Cary List, president and CEO of Financial Planning Standards Council has been appointed head of the board of a U.S. organization that represents professional and occupational credentialing bodies.

The Washington-based Institute for Credentialing Excellence announced the appointment of List as board president for the 2012 term at its annual conference in November. The institute aims to advance the credentialing process through education, standards, research and advocacy to ensure competence across professions and occupations.

List has been involved in promoting professional certification in the financial planning business for two decades. He’s held senior-level roles with FPSC since 2002, where he oversaw the launch of the CFP Financial Planning Practice Standards in 2004 and the CFP Professional Competency Profile in 2005, which clearly defined — for the first time — the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes financial planners must have to meet the needs and expectations of their clients.

Last year, List also led the development and adoption of new requirements for the Canadian CFP certification program.

“ICE is incredibly fortunate to have Cary List as its incoming president,” said Denise Roosendall, executive director of ICE. “His organizational expertise, as well as his understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the international credentialing community, is extensive.”

List said he’s looking forward to taking on the leadership role with ICE.

“Professional certification is integral to the credibility of any professional service,” he said. “I will continue to build upon the work that ICE has already done to advance quality certification standards and training in the certification community that serves so many professions and their respective stakeholders.”

List’s term as president runs from November 2011 to the November 2012 ICE Annual Conference. He will continue to act as president and CEO of FPSC.