Pearson buys assessment tech firm ITS to expand professional testing

What's the deal? Pearson has acquired ITS (Internet Testing Systems), a Baltimore-based company that manages, delivers, and reports on assessment programs. The deal was announced in September 2026; terms were not disclosed. ITS will become part of Pearson Professional AssessmentsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.

Why now? The two firms have worked together since 2009, and the acquisition formalises that longstanding commercial relationship. "Joining Pearson is a natural next step for a partnership that has driven innovation in professional assessment since 2009," said Pat Ward, president of ITS.

What's the endgame? Pearson, the London-listed lifelong learning company, wants to strengthen its assessment and verification capabilities. ITS adds remote testing and proctoring, performance-based assessment, and continuous certification to Pearson's offerings for customers worldwide.

What each company does: Pearson serves customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. ITS helps testing and certification organisations build and deliver assessment programs, including secure test delivery, remote proctoring, and AI-powered assessment.

Art Valentine, president of assessment and qualifications at Pearson, said the deal "strengthens Pearson's role as verified skills and assessment infrastructure and supports our long-term assessment strategy."

The signal: Both companies point to AI as central to the future of testing, and the deal bets that trusted, verifiable assessment will matter more as automation reshapes how skills are proven. By absorbing a longtime partner, Pearson is consolidating the infrastructure behind professional certification rather than building it from scratch.

Image credit: Generated with Gemini