Pearson has acquired US assessment technology company ITS, bringing remote testing, proctoring and performance-based assessment tech into its Pearson Professional Assessments unit, the company said.
What the deal covers
The Baltimore-headquartered firm will be folded into Pearson’s assessments arm. ITS supplies technology and services that cover much of the assessment lifecycle: secure test delivery, practice and preparation, certification maintenance, test development, remote proctoring and performance-based assessment. The two businesses say they have traded commercially since 2009.
- Buyer: Pearson (UK-headquartered)
- Target: ITS (Baltimore, US)
- Placement: ITS becomes part of Pearson Professional Assessments
- Financial terms: Not disclosed
Why Pearson is betting on assessment technology
Pearson is aiming to broaden and deepen its assessment offerings at a time when remote delivery and secure verification are central to professional and high-stakes testing. ITS provides services commonly required by certification bodies and professional regulators, including continuous certification and performance assessment, areas that increasingly rely on integrated technology platforms.
Pearson, which employs around 18,000 people and says it serves customers in nearly 200 countries, framed the move as a strengthening of its capacity to provide reliable assessment and verification.
“Organizations are turning to Pearson for assessment and verification they can trust. We know ITS well and value the proven technology, deep industry knowledge, and dedicated team they bring.”
That comment came from Art Valentine, president of Assessment & Qualifications at Pearson. ITS’s president Pat Ward described the transaction as a natural next step for a long-standing partnership.
Market context and implications
The acquisition reflects two broader shifts in testing and certification. First, demand for remote and hybrid delivery systems has grown since the pandemic, pushing providers to invest in secure online platforms and proctoring. Second, professional certification is moving towards continuous assessment models that need ongoing platform support rather than one-off exam events.
For Pearson, adding ITS’s technology stack and expertise could reduce dependence on third-party suppliers and accelerate product integration across its global assessment business. For customers—exam boards, professional bodies and employers—the combined offering promises a single supplier able to manage many parts of the assessment lifecycle, from development to delivery and certification upkeep.
| Area | What ITS provides |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Secure test delivery, remote proctoring |
| Assessment types | Performance-based and continuous certification |
| Support | Practice, preparation and test development tools |
How regulators, professional bodies and customers react will determine whether the acquisition produces meaningful improvements or simply consolidates market power. Integration of two assessment systems can be technically complex and may prompt questions about interoperability, data protection and independence in the delivery of high-stakes assessments.
Unanswered questions
Pearson did not disclose financial terms, leaving valuation and strategic cost assumptions unclear. The companies also did not outline integration timelines, contractual changes for existing ITS clients, or how data governance will be handled across jurisdictions. Those details matter for institutions that must demonstrate impartiality, preserve candidate privacy and meet local regulatory requirements.
For now, the transaction is a clear signal that major educational publishers and assessment firms will continue to invest in technology-driven assessment services — and that buyers of these services can expect further consolidation among a small number of global suppliers.
As the industry adapts, customers and regulators should expect to press for transparent plans on data handling, platform security and the maintenance of independent assessment standards.
