Having trouble convincing key stakeholders on the value of a job task analysis (JTA)? Below you will find ways that a JTA can contribute to the growth of a credentialing program.

  • A credentialing program and its associated exams have the responsibility of public protection by ensuring that individuals in a given occupation or profession meet the essential standards and requirements for practice. Central to a certification exam are the job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) assessed by the exam. The role of a JTA is to identify the tasks and related KSAs required for safe and effective job performance.
  • The results of a job analysis forms the basis of the test blueprint, which translates the necessary knowledge, skills, or other competencies into a usable framework for test development. The content areas that are more important to competent job performance receive more weight on the exam compared to less important areas. This weighting, along with the type of items to be developed, is essential to the item writing process by guiding item writers to produce quality items linked to some element of the content outline.
  • A well-conducted job analysis study is foundational to a sound, legally defensible credentialing program. The job analysis process provides the content validity evidence for the exam. If challenged, programs can use the results of the job analysis study to clearly demonstrate that the content of their examination reflects the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies required by practitioners.
  • A job analysis study includes establishing common terminology, concepts, and contexts for that discipline. This is especially important in related professions that may have overlap in the scope of practice and utilize similar terms and concepts. A job analysis study can be used to parse out interpretation of terms, and concepts may differ, especially in relation to what defines “competent” practice.
  • Before a credentialing program goes global, it’s important to consider the cultural, governmental, and regulatory differences that will impact the validity of a credential in a new region. A job analysis can help identify the global differences in practice in order to appropriately adjust the test blueprint and exam content.
  • In any industry, it is fully expected that the skills required of a practitioner will change over time as new regulations, standards, or processes evolve. A job analysis helps an industry identify the market needs and workforce gaps to support those changes. Additionally, the results of a job analysis help identify areas of professional development and enable training providers to improve the quality of their offerings.

Scantron’s assessment development and psychometric services are the backbone of the reliable credentialing and assessment programs we develop and deliver for our clients. Our experts go beyond the science with a personalized team approach by taking the time necessary to understand each client’s program.