Credentialing specialists are crucial in upholding industry standards and facilitating credentialing programs at the organizational, state, and federal levels.
This article will cover:
If credentialing aims to protect the public through set standards, then credentialing specialists ensure these standards are being met.
A credentialing specialist’s job description can vary immensely across jobs, industries, and specializations. In reality, the role of a credentialing specialist entirely depends on the type of credentialing they’re working with.
This is because credentialing is a broad term that covers multiple concepts: accreditation, licensure, certifications, and more.
No matter the specific form of credentialing, credentialing specialists are tasked with understanding the ins-and-outs of their given process. They must operate at a granular level: administering and approving tests, reviewing candidates, tracking timelines, etc.
But they must also work at a high-level: determining testing protocol, certification systems, and generally analyzing the credentialing process as a whole.
Credentialing specialists can work in multiple industries and fields, such as:
Credentialing specialists fit into two main categories. They are either:
Or…
Credentialing specialists set the standards–literally–for excellence in their given fields. Within organizations, these employees are vital to the regulatory maintenance of their employee base. They will usually exist in an HR setting, coordinating and tracking employee credentials at a company.
This could look like notifying employees of expiring certifications. Or, they could perform parts of the credentialing timeline on behalf of others, such as scheduling exams. This is often seen in education, when a school administrator will register a large group graduating students for a professional exam.
At ACGI Software, we work mainly with credentialing specialists that work in the former category. These professionals run credentialing or certification programs in order to serve a given member base.
For credentialing bodies or associations that offer certifications, credentialing specialists are vital to day-to-day operations.
Credentialing specialists are experts in the organization’s offered credentials. They understand everything about a given set of credentials and guide candidates through the requirements needed to acquire them.
There are a lot of moving parts that specialists need to manage–from candidate applications and submissions to the recertification process. This process, known as the maintenance of certification (MOC), is especially complex. MOC may even require a specific recertification specialist to manage that portion of the credentialing timeline.
The roles of a credentialing specialist often include:
These are the granular, day-to-day duties of a credentialing specialist. However, these professionals also maintain a high-level analysis of credentialing programs and their success.
Credentialing specialists are always asking “How can we make the program better?”
“The role is extremely customer-centric, they want to see people succeed. In the end, they’re here to make sure the program is running efficiently and effectively.”
Myron Spence, Director of Technical Sales at ACGI
This means taking a critical look at credentialing timelines and requirements. Credentialing specialists may determine how many times candidates can take an exam, what qualifies a passing score, or how many exams are necessary over a certain period of time.
They are also enforcers–tasked with holding candidates accountable to any regulations, as well as providing leniency when needed.
If this sounds like a lot of responsibilities, that’s because it is. Credentialing specialists are tasked with a lot, and that’s where credentialing management software comes in.
Credentialing management software works to centralize an organization’s data, automate workflows, and promote greater relationships with constituents. Effective credentialing systems will optimize credentialing, certification, and accreditation timelines.
The relationship between credentialing management software and credentialing specialists is, at its best, harmonious. Software works to minimize a credentialing specialist’s most tedious work–freeing up space to handle larger issues or customer service needs.
The following are key areas in which credentialing management software assists the role of a credentialing specialist:
With credentialing management systems, constituents have access to an online portal where they can see real-time updates on their credentialing timelines. These systems are typically cloud-based, meaning they can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
This eliminates the need for constant communication and customer service calls to check in on the status of someone’s credentials. With an online portal, constituents can see exactly where they are in the process and be notified when results become available.
One of the best parts about certification management systems is its ability to automate otherwise tedious workflows. This includes areas such as the application and review process of candidates.
Great management software will quickly identify gaps and errors in forms. Without it, credentialing specialists would have to send a manual email every time something in an application was off or incorrect.
With credentialing management software, the system will automatically send constituents communications if something is incomplete. This frees up valuable time for credentialing specialists.
By centralizing data into one secure platform, credentialing management systems eliminate the need for paper-based processes and records. Instead, all information is easily accessible by credentialing specialists and candidates alike.
Credentialing specialists can find information on candidates in an instant, helping them walk through any issues efficiently.
There will always be a need for a human eye in any software process. That’s why we’ll always need credentialing specialists for that high-level review of processes or constituent issues.
With credentialing management systems, these high-level issues are automatically flagged for further review. This allows credentialing specialists to go into the system and view issues all in one place. This holds true in a variety of credentialing stages–from application errors to testing discrepancies.
Overall, credentialing software is key to help specialists manage their job. When a credentialing program is first starting out, a spreadsheet may be all you need to track your limited constituent base. But once your membership base grows, tracking credentialing timelines becomes unmanageable through manual processes, no matter how many credentialing specialists are on staff.
Credentialing management software brings value and efficiency to your systems, and helps constituents become certified in a timely, transparent fashion.
ACGI Software offers a host of enterprise-class credentialing solutions for the modern credentialing specialist. Our high-level, configurable software manages complex requirements in your unique credentialing management timelines.
Looking for software to check all of your boxes and more? ACGI is here to help you with your certification, accreditation, and credentialing necessities. With our Association Management software, Association Anywhere, and credentialing-specific software, Certelligence, we offer clients enterprise-class software and unmatched support. Contact us today to request a demo.
