Conduct Competency Assessment

The main role of an assessor is to evaluate if a candidate is competent or not. To properly

assess, a Competency Assessor must first understand competency and its dimensions. This
lesson will discuss competency & dimensions of competency.

Competency involves applying the required knowledge, skills and attitudes to

successfully complete work activities in a range of situations and environments, in
accordance with the standard of performance expected in the workplace.

The Key Features of Competency are:

 the ability to do the job;

 knowing how and why things are done;
 knowing what to do when things go wrong; and
 having the right approach to do a job properly and safely.

Transfer Skills. This refers to an individual’s ability to transfer competencies to other contexts. For
example, a person knows how to use the knowledge & skills he/she learned at training and can apply
them at work or at home.

The diagram below shows how task skills is the very core dimension of competency
because the foundation of competency is being able to do the task.  Meanwhile job/role
environment skills encompasses all other dimensions because being able to deal with
responsibilites and expectaitions in the work place involves the other dimensions of
competence. And finally, transfer skills is shown going across all dimensions because
being competent means being able to transfer the dimensions of competency to other
contexts.
Competency Standards are expressed in the form of units of competency. A unit of competency
represents a distinct work activity that would normally be undertaken by one person.

The Section 2 of the Training Regulation or the Competency Standards has six parts. These are
the Unit Title, Unit Descriptor, Elements, Performance Criteria, Range of Variables and
Evidence Guide. 

Parts of a Unit of Competency

Training Regulation
As mentioned before, the Competency Standards can be found in Section 2 of the
Training Regulation. The Training Regulation or TR is a document promulgated by
TESDA which serves as basis for:
  competency assessment and certification;
 registration and delivery of training programs; and
 development of curriculum and assessment instruments.

Sections of a Training Regulation

Competency Based Assessment is not as linear as testing. It involves different

processes over a longer period of time. Before an assessor can declare a person fit for
certification he/she must first gather evidences and uphold the rules of evidence. In this
lesson we will learn concepts & principles in assessing competencies.

Competency Based Assessment is a structured process of collecting

evidence and making judgments on whether competency has been achieved in relation to a
registered, national standard. The table below compares the traditional testing method
& competency based assessment.
Competency Assessor’s Credo
All the work values a competency assessor must have is reflected in the Competency
Assessor’s Credo. And so, a competency assessor must know the credo whole-
heartedly.

I believe that the credibility and prestige of the Philippine TVET Competency
Assessment and Certification System is enhanced or destroyed, depending on the way
competency assessors conduct themselves. Believing in this, I will administer
competency assessments strictly in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the
system’s competency assessment methodologies.

I will be professional in my dealings with the competency assessment candidates,

whether during the assessment, or outside of assessment conditions.

I shall place a high value on objectivity and integrity and maintain the highest standards
in the services I offer.

Believing in every candidate’s right to total concentration during the assessment, I will
do my best to provide and maintain an environment conducive to assessment.

I shall administer assessments only in areas where I have the competence.

I shall not allow the competency assessment to be an instrument for corruption.

I shall not make the candidate nervous, distracted or irritated during the assessment.

Last but not the least, I shall zealously safeguard the validity of the competency
assessment instruments. I shall see to it that nobody else has access to instrument
materials except members of the TESDA competency assessment team and
accredited/authorized persons.