The Council of the National Post Secondary Education Cooperative (NPEC) defines competencies as the combination of skills, abilities and knowledge required to perform job related tasks. Competencies are performance-based and vary largely on the types of tasks or job functions for which they are established. Competencies are used by employers to measure an individual's ability to successfully perform their work.
Competency-based learning is the foundation for competency-based education (CBE). Considered for use in academic and adult education programs, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) uses this method of learning to move the education process from teacher-focused to workplace-focused curriculum. Competency-based learning programs through CEPH involve field experience and training based on the industry defined objectives of a specific position. Course requirements, projects and curriculum are built around these objectives.
In 2002 The National Post Secondary Education Cooperative (NPEC) released findings from their work group reviewing the impact and challenges for competency-based learning. They found that inconsistent competency identification between schools and industry employers can complicate program development if there is conflicting interpretation of the terms "competency" and "skill" between the two institutions. Competency-based programs for academic institutions are also challenged with the identification and implementation of a reliable assessment system to ensure the designed curriculum remains relevant and effective for the targeted job group. This validation can cause lengthy and complicated debates between academic and professional groups and face potential state by state consistencies in the event of professional certifications and licensing.
For students well on the academic path or for active workforce professionals, the Council on Education for Public Health indicates competencies allow learners to target specific skills to master or improve their career requirements without requiring that the individual commit to repeating or taking on a traditional college course. CEPH asserts that competency-based learning also provides learners a logical path for continued learning and professional development with flexible educational options and certifications.
University of Virginia's Darden School of Business offers competency-based learning as a part of their Executive education program. The program allows a company and employee to identify specific core competency opportunities for professional development and career advancement. The College of Public and Community Service at the University of Massachusetts features flexible competency-based learning through a variety of options including classroom-room based coursework, project-based learning, field-based learning and prior learning evaluation.