Job Task Analysis

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Job Task Analysis for Certification and Licensure Examinations

The Caviart Group has designed and conducted nearly 100 job task analysis studies for high-stakes certification and licensure exams.

At The Caviart Group, Job Task Analysis (JTA) studies are at the core of what we do — and one of our most requested services. A JTA is a search for truth: accurate, unbiased information about what members of a profession actually do that impacts the lives of others, and the knowledge and skills required to perform those tasks competently.

JTA studies for high-stakes certification and licensure examinations carry an additional imperative: Legal Defensibility. The design of a JTA for high-stakes use must meet a higher standard of rigor — one that protects your program against challenge and positions it for accreditation.

We have conducted job task analysis studies for dozens of programs, including major national licensure examinations such as the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE). We understand what it takes to deliver a JTA that will meet the demands — and withstand the scrutiny — of a high-stakes examination program.

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What Sets Our Job Task Analysis Studies Apart

Our approach to conducting a job task analysis for a high-stakes program is designed to ensure the rigor and credibility needed, while delivering actionable results that go beyond your typical JTA. Here’s what makes our methodology different: 

Built to Identify Future Trends, Today

Unlike a standard job task analysis, our methodology incorporates a forward-looking assessment of what will shape your profession in the years ahead, so your program is ready to respond before the rest of the field catches up. From artificial intelligence to major industry and societal shifts, we've identified emerging trends in studies across professions.

Uncovering Business-Building Insights

A job task analysis generates insights and knowledge about your profession and your program that extends well beyond test specifications. Our deep experience in credentialing program management means we're positioned to identify opportunities to increase efficiency, better serve your certificants, and strengthen your program's competitive position.

Designed to Meet the Highest Accreditation Standards

Our job task analysis studies are designed to meet and exceed all major accreditation standards, including NCCA, ANSI/ISO 17024, and the APA Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. As one of the few consultancies with deep experience in both certification and licensure examination programs, we know how to deliver the rigor that accreditors require and the legal defensibility your program demands.

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FAQ

Do you have more questions about Job Task Analysis? Here are answers to some of the most common questions. 

  • A Job Task Analysis (JTA) — also known as a practice analysis or role delineation study — is a structured research study that identifies the tasks professionals actually perform on the job, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform them competently. The JTA is the foundation of a legally defensible certification or licensure examination and must be conducted rigorously and documented thoroughly to withstand scrutiny.

  • NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) requires that a job task analysis be conducted as a foundational step in developing any certification examination seeking accreditation. A current, documented JTA must be in place before accreditation can be granted, and it must be updated on a regular cycle — typically every five years — to maintain accredited status. NCCA's standards also require that the JTA be conducted using a sound, systematic methodology and that the resulting exam content be demonstrably tied to the study's findings. Programs seeking ANSI/ISO 17024 accreditation face similar requirements. If your program is pursuing or maintaining accreditation, the quality and documentation of your JTA is the cornerstone of your application.

  • This depends on the profession and its rate of change. As a general rule, JTAs should be reviewed and updated every three to five years to ensure the examination remains current and defensible. Professions that evolve rapidly — such as technology, cybersecurity, or healthcare — may require a shorter cycle. Accreditation bodies like NCCA typically set their own renewal requirements, which your update schedule must also satisfy. We can assess your profession and your program's specific circumstances and recommend the right cadence for you.

  • These terms all refer to the same type of study. "Job Task Analysis" (or JTA) is the most widely used term in certification and licensure contexts. 

  • The timeline depends on a number of factors including the availability of subject matter experts and industry participation rates. Typically, JTAs take four to six months to complete. 

  • The cost of a Job Task Analysis is largely determined by the rigor the study demands. A JTA designed for an accredited certification or licensure examination — one that must meet stringent standards and withstand legal scrutiny — typically ranges from $25,000to $50,000, depending on the size and complexity of your program and profession.

    What you should know about working with The Caviart Group: our studies deliver more than a standard JTA — including forward-looking trend analysis and program insights you won't get elsewhere — but our pricing is competitive with firms offering far less. We've built efficiency into our methodology without compromising the rigor your program requires. You shouldn't have to choose between quality and value, and with us, you don't.

  • Yes. For many of our clients, the JTA is the foundation of a broader engagement. We frequently work with programs through the full examination development process — from the initial job task analysis through test development, standard setting, and beyond. Because we've built your JTA, we bring continuity and institutional knowledge to every subsequent phase of your program's development. If you'd like to discuss your program's broader needs, we'd welcome the conversation.