CPHN Job Task Analysis

What is a Job Task Analysis?

A Job Task Analysis (JTA) is a systematic, evidence-based process used to identify the essential knowledge, skills, and responsibilities required for effective professional practice. In certification development, the JTA serves as the foundation for defining competency standards and ensuring that an examination reflects real-world practice.

For the Certified in Public Health Nursing (CPHN) certification, the JTA defines the day-to-day work of public health nurses across diverse settings, populations, and roles. It ensures that the CPHN certification exam is grounded in contemporary public health nursing practice and aligned with the realities of the workforce.

Why the CPHN Job Task Analysis Matters

Public health nurses play a unique and critical role in protecting and improving population health. Unlike clinical nursing roles focused on individual patient care, public health nursing integrates clinical expertise with public health science, systems thinking, and community engagement.

The CPHN Job Task Analysis:

• Establishes a national, practice-based standard for public health nursing
• Clearly defines the distinct competencies that differentiate public health nursing from other nursing and public health roles
• Provides a transparent and defensible foundation for certification
• Ensures the CPHN certification exam reflects current, real-world practice

By grounding certification in a validated JTA, NBPHE affirms public health nursing as a distinct professional discipline with specialized expertise and responsibility.

How the CPHN Job Task Analysis Was Conducted

NBPHE conducted the Certified in Public Health Nursing Job Task Analysis in Spring 2025 with funding support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The results of this national survey directly informed the CPHN exam content outline and the weighting of domains included on the certification exam.

The process included:

A Practice-Based Foundation for Professional Recognition

The CPHN Job Task Analysis ensures that the Certified in Public Health Nursing certification is grounded in practice, shaped by the workforce, and aligned with the real responsibilities public health nurses carry every day.

By defining and validating the competencies of public health nursing, the JTA supports professional recognition, workforce development, and the continued advancement of public health nursing as a distinct and essential discipline.

Learn more about the Certified in Public Health Nursing Certification Program.

The CPHN JTA Report

The CPHN JTA validation survey results support the domains and task statements developed during the job analysis meeting, confirming that they provide a defensible and accurate representation of competent practice in public health nursing. This outcome establishes a foundation for the examination specifications developed through the JTA process, ensuring that they accurately reflect the responsibilities of CPHN professionals. The Job Task Analysis Committee approved the content outline and domain-level distribution via email on September 12, 2025.

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