One of the most common questions we receive is: Why are some license types included in The Bookmark while others aren’t?
It’s a fair question. Professional licensure is incredibly complex, with hundreds of license types across dozens of professions. While we’d love to track every possible credential, maintaining accurate licensure information requires significant ongoing research and monitoring.
That’s why we intentionally select every license type included in The Bookmark.
It Starts with Demand
When evaluating a new license type, we first look at whether it will be useful to a meaningful number of institutions.
Some professions are highly specialized or only regulated in a handful of states. Others may technically exist nationwide but have very limited enrollment or workforce demand. In those cases, the research and maintenance effort may outweigh the value for most members.
We focus on license types that are widely used, broadly regulated, and relevant to the institutions we serve.
Our goal is simple: prioritize the licenses that will help the greatest number of colleges and universities manage their compliance risk.
We also watch the market as higher education and workforce needs are constantly evolving.
As new professions emerge or existing professions grow in importance, we evaluate whether they should be added to The Bookmark. For example, specialized education credentials such as Reading Specialist and Literacy Specialist have become increasingly important as states place greater emphasis on literacy outcomes and educator preparation requirements.
When we see a profession gaining traction, we begin evaluating whether it makes sense to add and maintain that license type within The Bookmark.
Adding a License Is Only the Beginning
Many people assume the challenge is conducting the initial research, when in reality, that’s only part of the work.
Every license type included in The Bookmark requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Our research team regularly:
- Conducts annual reviews and updates
- Monitors state board communications
- Tracks regulatory and legislative changes
- Reviews policy updates from licensing agencies
- Watches for changes that could impact institutional disclosures and determinations
Because we are committed to accuracy, we have to be selective about what we add. Every new license type becomes a long-term responsibility.
Read more about HELP’s research team, “Behind the Curtain: How Expert Research Powers The Bookmark.”
Member Feedback Drives the Conversation
One of the most important factors in our decision-making process is member feedback.
We maintain a running list of license requests and suggestions submitted by institutions. Every request helps us better understand what members are seeing on their campuses and where additional support may be needed.
While not every request results in a new license type being added, member feedback plays a major role in shaping future priorities and research decisions.
Simply put: we listen.
If your institution needs information on a license type that isn’t currently available in The Bookmark, there are several ways to request it.
You can:
- Contact The Bookmark team directly
- Submit suggestions through member surveys
- Discuss emerging needs during member webinars, conversations, and support calls
For member institutions that need a particular license type prioritized, we also offer a custom research option. For an additional fee of $2,000, qualifying license types can be moved up the research queue and evaluated sooner.
Quality Over Quantity
The Bookmark isn’t designed to be the largest collection of licensure information available. It’s designed to be the most useful, accurate, and easy to access.
Every license type we include represents an ongoing commitment to accuracy, maintenance, and member value. By focusing on the professions that matter most to institutions, we provide reliable information that helps compliance teams make confident decisions.
And as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, we’ll keep listening, evaluating, and refining our coverage to ensure The Bookmark remains the trusted resource our members depend on.
Have a license type you’d like us to consider? If your institution is a member of The Bookmark, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re seeing a growing need on your campus, navigating a new professional pathway, or wondering if a particular credential is already on our radar, reach out to our team. Member feedback helps shape future research priorities and ensures The Bookmark continues to meet the needs of higher education institutions across the country.
Want to see how The Bookmark helps institutions stay ahead of licensure changes? Contact us to schedule a demo.