Innovations in Testing 2027 Submission Guidelines
The Call for Presentations opens June 1, 2026, and closes July 10, 2026. Submissions for Innovations Fast-Pitch will remain open until December 4, 2026
Submit today for the 2027 Innovations in Testing Conference, February 21-24, 2027, in San Diego, California, at the Town and Country Resort.
Conference Theme: Connecting Innovation, People, and Impact.
The world is undergoing profound transformation. Advances in artificial intelligence, data science, and digital delivery are not only changing how we design and deliver assessments—they are redefining the nature of work, learning, and the skills we seek to understand and measure. This evolution spans education, credentialing, workforce development, and industrial-organizational psychology, challenging traditional approaches and expanding what assessment can be.
Innovations in Testing 2027 will focus on the real-world application of emerging technologies and practices, and how they are reshaping both the science and practice of assessment. We will elevate conversations around continuous, skills-based learning and the integration of assessment into the flow of work and education. As boundaries blur, the need for agile, responsive, and human-centered approaches has never been greater—creating space for practical exploration where attendees can engage with new tools, share evidence of impact, and leave equipped to take meaningful action.
Submission Process
Presentation submissions should be designed to bring together thought leaders from across the testing, assessment, and EdTech industries to learn from one another and help advance the industry.
Please submit proposals that demonstrate innovation in the assessment industry, foundational principles in assessment development, and/or best practices that would be of interest to your colleagues in certification/licensure, education, workforce skilling, and industrial/organizational psychology.
- Show how organizations can leverage innovation to advance the industry.
- Share best practices.
- Demonstrate how new tools and technology can renew or strengthen the value of assessment.
When submitting, you will be asked the following:
- Select a main Session Topic.
- Select the Session Type.
- Denote if your session is considered a Fundamentals of Testing Session (i.e., covers introductory content).
- Denote if the session will include an emerging or transformative technology or process; and
- Identify the ATP Practice Area Division(s)/Committee for which your session is most relevant.
Session Topic
The Session Topic identifies and describes the main idea or primary content focus of your submission. You will be allowed to provide a Secondary Topic if your session applies to more than one of these topic areas; this is optional. Session topics include:
Accessibility and Inclusion
Covers inclusive methods across content development and candidate experience, including stakeholder considerations, accessibility and accommodations, and how digital and AI-enabled tools can expand access while maintaining fairness and validity.
Assessment for Education (Pre-K to Higher Ed)
Explores technologies, evidence-based methods, and practices that enhance assessment across Pre-K through higher education. Focus on approaches that inform and adapt instruction in real time across digital, hybrid, and instructor-led environments, including adaptive systems, formative and summative assessment, accessibility, and AI-supported feedback. Sessions should highlight practical applications, research, and implementation insights that support responsive teaching and personalized learning.
Business Strategies
Focus on the business of testing, including branding, marketing, customer development, digital transformation, and communication strategies to evolve credentialing and assessment programs in technology-enabled environments.
Trust, Ethics, and Policy in Assessment
Examines ethics, legislation, regulation, and policy shaping responsible testing practices, including data governance, transparency, fairness, and the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies.
Security
Covers fraud prevention, detection, and enforcement; anomalous testing behavior; data protection and privacy; forensics; and the use of analytics and advanced technologies to mitigate threats.
Delivery and Candidate Experience
Explores test delivery models, proctoring, and platform innovation, including remote and global delivery. Emphasizes candidate experience throughout their journey including preparation, delivery, reporting, and strategies to help candidates reduce test anxiety.
Design, Development, and Psychometrics
Focuses on assessment design, psychometric models, item development, new assessment approaches, AI-assisted authoring, standard setting, and job analysis, along with SME engagement and development.
Skills, Credentialing, and Workforce Alignment
Covers certifications, microcredentials, and other approaches to validating skills, including skills frameworks, workforce alignment, lifelong learning models, and technology-enabled methods of demonstrating capability.
Session Types
Panel Discussion
60-minute collaborative discussion between panelists. Each panel discussion must include at least three speakers from two or more organizations. A session submitted with only a single vendor represented will NOT be accepted. Preference will be given to submissions that include perspectives from testing programs (i.e., non-vendor organizations).
Presentation
45-minute session that provides a structured, in-depth exploration of a topic, including insights, examples, and practical applications. Presentations typically have one to three speakers. Sessions with more than one speaker must have representation from at least two organizations. Preference will be given to submissions with more than one speaker. A session submitted with only a single vendor represented will NOT be accepted.
Peas in a Pod Discussion
Informal, 30-minute, small-group conversations for attendees with shared interests to exchange ideas and explore topics together. These sessions emphasize direct engagement rather than presentation—no slides or formal content. Discussions are limited to no more than two facilitators.
Snapshot Session
Quick-hit, 30-minute sessions that focus on a single topic by 1-2 speakers.
Ignite Sessions
30-minute blocks where 4 dynamic presenters each deliver a 5-minute talk on a shared theme. The twist? Their slides auto-advance every 20 seconds—ready or not! This rapid-fire format is designed to spark ideas, ignite conversations, and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Poster Session
We're bringing back poster sessions—classic, conversational, and perfectly aligned with this year's retro-inspired setting. Poster sessions feature visual displays presented on large boards (not e-posters!), highlighting work connected to the theme Connecting Innovation, People, and Impact.
The posters will be presented during the Opening Reception. Attendees will browse posters, engage in informal discussions, and connect directly with presenters. Posters must be printed and set up prior to the Opening Reception; detailed local printing and shipping instructions will be provided in advance, so you won't have to carry your poster with you on the plane.
Debate
NEW this year! 60-minute session that brings a structured point-counterpoint format to the conference program, featuring two presenters or teams with contrasting perspectives on a timely or provocative topic. Moderated exchanges, rebuttals, and audience engagement encourage rigorous discussion, critical thinking, and lively participation. Sessions may also include audience polling or voting to capture attendee perspectives and spark continued conversation. At least two presenters from at least two organizations are required. No more than two debaters on each side, plus a moderator; maximum of five presenters.
ATP Discovery Zone
An immersive, hands-on experience designed to showcase the innovations shaping the future of assessment. This dedicated space invites companies to bring their solutions to life through live demonstrations with ~30 participants for 45-minutes. Each attendee will be seated at an individual workstation, fully equipped by TeamCo, creating an environment that encourages exploration, experimentation, and meaningful interaction. Hosted in a private meeting room, each Discovery Zone is built for focused engagement and real-time discovery.
Innovation Fast-Pitch
Got a bold idea that could reshape the future of testing and credentialing? Submit a short proposal to share a provocative concept, early research finding, or innovative practice from AI-enabled assessment to new models of skill verification. Selected finalists will give a two-minute pitch of their innovations to the conference audience, followed by a brief Q&A with the onstage judges, vying live for awards on the main stage of Innovations in Testing during our Tuesday Keynote Session.
Details Required for All Submissions
Fundamentals of Testing
To improve assessment, it is just as important to focus on the fundamentals of testing as it is to look at innovations. During the submission process, you will be asked to identify if your session is appropriate for people who are new to the assessment industry.
Practice Area Divisions and Committees
ATP has four Practice Area Divisions: Certification and Licensure, Education, Industrial/Organizational, and Workforce Skills Credentialing, three regional divisions: Europe, Asia, and India, and six committees: EdTech & Accessibility, Health Sector, Security, Technology-Based Assessment, Equity in Assessment, and Marketing. During submission, select the practice area division(s) and/or committee most relevant to your Session Topic. More information on each Division can be found here.
Session Abstract Descriptions
You must submit two presentation descriptions:
- Full description (up to 2,400 characters including spaces) that will be read during the review process to determine whether to accept the submission.
- Shorter description (up to 1,000 characters including spaces) that will be used on ATP's website and in any program-related listings
The full session description is evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Clarity: Does the session submission clearly describe the objectives, outcomes, and intended audience(s)?
- Relevance and Engagement: Does the session provide key content for the testing industry and have a significant bearing on the work done by the intended audience? Does it have broad audience appeal?
- Innovation: Does the session provide information or learning experiences that are innovative? Innovation is not only technology-based, consider process, candidate experience, and marketing innovations.
- Breadth: Does the session have broad appeal to a diverse audience, spanning multiple perspectives, roles, or areas of interest?
- Presenters: Do presenters represent two or more organizations?
Proposal Submission Tips & Requirements
- Panel Discussions must include panelists from more than one organization, and all panelists must be named at session submission; any changes require Program Committee approval. Preference will be given to submissions that include perspectives from testing programs (i.e., non-vendor organizations).
- Presentations with two or three speakers must include presenters from at least two different organizations. All presenters must be named at session submission, and any changes require Program Committee approval. Preference will be given to presentations with more than one speaker.
- ATP Discovery Zones will be limited to one submission per organization.
- Speaker limits apply to Debates, Presentations, or Panel Discussions only. Invited/Featured Sessions, Sponsor Sessions, Snapshot Sessions, Ignite Sessions, Peas in a Pod Discussions, ATP Discovery Zones, and Innovations Fast-Pitch are NOT included in speaker limits.
- Maximum of 7 sessions per organization
- Maximum of 2 sessions per presenter
- You are encouraged to submit as many sessions as you wish, but the speaker maximum will be enforced during the acceptance process. Please be prepared to provide all presenter/speaker information during the submission process. All presenters/speakers must be named when you submit the session.
- Preference will be given to submissions that include practical applications, case studies, data, or implementation of examples of the technology relevant to assessment programs.
- Submissions judged by ATP reviewers as advertisements for products and services or overly promotional will likely not be accepted.
- All required submission fields must be completed to save your proposal. Submissions may be edited through the ATP Conference Online Session Submission site until 11:59 PM EDT on July 10, 2026.
- Presenters are responsible for registering and attending the conference, booking and paying for their hotel room and all travel expenses (including arranging travel and transportation to and from the conference), and providing their own laptops for the presentation.
- ATP reserves the right to combine session proposals and/or change session types.
- ATP may edit session titles and abstracts for marketing purposes.
- Presentation dates and times cannot be guaranteed. Presenters must attend the Conference on the assigned day of their presentation.
Additional Opportunities
ATP Innovation Fast-Pitch
ATP is excited to announce that we will host the 11th Annual ATP Innovation Fast-Pitch Keynote Session, designed to bring visibility to inventors and entrepreneurs whose technology, products, or services could be game-changers for the industry.
- Are you doing something innovative in assessment? If so, submit your solution, technology, product, or service through the Call for Proposals.
- Selected finalists will be invited to pitch their innovations to the conference audience in a judged session on the main stage of Innovations in Testing during our Tuesday General Session. Following each pitch, the finalist will participate in a Q&A with the judges while vying for awards. Special networking opportunities will be provided to the participants at the conference.
- Each Innovation Fast-Pitch finalist will receive one-on-one coaching from a carefully matched industry mentor who can provide business and industry guidance, as well as networking recommendations. A presentation coach will also be engaged to assist finalists in developing their stage pitch and honing their presentation skills.
- Participation is limited to no more than four innovators/entrepreneurs who will be selected by the Conference Executive team based on your application.
- When submitting, click Innovation Fast-Pitch as your session type and answer the questions that follow. You will be required to provide an overview of your company and proposed innovation, including its application and impact in the assessment industry; details on your product's development, market potential, and progress to date; and key company and contact information.
- You are encouraged to submit a short video clearly communicating the problem you are solving, your proposed solution, the impact or value for the testing and assessment community, and why it should be selected..
- Innovations Fast-Pitch Submissions are due by Friday, December 4th, 11:59 PM EDT.
If you have any questions during the submission process, please email atp@canvasmeetings.com.
We look forward to your submissions for the 2027 Innovations in Testing Conference!
We challenge you to test the limits by showcasing your organization's cutting-edge solutions and sharing research findings to lead the way.
Thinking About Membership?
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