CDMS 2025 Job Task Analysis Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of the 2025 CDMS® Job Task Analysis is to ensure that the standards of the Certified Disability Management Specialists (CDMS) certification exam reflect the latest knowledge, skills, and relevant subject matter required for safe and effective disability management practices. This process provides evidence to confirm that the exam content aligns with real-world professional job practices and responsibilities.
The Commission for Case Manager Certification® (CCMC®) conducts a Job Task Analysis every five years to ensure that the CDMS exam remains valid, reliable, and objective to the current professional practice. A Job Task Analysis identifies the essential knowledge, skills, and tasks performed by disability management specialists in their daily practice. This process provides a solid foundation for defining the content of the certification exam and ensures it accurately assesses the competencies required for effective practice. Additionally, conducting a Job Task Analysis every five years aligns with CCMC's policies, industry best practices for credentialing programs, and the standards set by NCCA, highlighting that the CDMS is the only independent, nationally accredited program that certifies disability management specialists. It provides evidence of validity, demonstrating that the exam content reflects the real-world responsibilities and relevance of the credential.
The Commission contracted Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) to conduct the 2025 CDMS Job Task Analysis.
Who is surveyed? And when?
A survey was sent to all current certificants and relevant individuals through the CCMC database in April 2025. This survey was in the field from April 2 to April 22, 2025, and resulted in 205 responses.
What were the demographics of those surveyed?
- 50% of the respondents work in vocational rehabilitation.
- 25% of the respondents have maintained their CDMS for more than 20 years.
- 38.8% of the respondents live in the western United States, with 25.9% from the southern United States.
How will these findings impact the CDMS exam?
The 2025 Job Task Analysis introduced some changes to the CDMS exam to improve the current structure and weights. Due to these changes, CDMS exams administered in March 2026 and beyond will follow this updated content outline, which aligns with the current practices. These changes include:
- All domains will be weighted at a different degree than the previous exam.
- Domain one: Disability and Work Interruption Case Management - 36%
- Domain two: Workplace Interventions – 27%
- Domain three: Program Development, Management, and Evaluation – 18%
- Domain four: Employment Leaves and Benefits Administration – 19%
- Language Revisions: Adjustments to language within the exam were made to better reflect industry changes to ensure clear and concise modifications to the overall objective.
- Number of questions: Although the subject matter will not change, since there is a difference in weight distribution, there may be more questions in some domains compared to previous years.
When will exam prep materials be updated to reflect the new CDMS exam blueprint?
Official CDMS exam preparation materials, aligned with these updates from the Job Task Analysis, will be released in fall 2025. The resources available include practice exam items and the Core Knowledge Curriculum (CKC).
I’m planning to sit for the CDMS exam. How will this impact me?
Candidates taking the CDMS exam will NOT receive an immediate pass/no pass notification because a standard-setting study must be conducted whenever a new exam blueprint is introduced. Candidates will be notified via email that the results have been uploaded to their account within 90 days of the end of the testing window. If you have questions about this process, please email cdmshq@cdms.org.
I already have my CDMS. How will this impact me?
Renewal guidelines for the CDMS will remain the same.
I have questions about the JTA. Who can I contact?
Please send any questions to cdmshq@cdms.org.