Just as credential management often necessitates multiple eligibility paths, we also recognize that assessment for initial or ongoing certification or licensure is not a one-size-fits-all approach. As an alternative to the written, sit-down credential exam, practical assessments evaluate applied KSAs (often in a professional setting).
Why incorporate practical assessments into your credential management program? Perhaps you would like to assess hands-on, client-facing skills as part of an initial certification or licensing process. Or, you want to evaluate the extent to which practitioners have internalized their continuing education. You might require a demonstration of competency with a specific technique, tool, or interpersonal skill. It’s what works best to fulfill your goal of determining qualification for a credential.
Like any qualifying assessment, delivering and scoring practical assessments requires intention, rigor, and, of course, resources. Recently, the emergence of video tools has helped organizations administer practical assessments at scale. With the help of video tools, assessments can be completed without the need for scheduling, and evaluators don’t need to be physically present in the room with the candidate.
Video assessments can also present challenges without the right functionality and features. Video files can be large, and managing those files can consume valuable time and (hard drive) space to download or share. You might have to host your videos in one location and collect reviewer feedback in another. You need a practical assessment process that offers clarity and removes complications, steps, and system switches. And we have one!
LearningBuilder’s video capabilities support programs with practical assessments to:
- Define what is required for the video assessment.
- Manage the relationship of the assessment to a credential application.
- Manage the reviewer’s relationship to the system.
- Deliver the assessment score and update the application accordingly.
Here’s how LearningBuilder can manage the entire video assessment process and facilitate an improved practical assessment experience with minimal manual effort required:
Part One: Documentation for Video Assessment
When assessing KSAs via video, it is essential that the video accurately documents the intended competencies. Clear guidelines help mitigate the risk of receiving poorly formatted or low-quality videos that fail to meet requirements. For organizations that conduct assessments infrequently, there may be a learning curve to creating proper files. And that means phone calls from confused applicants.
Luckily, LearningBuilder offers the ability to share detailed instructions directly within your application. You can specify your preferred duration, title conventions, aspect ratio, file type, and other settings, as well as offer tips for lighting, framing, and sound quality.
Part Two: Submission of Video for Assessment
After the applicant has adjusted their settings and is satisfied with their file, LearningBuilder’s Large File Upload capabilities use Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) to support both video uploads and streaming directly within the system, without the burden of cumbersome downloads or third-party hosting. That’s right: One platform, one streamlined process.
LearningBuilder can handle most WEBM, MP4, and MOV files supported by modern browsers. The system will reject unsupported files outright, which reduces “bad file fallout”: time-consuming file cleanup and candidate correspondence. You determine the file upload destination and the maximum file sizes. With our Multi-File Uploads, candidates can easily add multiple files at a time if needed. If you choose to give users access to a file library, they can upload videos at any time and then link to them in any relevant application later on.
Part Three: Video Assessment Review
Once an applicant submits their video documentation, someone (or someones) must review and evaluate it. Whether your program staff or third-party reviewers score your practical assessments, LearningBuilder’s admin queues can help them organize their tasks and increase their efficiency. This is especially helpful for assessments scored by multiple people.
Once they identify their tasks, reviewers, assessors, and evaluators can stream videos directly from within their browser window without the need to download files or use another platform to complete their work in the system. LearningBuilder offers extensive options for evaluation, including number scales, Likert scales, and fields for long and short-form feedback.
Part Four: Automated Communications to Streamline Assessments
Since assessments require participation from multiple system users and a specific order of steps (upload, submit, assess, return), how do you keep your workflow…well, flowing?
LearningBuilder’s Automations Engine helps you plan and schedule communications such as reminders, notifications, and requests for clarification. We can format, draft, and automate emails and SMS messages triggered by action (or lack thereof) taken in the system, steps completed, and time-based rules.
The Automations Engine doesn’t just handle communications; we can work with you to configure many kinds of “behaviors.” That includes moving an application forward and automatically updating someone’s credential status accordingly.
LearningBuilder Offers Support for All Aspects of Certification Management
At Heuristics, our focus is both the “now” and the “soon.” We know that as industries and technologies evolve, credentials will evolve, and so will the ways that organizations assess eligibility and ongoing competence. We strive to meet the needs of our customers today and pave the way for tomorrow’s expansion and change. The LearningBuilder platform continues to develop new features and functionality as the credential management experience we’ve honed over the last fifteen years continues to deepen.
If you’re seeking a new technology partner in 2026, we’d love to learn more about your processes and current pain points! Please schedule a Discovery Call to see if we’re a fit for your program goals.
