The Future of Healthcare Credentialing Is an Ongoing Dialogue—Not a One-and-Done Certification

By Christopher Gill, PhD, MBA, CRNA, FACHE, Chief Credentialing Officer, NBCRNA and Becky LeBuhn, MA, Public Member, NBCRNA Board of Directors

As healthcare evolves, so must the ways we define and maintain professional competency. Clinical innovation is accelerating, patient expectations are rising, and the need for adaptable, up-to-date providers is more critical than ever. 

That’s why the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) developed the Maintaining Anesthesia Certification (MAC) Program—a longitudinal approach to continued certification for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Rather than relying solely on high-stakes exams administered once every several years, MAC engages CRNAs in short, quarterly assessments that support real-time learning and immediate application in practice. 

While MAC is designed for CRNAs, the core principles—routine knowledge checks, real-time feedback, and lifelong learning—are relevant across all healthcare professions. In this conversation, Christopher Gill, NBCRNA’s Chief Credentialing Officer, and public board member Becky LeBuhn explore how this evolving model reflects a deeper shift in how the healthcare industry should think about certification and public trust. 

Christopher Gill (CG): Becky, we’re in a moment where healthcare professionals are expected to stay sharp and agile—but most legacy credentialing models weren’t built for that. Why do you think continuous certification is gaining traction? 

Becky LeBuhn (BL): Because the world has changed. Healthcare doesn’t stand still, and neither should competency assessment. Patients care about how CRNAs and other healthcare professionals apply knowledge and skills in practice, and they assume their providers will stay current. A certification earned years ago doesn’t always reflect that. Ongoing evaluation to demonstrate currency creates a stronger assurance that providers are engaged, informed, and evolving with the field. 

CG: That’s why MAC was built to integrate learning into practice. The assessments are short, delivered quarterly, and accessible on mobile devices. It’s not about cramming for an exam every eight years—it’s about reinforcing relevant knowledge continuously. That’s more aligned with how learning works in the real world. 

BL: And from the public’s perspective, that builds trust. In a recent NBCRNA survey, 96% of patients said it’s important for CRNAs to participate in ongoing education and assessment. Eighty-two percent said knowing their CRNA is committed to continued certification increases their confidence in the care they receive. That kind of trust doesn’t come from a single exam—it comes from accountability demonstrated over time. 

CG: Absolutely. And in a specialty like anesthesia, where decision-making is fast and high-stakes, there’s no room to be out of date. The MAC Program helps providers keep their edge by offering immediate feedback and guiding reflection on clinical scenarios that mirror what they’re facing every day. It’s designed to be not just formative, but highly relevant. 

BL: That kind of real-time engagement with professional development shouldn’t be limited to anesthesia. The concept applies across healthcare. When credentialing bodies adopt this mindset, they shift from being perceived as gatekeepers to being seen as partners in lifelong learning and professional excellence. 

CG: And that’s a mindset shift we need. Too often, continued certification is framed as compliance. But when it’s built around lifelong learning, it becomes something clinicians value because it supports their growth and improves patient care. That’s exactly what MAC aims to do. 

BL: It’s also a smarter investment—for health systems, for regulators, and for patients. Instead of intermittent checks on paper credentials, you’re building a workforce that’s continuously assessed and directed to educational resources if necessary. That’s the kind of active engagement we need to meet today’s complexity. 

CG: The MAC Program is one example of what’s possible, but the bigger opportunity is this: healthcare certification models must evolve to reflect how care is delivered now—constantly changing, data-informed, and deeply human. That means moving beyond episodic exams to a model that supports learning as a daily practice. 

BL: And when that happens, everyone wins—clinicians, systems, and most importantly, the patients we’re all here to serve.