Regulators from Around the World Gather in Chicago for CLEAR’s 2025 Annual Educational Conference
From September 15–18, more than 450 regulators from around the world gathered in Chicago for CLEAR’s 45th Annual Educational Conference. With both in-person and virtual attendees, the event offered four days of learning, collaboration, and forward-looking conversations about the future of regulation.
The conference program was built around four core tracks: Regulatory Administration and Governance, Compliance, Discipline, and Enforcement, Entry to Practice Standards and Continuing Competence, and Testing and Examinations. Sessions ranged from presentations and panel discussions to interactive workshops and case-based labs, giving participants the opportunity to explore emerging issues while sharing practical approaches.
Keynote and plenary sessions framed some of the most pressing global issues for regulators. The opening session examined international lessons on labor participation and strategies for addressing workforce shortages, while another plenary highlighted the importance of reducing stigma around mental health in licensing and ensuring thoughtful approaches that protect both licensees and the public.
Breakout sessions then tackled a wide spectrum of topics, from regulating professional conduct on social media, to exploring new educational pathways into regulated professions, to trauma-informed interviewing and consumer engagement strategies. Participants also engaged in lively debates about whether regulation and innovation can coexist, and considered how relational governance models and restorative approaches to discipline can transform traditional practices.
Technology and assessment were another major focus. Presenters unpacked emerging cheating tactics in credentialing exams, the rise of contract cheating services, and the challenges of securing longitudinal assessments. Sessions on artificial intelligence explored its potential to reshape item development, psychometric analysis, and the broader assessment lifecycle. At the same time, conversations on deregulation and accreditation raised questions about how to balance innovation and access with the fundamental duty to protect the public.
Looking ahead, participants pointed to several areas to watch, including the growth and operationalization of interstate compacts, stronger test security and the responsible use of artificial intelligence across assessment design and delivery, balancing access and public protection through alternative pathways and accreditation reforms in entry to practice, and continued work on equity, cultural safety, and stigma reduction in licensing and discipline.
The hybrid format of this year’s conference expanded access and engagement, ensuring voices from across the globe could contribute. As the conference closed, attendees left Chicago with new insights, stronger networks, and a renewed commitment to advancing effective, fair, and future-ready regulation.
Attendees were also invited to continue their learning and networking at CLEAR’s International Congress in New Zealand, taking place December 3–5, 2025, which will once again feature the popular Regulatory Research Day. Looking further ahead, CLEAR’s 2026 Annual Educational Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, September 14–17, offering another opportunity to advance the conversation on regulatory excellence.