Job Task Analysis (Role Delineation)

In order to develop a content‐valid examination, the knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice in the profession must be determined. The process for identifying these competency areas is referred to as a Role Delineation Study (or Job Task Analysis), and these processes require the input from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the field that represent different regions and schools. It is through the work of these SMEs and a dedicated psychometrician that the various domains and tasks related to the field are identified

The identifications of the group are later shared with a larger audience of practitioners for validation. Once completed, the role delineation study serves as the blueprint for examination construction.

The next step in the exam construction is Item Writing (or question writing) for the exam. Item Writers are chosen by the Chair of the Commission and must be current NPCP Certified Pilates Teachers with 5 years teaching experience and represent similar demographic characteristics as the candidate population. Using the exam blueprint and under the supervision of a dedicated psychometrician, Item Writers work to create the necessary number of questions to create or replenish new or existing forms (exams).

The NPCP developed two forms with 150 items (125 scored, 25 unscored). This examination is designed to assess minimally acceptable knowledge of the duties performed by Pilates teachers.

A high‐quality examination must have a defensible passing score. That is, the score that separates passing examinees from failing examinees must be determined in a systematic and reasonable way.

To achieve this, a group of SMEs is chosen by the Certification Commission that includes individuals whose careers and professional qualifications indicated strong knowledge of Pilates teaching. Under the supervision of a dedicated psychometrician, the group works to establish data that the psychometricians can analyze and use to determine the passing point for the exam.