ABSTRACT
The ideals of self-direction, lifelong learning, and improvement drive the enterprise of assessment and evaluation in continuing professional education. This chapter describes professionals at their practical interface with curriculum and instruction and professional education and revisits the role of credentials as markers of competence. It frames the education and work of professionals through professionalism and professionalization, and recognizes the evolving armamentarium of tests and measures for use by the individual practitioner and for implementation by the adult educator specializing in continuing professional education. The chapter presents a brief discussion of portfolios, neuroimaging for more holistic assessment, and the development of big data for measuring and promoting program improvement. Working with multiple stakeholders to account for the complexity of change in practice and to determine the value of improvement associated with continuing professional education is core to the mission of the adult educator focused on building professionalism in varied occupations, including continuing professional education itself.
