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How to Build a Certification Program: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

The demand for professional certification programs is continuing to grow, and it’s no wonder why. Employers increasingly prioritize skills-based hiring, which means professionals are looking for fast, cost-effective ways to upskill and demonstrate expertise. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global market for professional certificates and micro-credentials is projected to grow from $21.8 billion in 2025 to $69.9 billion by 2032. 

A well-designed certification program benefits both professionals and test sponsors. For organizations, a successful certification program builds brand credibility and creates new revenue opportunities. For certified professionals, it boosts validated, market-ready skills in a rapidly evolving workforce.  

Kryterion has over 20 years of assessment industry leadership, along with successful partnerships with global organizations to launch and grow certification programs with our secure, scalable exam delivery platform, Webassessor®.  We put together this guide to walk you through every essential step you need to confidently build a certification program that meets today’s demands and drives lasting value. 

Table of Contents

What is a Certification Program, and Why Create One?

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A certification program is a structured and formalized process that verifies an individual’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in a specific field. Typically, this validation is achieved through an exam that measures competency against clearly defined industry standards. Unlike casual training or informal assessments, certification programs are designed to hold both the issuing organization and the credential holder to high levels of accountability. 

Certifications vs. Certificate Programs 

Although you may have heard the terms interchangeably, certifications and certificates are not the same thing. Here’s a quick definition to clarify the differences: 

  • Certifications require candidates to pass an exam that demonstrates proficiency in the subject matter. Many certifications also require ongoing maintenance to ensure the certified individual’s skills remain current. Examples of ongoing maintenance include continuing education units (CEUs) or periodic recertification. 
  • Certificate programs are typically training-based and awarded upon completion of a course or workshop. They focus on knowledge transfer rather than competency measurement.

This distinction matters because certifications are widely recognized by employers, professional bodies, and regulatory agencies as a reliable benchmark for competence, making them more valuable in competitive industries. 

Benefits for Organizations 

Organizations that develop certification programs can see measurable strategic gains, because they: 

  1. Establish Thought Leadership & Brand Authority – Offering a respected credential positions your organization as a trusted leader in your field, influencing industry standards and shaping best practices. 
     
  1. Create a Scalable Revenue Stream – Certification exams can generate ongoing revenue, especially when paired with recertification cycles and related training materials. 
     
  1. Foster Customer Loyalty & Community Engagement – Certified professionals often form active user communities, advocating for your brand and deepening customer relationships. 

Benefits for Candidates 

From the candidate’s perspective, earning a certification delivers both tangible and intangible benefits, providing the opportunity to: 

  1. Enhance Career Opportunities & Salary Potential – Certified professionals often qualify for more advanced roles and higher compensation. 
     
  1. Gain Formal Recognition for Expertise – A credential acts as third-party validation of skills, enhancing credibility in the marketplace. 
     
  1. Build Professional Credibility in Competitive Markets – In industries where trust and competence are critical, certifications signal a higher level of commitment and proficiency. 

Steps to Build a Certification Program

Building a successful certification program is both a strategic and technical process. From defining your program’s purpose to delivering a secure, high-quality exam, every stage should be designed to provide fairness, accuracy, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re developing a certification program for the first time or refining an existing one, following a clear framework will help you meet industry standards and deliver value to candidates. 

1. Define Goals and Identify Your Target Audience 

Start by determining why you’re creating the program. Is it to validate professional skills, set industry standards, or provide a competitive advantage for your product adoption? Potentially, it could be all of the above. Next, define your target audience to include professional roles, geographic locations, and motivations for certification. This will influence everything from exam content to delivery method. 

2. Conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) 

A job task analysis is a research-driven process that identifies the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities your exam will measure. By collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs), you can make sure your exam reflects real-world job requirements and remains relevant as the industry evolves. 

3. Develop Competencies and Learning Objectives 

Using JTA findings, create a competency framework that defines what certified individuals should know and be able to do. These competencies become the foundation for your exam development and test specifications. 

​4. Write and Review Exam Items

While developing the content of the exam, expect exam items to undergo technical review, bias analysis, and pilot testing to ensure clarity and fairness. Consider using psychometric services to validate items statistically. This is critical for building a reliable, defensible certification program. 

5. Set Passing Standards 

Determine the minimum score that reflects competency. The purpose of this critical step is to balance fairness for candidates with the need for maintaining professional standards. 

6. Pilot Testing and Psychometric Review 

Run a pilot exam with a sample candidate group. Analyze results to confirm question performance, identify ambiguous items, and adjust scoring if needed. 

8. Launch and Maintain Your Certification Program 

Launch your certification program by marketing and promoting the program to your target audience. Over time, certification maintenance will become your new focus. This can include implementing recertification requirements to keep credentials current and relevant and regularly reviewing content to reflect industry changes. It is also essential to monitor delivery performance and security to maintain exam integrity. 

Providing Exam Validity, Reliability & Security

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A successful certification program hinges on three core principles: validity, reliability, and security. 

  • Validity ensures that your exam accurately measures the skills and knowledge it was designed to assess.  
  • Reliability means that test results are consistent across administrations and candidate groups. This is achieved through standardized delivery procedures, psychometric analysis, and well-calibrated scoring methods. 
  • Security protects the integrity of your program by preventing cheating, safeguarding exam content, and ensuring that only authorized candidates gain access.

AI-Era Security Considerations 

In today’s digital landscape, security is no longer just about preventing cheating. AI-powered tools can both enhance and challenge exam security. For example, AI can detect suspicious patterns in candidate behavior, but it can also be misused to generate unauthorized content or bypass traditional proctoring safeguards.

To address this, modern platforms like Kryterion’s Webassessor® combine multi-factor authentication, live or AI-enhanced remote proctoring, and browser lockdown technology with human oversight.  

Additional Protective Measures 

  • Candidate identity verification using secure ID checks 
     
  • Session recording and AI anomaly detection for post-exam investigations 
     
  • Content protection through encrypted item banks and randomized question delivery 
     
  • Accessibility compliance to make sure security doesn’t disadvantage candidates with disabilities

For a deeper dive into balancing technology, fairness, and compliance in the AI era, see: 

By embedding these measures into your program from the start, you protect the credibility of your certification program while delivering a fair and secure experience for every candidate. 
 

How a Certification Program Can Grow Your Business

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Delivery Options: Online vs. In-Person vs. Hybrid

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Choosing the right delivery format is critical for balancing candidate experience, accessibility, and exam security. 

  • Online Proctoring offers unmatched global reach and convenience, enabling candidates to test from anywhere while scaling your program cost-effectively. However, it depends on stable internet, compatible devices, and secure remote monitoring solutions. 
  • In-Person Testing provides a fully controlled environment with minimal technical disruptions, making it ideal for high-stakes exams. The trade-off is reduced flexibility and limited reach, when compared to online proctoring.  
  • Hybrid Delivery blends the accessibility of online testing with the assurance of in-person oversight. This model can increase participation rates while maintaining rigorous security standards. the trade-off is the added complexity of managing two delivery formats. 

Selecting the right approach depends on your audience, resources, and security needs. For a deeper comparison, see our guide: Remote Proctoring vs. In-Person Testing: Which One is Right for You? 

Choosing the Right Exam Development & Delivery Partner

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Choosing the right partner, not just a vendor, is essential to building a certification program that’s secure, scalable, and trusted by both candidates and stakeholders. During your evaluation process, consider these critical questions about a potential partner: 

  • Do they have psychometric expertise? This helps make sure that exams are valid, reliable, and defensible. 
     
  • What security protocols are in place? Look for multi-layered measures like ID verification, AI monitoring, and encryption. 
     
  • Can they integrate with our LMS/CRM? Seamless integrations improve efficiency and candidate experience. 
     
  • How accessible is their platform for all candidates? Compliance with VPAT standards ensures inclusivity. 
     
  • Do they offer both online and test center delivery? Multiple formats give you flexibility to serve a global audience. 

Kryterion offers true partnership, collaboration, and a comprehensive approach: 

  • Webassessor® – Our secure online exam platform with robust scheduling, delivery, and reporting. 
     
  • Online Proctoring – Flexible, scalable options with AI and live proctors. 
     
  • Test Center Network – Global physical testing locations for candidates who prefer or require in-person exams. 

Choosing a partner like Kryterion means gaining end-to-end support. From test design to global delivery, Kryterion will make sure your program grows with your organization’s needs. 

Building Your Certification Best Practices

Before you dive into designing your certification program, it’s essential to follow proven best practices that provide long-term success. Use the checklist below as your guide.  

FAQs: Building a Certification Program

  1. How long does it take to develop a certification program?

The timeline varies depending on your program’s scope, complexity, and stakeholder resources. Typically, a full-cycle development (from job task analysis to launch) can take 6 to 12 months. Fast-track programs may launch in 3 to 4 months, while highly regulated, high-stakes programs might take longer. A phased rollout can help you scale efficiently, as discussed in our guide on scaling certification programs: From Chaos to Control: How to Scale Your Certification Program Effectively 

  1. What’s the role of psychometrics in certification development?

Psychometrics ensures your exam measures accurately, consistently, and fairly. It involves statistical techniques to validate item performance, define passing standards, and maintain reliability across candidate populations. Incorporating psychometric rigor boosts your program’s credibility and defensibility while demonstrating a commitment to validity. 

  1. How can organizations turn certification into a revenue or retention strategy?

Certification programs can elevate user engagement and loyalty when aligned with broader business objectives. By offering certifications to customers, partners, or employees, organizations create ongoing value, driving both revenue and retention. Learn how to make your certification a strategic growth lever in our blog: How to Turn Certification Into a Revenue and Retention Strategy 

  1. How can we simplify exam publishing and speed to market?

Publishing and maintaining certification programs can be resource-intensive, unless you optimize for automation and flexibility. Using Kryterion’s no-cost publishing model reduces overhead and empowers teams to update items and launch exams faster. Learn how to streamline your process and reduce administrative burden in our blog: Revolutionizing Certification Programs: Kryterion’s No-Cost Publishing Advantage 

  1. How can a certification program benefit my organization’s employees?

While certifications validate expertise, they can also serve as recognition and motivation tools within your organization. By offering internal certifications, you signal investment in professional growth, which can boost morale, retention, and performance. Discover unexpected ways certifications enhance workplace culture in our article: The Psychology of Certification Programs: 5 Unexpected Ways to Elevate Employee Morale 

Next Steps

Building a certification program is a strategic investment in your organization’s reputation, credibility, and growth. With the right partner, you can launch a certification program that scales globally and maintains the highest standards in your industry.  

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a consultation with a Kryterion expert.  

Why invest in a certification program for your business?

ROI Positive

Certification programs can be an ROI positive tool for increasing product adoption and advocacy. 90% of companies have seen a positive return on their customer education investments, which can be enhanced with the addition of a certification (Forrester).

Customer Retention

Certification programs can be an effective tool to drive customer retention which increases profitability. Increasing customer retention rates by only 5% increases a company’s profits by 25-95% (Harvard Business School).

Trust and Credibility

Certification programs can build confidence in your product and credibility in your brand. 80% of consumers say they consider trust a deciding factor in their buying decisions (consumer survey).

How a Certification Program Can Grow Your Business

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