: The I.C.E. Handbook (3rd Edition) in digital or hard copy, with bulk discounts available. Individual sections also sold separately.
7. Education and CE Credits: Fees for webinars, online courses, and continuing education credit programs including NCCA workshops, Psychometrics workshops, and ACAP workshops.
8. Research Publications: Sale of I.C.E. research reports including Job Analysis, Test Disruption studies, DE&I in Credentialing, and other industry research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

I.C.E. is a nonprofit professional membership association that educates, certifies, and connects individuals and organizations working in the credentialing industry. It offers the ICE-CCP professional certification, assessment-based certificate programs, NCCA and ACAP accreditation for certification bodies, an annual conference, live workshops, research publications, and the I.C.E. Handbook for credentialing practitioners across 40+ industries.

Product overview

I.C.E. (Institute for Credentialing Excellence) is a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of credentialing-related products and services. The core offerings include the ICE-CCP certification (the premier professional certification for credentialing professionals), the Certificate Program for the Credentialing Specialist (assessment-based online program), NCCA and ACAP accreditation services, the annual I.C.E. Exchange conference, the Leadership Development Program, and live workshops. Additional offerings include the I.C.E. Handbook (industry reference publication), digital badging services, a research library with published reports, and the I.C.E. Member Community platform. The organization serves credentialing professionals across 40+ industries through education, networking, research, and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Credentialing Insights: I.C.E.'s online journal and podcast featuring articles on credentialing topics
• I.C.E. Exchange
• ICE-CCP
• NCCA
• ACAP

Products and services

• ICE-CCP (I.C.E. Certified Credentialing Professional) The premier professional certification for individuals working in the credentialing industry, demonstrating competence in professional credentialing through a 155 multiple-choice question examination. Non-member fee: $750; I.C.E. Member fee: $500; Re-test within 12 months: $250.
• Certificate Program for the Credentialing Specialist An assessment-based online certificate program providing insights into the ecosystem of certification from program conception through development, delivery, maintenance, and improvement, delivered as sequential online courses with quizzes. Non-member: $1,450; I.C.E. Member: $1,250; bulk discounts for multiple learners from the same organization.
• I.C.E. Exchange Annual Conference Annual conference for credentialing professionals offering education, workshops, networking, and CE credit packages ranging from 3 to 26 credit hours depending on attendance level and workshop participation.
• NCCA Accreditation National Commission for Certifying Agencies accreditation services for certification programs, ensuring they meet industry standards for competency assurance. Considered the gold standard for certification program accreditation in the U.S.
• ACAP Accreditation Accreditation for Assessment-based Certificate Programs, providing standards and evaluation for certificate program accreditation. Reviewed by ACAC (ACAP Advisory Council) members serving as volunteer reviewers.
• Certification: The I.C.E. Handbook, 3rd Edition A comprehensive step-by-step guide to designing and implementing effective professional certification programs, available in digital or hard copy formats with 31 chapters. Hard copy/digital: Members $175, Non-members $349; Individual sections: Members $50, Non-members $90; Bulk discounts available.
• Leadership Development Program An 11-month cohort-based leadership development and networking program for mid-career credentialing professionals (Coordinator to Director level, 5-10 years of experience). Registration fee: $1,750 per participant; partial or full scholarships available; up to 15 participants per cohort.
• I.C.E. Live Events and Workshops Educational live workshops including NCCA Workshop, Psychometrics and Test Development Workshop, Advanced Psychometrics Workshop, ICE-CCP Prep Workshop, and ACAP Workshops, providing continuing education credits for credentialing professionals.
• I.C.E. Research Reports Published research reports sold individually covering topics including DE&I in Credentialing, Job Analysis, Test Disruption, Eligibility Criteria, Live Remote Proctoring, Subject Matter Expert Practices, Forensic Data Analysis, U.S. Licensure & Regulatory Requirements, and Value of Certification. Supported by Research Supporters including PSI Services, Prometric, Pearson VUE, and Heuristic Solutions.
• I.C.E. Member Community Online member community platform powered by Personify Community, providing networking, discussions, resources, member directories, credentialing specialist certificate-holder directory, and ICE-CCP online directory features for I.C.E. members.

Quantifiable outcome

• I.C.E. Exchange attracts representatives from over 40 different industries with focus on certification and licensure
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and partner.

• BadgeCertcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital badging platform partner for I.C.E. Exchange conference attendance badges. BadgeCert provides badges for various levels of attendance, allowing recipients to share achievements through social media and email with immediate verification capabilities.
• AccrediblecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital badging platform partner providing badges for conference attendance (2021, 2018 conferences). Enables employers and others to verify affiliations and achievements with a single click.
• CredlycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital badging platform partner (through Acclaim) for I.C.E. Virtual Exchange and 2017 conference. Provides credential verification and sharing capabilities.
• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-approved education/continuing education provider through ASAE. Hours spent at I.C.E. Exchange count toward Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential application or renewal.
• NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerI.C.E. administers NCCA accreditation, the gold standard for certification programs. NCCA Commissioners serve as volunteer leaders reviewing accreditation applications.
• ACAP (Accreditation for Assessment-based Certificate Programs)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerI.C.E. administers ACAP accreditation for assessment-based certificate programs through the ACAC (ACAP Advisory Council) members who serve as volunteer reviewers.
• PSI ServicespartnerTechnology or IntegrationTesting and assessment services partner; listed as Research Supporter in 2021, 2016, and 2015; supports I.C.E. R&D program
• PrometricpartnerTechnology or IntegrationTesting services partner; listed as Research Supporter in 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012; supports I.C.E. R&D program
• Pearson VUEpartnerTechnology or IntegrationTesting services partner; listed as Research Supporter in 2025; supports I.C.E. R&D program
• Heuristic SolutionspartnerTechnology or IntegrationTesting and assessment services; Research Supporter in 2023, 2017, 2015, 2014; supports I.C.E. R&D program

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): Develops licensure exams for engineers and surveyors. Comparable to I.C.E. as a nonprofit professional organization administering NCCA-accredited certification/licensure programs and serving members across multiple disciplines.
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): Certifies physician specialists across 40+ specialties. Comparable to I.C.E. as a nationally recognized certification body with member boards, accreditation standards, and continuing certification requirements.
• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME): Operates USMLE and other high-stakes certification examinations for healthcare professionals. Comparable to I.C.E. as a nonprofit that develops and administers professional credentialing programs with rigorous psychometric standards.
• Association of Test Publishers (ATP): Trade association for testing and assessment organizations. Comparable to I.C.E. as a membership-based association serving the credentialing/testing industry with conferences, research, and standards advocacy.
• Professional Certification Coalition (PCC): Advocacy coalition for professional certification bodies, hosted within I.C.E.'s Government Affairs program. Directly comparable as an industry coalition representing certification organizations in policy and regulatory matters.
• National Council Licensure Examination (NCSBN/NCSBN): Develops and administers the NCLEX nursing licensure exam. Comparable to I.C.E. as a nonprofit organization managing high-stakes professional certification with NCCA-accredited programs.

Broad incumbents

• American National Standards Institute (ANSI): Administers ISO 17024 personnel certification accreditation in the US and is closely tied to the NCCA standards framework. Comparable to I.C.E. as a national accreditation/standards body, though broader in scope across all standards.
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE): The leading professional association for the association management industry. Comparable to I.C.E. as a membership organization serving association/credentialing executives, and an I.C.E. Exchange partner for CAE continuing education credit.

Emerging players

• Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE): Association of executives leading STEM-related professional societies. Comparable to I.C.E. in providing leadership development, peer exchange, and best-practices resources to leaders of credentialing/standards bodies.
• Certification Network (CertNET): Community for certification professionals with conferences and networking. Partially comparable to I.C.E. as a peer community serving credentialing practitioners, though narrower in scope and without NCCA/ACAP accreditation authority.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICE_Excellence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-credentialing-excellence
• Facebookfacebook.com/credentialingexcellence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about I.C.E.