All I want for Christmas is…happy test takers & some extra cash
I'm a first time Mom of a 13-month-old. This year I've dabbled in not one, not two, but four Halloween costumes. I'm becoming that Mom I didn't know was in me. And now that Halloween is over, it's time for the main event. My husband is already digging out the Christmas tree for me from storage. Into the season of giving we go!
As ACMC grows, so has my network and I have some insights to share back with the community. What better way to celebrate the season of giving? Let's get into it.
Raising exam fees
Just kidding.
"We need more revenue, but raising exam fees isn’t the move." Agreeeee. Luckily, I’ve recently been introduced to another option for sustainable revenue growth. Exam prep. Official, test program owned, exam prep.
I sat down with Kristen Thomas, Certification Manager at AACN, and Dan Walbert, Director of Operations at ABRET, to talk about how they've built exam prep programs that generate real revenue and improve candidate satisfaction.
Here are three insights from our conversation that might shift how you think about exam prep (jump to the bottom for the full discussion).
Candidates want this (and they want it from you)
Candidates are preparing for your exam and most likely buying third-party study guides, enrolling in review courses, using question banks. The money is being spent.
But what Kristen and Dan both emphasized is that candidates want exam prep from the official test sponsor. They trust you. They want materials that align with your exam blueprint, and practice items that are written in the same style as your exam items. They want to know they're studying the right things.
Another concern? The myth that certification organizations must stay out of exam prep entirely. Not true. Kristen made this clear: they maintain a firewall between their education and exam delivery functions, keeping them in full compliance with accreditation requirements. You can be the exam prep provider and protect exam integrity at the same time (if you want to explore this further, here's a great article by I.C.E. to get started).
When you offer quality exam prep, you're increasing candidate confidence, improving their experience, and potentially boosting pass rates. That's mission-aligned work.
It’s not complicated
One of the biggest blockers is bandwidth, both resources and budget. But here's what Kristen and Dan shared: implementing an exam prep offering doesn't have to be this massive, resource-draining project. There are solutions out there that handle the heavy lifting so you don't have to build everything from scratch.
As always, things are easier if you have the right partner and a clear plan.
Add meaningful revenue🦄
Some of the legacy providers have set costs and upfront investments that are not only daunting, but don't provide clear ROI. Custom development costs. Annual platform costs. Import fees. It adds up fast.
There is another option: revenue share partnerships. Some providers will partner with you where they handle the product development and ongoing management, and you share in the revenue split. By the way, we’re not talking lowball offers either. Some splits are generous (in the 80% range!).
As I tell my toddler: pause, and think about it. Lower risk. Faster implementation. Ongoing income stream.
It's not the only model out there, but it's worth knowing it exists, especially if budget constraints have been keeping you on the sidelines.
Want the full story?
Let's put a bow on it (Yes, I'm back on the Christmas puns). Watch the full webinar for the complete insights including:
How they built the business case internally
What worked (and what didn't) when they launched
How to choose the right exam prep solution for your program
Specific metrics and outcomes from their programs
Practical next steps you can take right now
Questions? Send me a message: amanda@helloacmc.com
Amanda
PS: Not a lie was told about Halloween.
From top left to bottom right: Sully, Monsters Inc.; Cat; Gary, SpongeBob; Men in Black