Ascend Learning

Ascend Learning

Healthcare education technology platform provider

Overview

Ascend Learning is a healthcare and learning technology company that provides education and credentialing solutions across the learning continuum, focusing on healthcare and licensure-driven professions. Its products include testing, certification, and exam-prep platforms used by physicians, nurses, EMTs, allied health professionals, personal trainers, financial advisers, skilled tradespeople, and insurance brokers to prepare for and earn credentials. It differentiates itself by combining learning tech with credentialing across many licensed fields, with a broad reach and a strong emphasis on healthcare and regulatory records. Its goal is to help people advance in growing careers and support healthier, safer communities through practical education and trusted credentialing.

Significant Headcount Growth

About Ascend Learning

Simplify's Rating
Why Ascend Learning is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Enterprise Software

Education

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Burlington, Vermont

Founded

2008

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • TAMS reaches 70-plus universities, including Johns Hopkins and Texas A&M, expanding cross-sell.
  • StaffGarden already runs with more than 20 health systems, validating enterprise demand.
  • Laudio, NASM, and ATI give Ascend multiple 2026 product launches and award momentum.

What critics are saying

  • Healthcare workforce software faces Workday-native competition after the June 2026 Marketplace launch.
  • Ascend's nursing concentration ties growth to faculty shortages and hospital budget cycles.
  • If AI-native assessment vendors win, Ascend's legacy content businesses lose pricing power.

What makes Ascend Learning unique

  • ATI Nursing Education serves over 60% of U.S. nursing schools.
  • StaffGarden became a Workday Marketplace app on June 18, 2026.
  • TAMS acquisition on August 5, 2026 extends Ascend from learning into operations.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Hybrid Work Options

Remote Work Options

Paid Vacation

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Parental Leave

Wellness Program

Conference Attendance Budget

Tuition Reimbursement

Hybrid Work Options

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

9%

1 year growth

9%

2 year growth

10%
Business Insider
Aug 5th, 2026
Ascend Learning acquires TAMS to streamline faculty management at nursing schools

Ascend Learning has acquired Teaching Assignment Management System (TAMS), a cloud-based platform developed at Duke University to manage faculty teaching assignments and workload. TAMS is currently used by over 70 colleges and universities, including Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, and Marquette University, with a strong presence in nursing and health sciences programmes. The platform addresses challenges faced by nursing schools dealing with faculty shortages and administrative complexity. TAMS replaces manual, spreadsheet-based processes with a centralised system that consolidates faculty preferences, workload data, and course assignments. Through its ATI Nursing Education brand, Ascend already supports more than 60% of US nursing schools. The acquisition extends Ascend's offerings beyond student learning and faculty development to operational management of teaching assignments. "TAMS solves a problem our customers have always had," said Lissy Hu, CEO of Ascend Learning.

Ascend Learning
Aug 5th, 2026
Ascend Learning acquires TAMS to strengthen faculty operations at nursing schools.

Ascend Learning acquires TAMS to strengthen faculty operations at nursing schools. August 5, 2026 New addition helps nursing programs staff smarter and teach more. BOSTON, Aug. 05, 2026 - Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, today announced the acquisition of Teaching Assignment Management System (TAMS), a cloud-based platform built at Duke University to help manage teaching assignments and workload. Since its inception, TAMS has grown into a trusted faculty workload and teaching assignment platform now used by over 70 colleges and universities, including Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, Marquette University, and numerous leading nursing schools and health sciences programs across the country. The acquisition deepens Ascend Learning's continued investment in technologies that help institutions strengthen their programs, support faculty, and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. As healthcare organizations continue to face workforce shortages, nursing programs are under increasing pressure to educate more students despite persistent faculty shortages and growing administrative complexity. And, TAMS addresses a critical gap by replacing the manual, spreadsheet-based processes that burden program administrators, with a centralized, data-driven platform. This 'single source of truth' brings faculty preferences, workload data, and course assignments into one place, helping institutions make more informed, equitable faculty assignment decisions. "Nursing schools are doing extraordinary work under real pressure, and our job is to make that work easier at every level. TAMS solves a problem our customers have always had, and now they have a single trusted team behind the full picture, from faculty planning to student outcomes," said Lissy Hu, MD, CEO of Ascend Learning. Through ATI Nursing Education, Ascend already supports more than 60% of U.S. nursing schools with curriculum, assessment, simulation, and faculty development solutions. Across Ascend's other healthcare brands it offers solutions that equip students, educators and schools with tools designed to help prepare healthcare professionals to enter healthcare careers and then help the healthcare employers and workforce continue learning, gain certifications, and manage career pathways and continuous professional learning throughout their careers. TAMS complements these solutions by extending Ascend's support of institutions beyond student learning and faculty development to the operational decisions that determine how teaching happens. "We built TAMS at Duke because we lived the problem firsthand and knew there had to be a better way. What started as a solution for one institution has grown into a platform trusted by programs across the country. Ascend's reach through ATI into nursing education, its commitment to building technology that genuinely serves institutions, and the depth of its existing relationships with the schools we care about deeply made this the right path forward. We share a common mission with Ascend, which makes this the right place for TAMS to grow and innovate," said David Parrish, Founder, TAMS. Together, Ascend now supports institutions across the full continuum, from faculty planning and workload management to student learning, competency development, and workforce readiness. About TAMS TAMS, the Teaching Assignment Management System, is a cloud-based platform built at Duke University that modernizes how colleges and universities manage faculty teaching assignments. Leveraging powerful data analytics, TAMS gives institutions a single system of record for faculty preferences, teaching history, and workload, eliminating the spreadsheets and manual processes that have long burdened program administrators. The result is smarter staffing decisions, more equitable workload distribution, stronger faculty engagement, and real cost savings. More than 70 institutions, with a concentration in nursing and health sciences programs, rely on TAMS to bring greater efficiency and operational clarity to their teaching assignment process. About Ascend Learning Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.

Ascend Learning
Jul 28th, 2026
ATI Engage(R) Series honored with Gold Stevie(R) Award for Technology Breakthrough of the Year in Educational Technology.

ATI Engage(R) Series honored with Gold Stevie(R) Award for Technology Breakthrough of the Year in Educational Technology. July 28, 2026 Prestigious Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence honor ATI's ai-powered Nursing Education platform for advancing clinical judgment, student success and workforce readiness. LEAWOOD, Kan. - July 28, 2026 - Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, today announced that the Engage(R) Series, a product by Ascend brand ATI Nursing Education, won the Gold Stevie(R) Award for Technology Breakthrough of the Year - Educational Technology in the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. The award recognizes innovative technologies that are transforming education and helping learners achieve better outcomes through breakthrough approaches to teaching and learning. The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of individuals, teams and organizations shaping the future of technology across all industry sectors. More than 700 nominations from organizations in 37 nations and territories were submitted for consideration this year. More than 180 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process. As a leading provider of nursing education technology, ATI helps nursing programs improve student preparedness, strengthen clinical judgment, increase licensure exam success and prepare practice-ready nurses to meet the growing needs of the healthcare workforce. The recognition reinforces ATI's position as a leading provider of nursing education technology, highlighting how Engage combines evidence-based content, immersive digital learning and AI-powered support to improve student outcomes and educator effectiveness. AI-Powered Nursing Education built on evidence-based learning. Engage(R) is ATI's evidence-based nursing education platform designed to help students build clinical judgment, strengthen clinical reasoning and prepare for real-world patient care. The platform combines interactive case studies, videos, podcasts, adaptive remediation and real-time learning insights into a comprehensive approach that creates a more engaging and effective learning experience than traditional textbooks. At the center of the platform is Claire AI(R), ATI's personalized learning assistant. Integrated directly into nursing content students are already studying, Claire AI(R) provides real-time explanations, guided practice and tailored feedback that reinforce key concepts, strengthen clinical reasoning and build confidence in a safe, supportive environment. Together, Engage and Claire AI provide comprehensive learning support for both students and educators, helping personalize instruction, identify learning gaps and improve student success at scale. "Preparing the next generation of nurses requires learning experiences that actively develop clinical judgment, confidence and decision-making skills," said Tushar Tanna, SVP Product at Ascend Learning. "ATI's Engage(R) Series combines evidence-based nursing education, immersive digital learning and AI-powered support to help students succeed while equipping educators with tools that improve outcomes. We're honored to receive this Gold Stevie(R) Award and proud to continue advancing innovation in healthcare education." Winners will be honored at the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence ceremony on October 28 in Paris, France. About Ascend Learning Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. About ATI Nursing Education ATI helps create competent, practice-ready nurses who are dedicated to maintaining public safety and ensuring the future of healthcare. As a leading provider of online learning programs for nursing, ATI supports and helps educate future nurses from admissions through continuing education and professional development. About the Stevie Awards The Stevie(R) Awards are widely recognized as the world's premier business awards. The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognize outstanding achievements that are shaping the future of technology across industries worldwide.

Yahoo Finance
Jun 18th, 2026
StaffGarden launches on Workday Marketplace to streamline healthcare workforce development

StaffGarden by Ascend Learning has launched on the Workday Marketplace, formalising a partnership that has supported healthcare organisations since 2021. More than 20 health systems currently use StaffGarden with Workday to integrate workforce data with clinical development insights. The integration allows HR data from Workday to flow directly into StaffGarden's clinical ladder and competency management workflows. This aims to provide healthcare leaders with unified, real-time workforce data whilst reducing duplicate work across systems. The platform supports demographic reporting for accreditation and compliance, and connects HR data with workforce development programmes. StaffGarden's integration with Workday Human Capital Management is a Design Approved Integration, with its architecture and data mapping validated by Workday for interoperability and risk reduction.

Ascend Learning
Jun 11th, 2026
ATI Engage(R) honored with EdTech Breakthrough digital Learning Innovation Award for advancing digital learning in Nursing Education.

ATI Engage(R) honored with EdTech Breakthrough digital Learning Innovation Award for advancing digital learning in Nursing Education. June 11, 2026 2026 EdTech Breakthrough award recognizes ATI's innovative approach to supporting student success and clinical readiness. LEAWOOD, Kan., - June 11, 2026 - Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, today announced that the ATI Engage(R) Series, a product by Ascend brand ATI Nursing Education, has been selected as winner of the "Digital Learning Innovation Award" in the 8th annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by EdTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies and solutions in the global educational technology market. The ATI Engage(R) Series is a fully digital, multimedia-rich interactive learning platform with a strong focus on core, evidence-based nursing content designed to prepare practice-ready nurses. Engage allows students to see the areas where they scored lower or need deeper understanding and then access targeted resources to strengthen their knowledge while helping them build confidence, competence and the clinical judgment required for clinical readiness and real-world care. At the center of the experience is Claire AI(R), a personalized learning assistant designed to study alongside learners, reinforce key concepts and provide real-time guidance. Students can explore topics, practice clinical reasoning and receive tailored explanations and feedback based on their individual learning needs - supporting deeper understanding and long-term retention. ATI Engage offers a variety of digital resources that help students engage with content in ways that align with their learning preferences and deepen understanding. Interactive case studies, videos and podcasts bring real patient encounters to life, creating immersive, multimodal experiences that improve motivation, engagement and knowledge retention while offering multiple pathways to mastery. Engage also empowers educators to deliver inclusive, engaging, and outcomes-aligned instruction quickly and easily. It enables them to create lesson plans from pre-built slides, clinical scenarios, and next-generation NCLEX-style assessments, while real-time analytics provide actionable insights into student performance. The platform supports teaching effectiveness through actionable insights, pre-built learning resources, and tools that help educators personalize instruction. "Engage's digital learning landscape transforms passive study into active clinical reasoning. Preparing new nurses is urgent but challenging, with students expected to develop clinical judgment and decision-making skills while faculty navigate competing demands. Traditional text-based resources fall short in delivering interactive, applied learning experiences that build real-world competence," said Steve Johansson, managing director, EdTech Breakthrough. "With the ATI Engage Series, students and educators operate in seamless partnership through a connected platform that transforms lessons into immersive, practice-ready experiences, making the journey to becoming a clinical-ready nurse as engaging and human as possible for everyone involved." "Effective learning experiences do more than deliver information; they help students build the confidence and clinical judgment needed to succeed in practice," said Tushar Tanna, SVP Product at Ascend Learning. "The ATI Engage(R) Series combines evidence-based content, interactive learning and AI-powered support to meet students where they are and help educators drive stronger outcomes. We're honored to be recognized by EdTech Breakthrough for our continued commitment to innovation in healthcare education." The EdTech Breakthrough Awards program returns for its 8th annual cycle with its largest and most competitive field yet drawing a record number of nominations from innovators across more than 20 countries. The program is dedicated to recognizing breakthrough educational technology products and companies reshaping how the world learns - in classrooms, campuses, boardrooms and beyond. Thousands of entries were evaluated across a wide range of categories spanning the full edtech spectrum, including Student Engagement, Classroom Management, School Administration, Adaptive Learning, STEM Education, Corporate Learning, Career Preparation, Language Learning and many more. About Ascend Learning Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. About ATI Nursing Education ATI helps create competent, practice-ready nurses who are dedicated to maintaining public safety and ensuring the future of healthcare. As a leading provider of online learning programs for nursing, ATI supports and helps educate future nurses from admissions, throughout undergraduate and graduate nursing school, and via continuing education over the course of their careers. ATI began in 1998 with the aid of a nurse, and ATI's team of doctorate- and master's-prepared nurse educators continue to lead the development of ATI's psychometrically designed and data-driven solutions. These solutions improve faculty effectiveness, fuel student progress, and advance program outcomes in three distinct areas: assessing performance, remediating problem areas, and predicting future student and program success. For nursing school administrators and nurse educators, ATI is the trusted advisor that consistently drives nursing success. To learn more about ATI, visit www.atitesting.com. About EdTech Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the EdTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in educational technology products, companies and people. The EdTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough educational technology in categories including remote learning, student engagement, school administration, career preparation, language learning, STEM education and more. For more information, visit EdTechBreakthrough.com. Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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