Description

The Public Member serves as a full voting member of the ASMBS Certification Council and provides an essential independent perspective to ensure that the CBN certification program operates in a manner that protects the public, supports fairness, and upholds the integrity of the credential. This role is intentionally non-clinical and non-industry to reinforce that the Council is not self-governing, but accountable to the broader public it serves.

The Public Member contributes a consumer-oriented viewpoint to the design, implementation, and evaluation of certification policies, examinations, eligibility requirements, disciplinary procedures, and recertification standards. This role helps ensure that the Certification Council’s decisions reflect the interests of patients, families, employers, and communities impacted by obesity and chronic metabolic conditions.

 Roles and Responsibilities 

• Represent the interests of the public, patient, and stakeholders who rely on the CBN credential to ensure safe, ethical, and competent nursing practice.
• Promote fairness, transparency, and accountability within all aspects of the certification and recertification processes.
• Participate in policy development, review, and approval of CBN certification policies, including eligibility criteria, exam standards, administration procedures, and recertification requirements.
• Contribute an independent viewpoint to prevent dominance by the profession or commercial interests, in compliance with NCCA Standards.
• Actively participate in scheduled meetings (virtual or in-person), email discussions, and ongoing deliberations.
• Participate in strategic planning discussions to ensure public protection considerations remain central in program decisions.
• Review and contribute to the evaluation of complaints, appeals, and disciplinary cases to ensure they are handled consistently, fairly, and with due process.
• Monitor the effectiveness, relevance, and perceived value of the CBN credential from a public interest perspective.
• Engage with community or patient perspectives, helping the Council understand how the credential impacts patients and public confidence in bariatric nursing practice.
• Complete assignments in a timely manner and collaborate with Certification Council members to support program objectives.
• Identify potential risks, conflicts of interest, or barriers to accessibility that may impact the integrity or fairness of the credential.

Requirements

Eligibility Criteria
The Public Member must:

• Not be a current or former member of the bariatric surgery, metabolic health, nutritional, or nursing professions.
• Not have received income from the profession within the past five (5) years.
• Not supervise, employ, or work alongside certificants or individuals eligible for certification.
• Not have any financial or professional ties that could create real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Be a patient, patient advocate, or stakeholder representing the interests of the public.
• Be free from relationships that could compromise independence, neutrality, or objectivity.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in healthcare advocacy, public service, governance, or education.
• Familiarity with issues related to chronic health conditions from a non-clinical perspective.
• Ability to participate effectively in group deliberations, evaluate information, and make evidence-based decisions.
• Ability to analyze policies and ask critical questions that support fairness, clarity, and equity.
• Commitment to transparency, objectivity, and maintaining public trust in the credentialing process.

Expected Time Commitment 

• Quarterly virtual meetings (approximately 1 hour each).
• Additional meetings as needed (typically 1–3 per year).
• Email communication and document review between meetings.
• Occasional in-person meetings if necessary (travel support is provided).

Structured Orientation Program: 

• Mission, vision, and values of the CBN Certification Council
• Overview of certification governance and NCCA Standards
• Credentialing program structure, including exam development and recertification processes
• Conflict-of-interest expectations and confidentiality requirements
• Strategic plan review
• Connections with professional and public stakeholders

Additional Obligations 

• Complete required confidentiality, conflict-of-interest, financial disclosure, and SME/attestation forms.
• Maintain ongoing compliance with all independence and eligibility requirements for public members.
• Uphold the ASMBS Code of Ethics and CBN Standards of Conduct.