Interesting concept. 

  I always support the principles of the Rights to Freely Associate, Freely Assemble in Peace, and to Contract.  I find that professional industry groups, other private organizations like the Better Business Bureau and the media, and free market forces are better checks on commerce than inviting regulatory intervention.  This extends to groups like NALTEA which establish voluntary standards and practices through things like the exam.

  At the same time, having transparency for such groups, with members encouraging them to be and stay  nonprofit in nature, to abide by laws that govern such things, is critical to their honest operation.  In this sense, a trial period of open exams sounds like a good idea, so why not?