What is a Cognitive Psychosocial Job Demands Analysis (CPJDA)?
A CPJDA is a specialized job hazard assessment that examines the mental (cognitive) requirements of a role. CPJDA can be thought of as the equivalent to Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) that have been used for decades to assess physical requirements of a job – only for the mental requirements of a job.
CPJDAs are critical to supporting safe return to work (RTW) agreements for both employers and workers by assessing how workers use cognitive skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, memory, and attention to detail to perform their work effectively.
What is a Cognitive Jobs Demand Analysis (CPJDA)?
A CPJDA is a specialized job hazard assessment that examines the mental (cognitive) requirements of a role. CPJDA can be thought of as the equivalent to Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) that have been used for decades to assess physical requirements of a job – only for the mental requirements of a job.
CPJDAs are critical to supporting safe return to work (RTW) agreements for both employers and workers by assessing how worker use cognitive skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, memory, and attention to detail to perform their work effectively.
Build Safer, Stronger Organizations
By identifying the cognitive demands of a role, organizations can design jobs, training programs, and work environments that improve performance and reduce mental strain. This helps prevent cognitive overload while supporting productivity and job satisfaction.
Support Safe/Early Return to Work (RTW)
CPJDAs are valuable in supporting safe RTW for all types of disability management claims (short-term disability, long-term-disability, Workers Compensation Board) when employees are returning after a mental health incident/claim by aligning offers of modified work to pre-assessed cognitive demands of a role.
Additional Benefits for Your Organization
Use a CPJDA to stay compliant, manage risk, and demonstrate your commitment to psychological health and safety:
- Meet OHS and Certificate of Recognition (COR) hazard assessment requirements by identifying, assessing, and controlling psychological hazards.
- Clarify cognitive demands in job descriptions and support Duty to Accommodate requirements under Alberta Human Rights legislation.
- Control rising costs linked to mental health (absence, disability claims, etc.)
- Support Alberta’s OHS Prevention Initiative focusing on Psychosocial Hazards.
Register for a Cognitive-Psychosocial JDA Workshop
Joint
AMHSA/Millard Health
CPJDA Workshop
Millard Health
CPJDA Workshop
Joint Cognitive-Psychosocial JDA Workshop (In-Person)
In this workshop facilitated by AMHSA and Millard Health, a clinical expert will teach you how to:
- Distinguish the difference between a cognitive-psychosocial job demands analysis and a physical demands analysis and how this form can be used.
- Document specific cognitive and psychological job demands including intensity and frequency of job demands to complete the cognitive psychosocial job demands analysis form.
- Describe cognitive limitations (memory, attention, multitasking, problem-solving, etc.), psychosocial barriers (exposure to sounds, sights, smells), and interpersonal conflicts, (safety/risk sensitive and decision critical tasks, etc.).
- Identify workplace and job task accommodations to help identify appropriate modified work options.
- Outline a list of modified work opportunities or accommodations for your employee following a cognitive or psychosocial injury.
In small group sessions, you will also have the opportunity to explore case studies and best practices that will help you apply learnings for your industry.
Dates for our 2026 workshops will be announced soon. To be placed on our waitlist, or to request a workshop for your organization, please contact us.
Cognitive-Psychosocial JDA Workshop (Hybrid)
Learn how to use the Cognitive-Psychosocial Jobs Demand Analysis tool to strengthen your modified work program and get your employees back to safe and sustainable work in a timely manner.
By the end of this half-day hybrid workshop, hosted by Millard Health, you will be able to:
- Differentiate assessments by understanding the key differences between cognitive/psychosocial and physical job demands.
- Complete a cognitive JDA form by documenting the intensity and frequency of mental and psychological job tasks.
- Identify barriers and risks including cognitive limitations, sensory triggers, and decision-critical tasks.
- Recommend effective accommodations to support safe, modified duties and Return to Work planning.
- Create a list of modified work opportunities for employees recovering from cognitive or psychosocial injuries.
Along with learning key knowledge and principles, you will also explore case studies in small groups and learn best practices that you can apply to your industry.
Register today to gain practical tools, expert guidance, and hands-on experience to confidently support your employees.
Proudly operated by WCB-Alberta, Millard Health is a leading provider of occupational rehabilitation and disability management services in Alberta.
Earn Credentials and Professional Development Credits
Participants who fully attend/successfully complete the CPJDA Workshop jointly offered by AMHSA/Millard Health are eligible for professional development credits.
Credly Badge
Earn a Credly digital credential for attending this learning event.
Credly Badge
Earn a Credly digital credential for attending this learning event.
Resources
Access information and forms to create a Cognitive JDA for roles in your organization.
WCB-Alberta Form C1447 – Cognitive Psychosocial Job Demands Analysis. Employers that do not have their own developed version of a Job Demands Analysis can use this form to create one.
WCB-Alberta Template C1447A – Cognitive-Psychosocial Job Demands Analysis Employer Version. This is a cover form to submit along with a developed Job Demands Analysis. To be used when the employer’s version contains only the cognitive and psychosocial demands.
WCB-Alberta Template C1489 – Combined Physical and Cognitive-Psychosocial Job Demand Analysis Form. This is a cover form to submit along with a developed Job Demands Analysis. To be used when the employer’s version contains physical demands in addition to the cognitive and psychosocial job demands.
Completed Municipal CPJDA – Reference Job Bank
AMHSA has proudly worked with members to complete CPJDA for municipal roles with increased frequency/risk of mental health incidents/claims.
Posted CPJDA are meant to support time/cost efficiencies of peer municipalities completing CPJDA for like/similar jobs by eliminating duplicate effort and supporting CPJDA consistency across members.
If you would like to add a complete CPJDA from your municipality, please contact us.
Note: If names or pictures of participants are included in your completed CPJDA, please include a completed employer/worker consent for workers featured or redact/blur any private details/images before sending.
Reach out to us!
Have questions about how a CPJDA can benefit your organization?
We’re here to help.