What is more important, competence or proficiency?

There is great focus on competency of workers, but where does proficiency fit in? What is more important, competence or proficiency?

Proficiency and competence are terms that are often used inter-changeably, and sometimes incorrectly. However, these words both describe levels of ability. While competence relates to the fundamental knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to perform a task, proficiency is typically a level in development: where one can perform a task, or understand something, but perhaps with room for additional development and improvement.

What is Proficiency?

Proficiency can be defined as:

1. the practical ability to apply the necessary knowledge, skill, and experience.
2. an explicitly stated and demonstrable knowledge and/or skill used to define a desired learning outcome.
3. the mastery of skills and knowledge for a specific grade or subject.
4. the demonstrated knowledge and skills which meet or exceed defined levels of performance.

A Proficient Person

Let’s consider a Firefighter straight out of the Emergency Services Academy. Technically speaking, that person has the competencies necessary to perform all the tasks required of someone who works as a Fireperson. After all, they have demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills time and again in the Academy, and assumingly passed all the requisite final written and skills examinations.

But once the Firefighter reports for duty at a station, the situation is completely different. No longer are they a student in a relatively safe training environment, with instructors around to assist them should they get into trouble. Quite the contrary: Now they are the additional member on (what is likely) a 3 – 12-person Platoon comprised of various ranks, that typically are the first respondents in a zone of many square kilometres.

What is more important now: that they are competent or proficient?

One could argue that in practical terms, proficiency could be regarded as the other side of the competency. Competence is the “what” and Proficiency is the “how much”. You cannot have proficiency if you do not have competence.

Competency is the foundation for future proficiency.

Competency requirements are often incorporated in regulations and standards to quantify the performance expectations of workers to complete important or critical tasks in the workplace.

One could consider competent to mean “meets the minimum standard” and technically speaking, that person should possess the competencies necessary to perform all the tasks required.

Proficiency is typically demonstrated as the level of skill or abilities in performing a set of related knowledge, skills, and behaviours required by an individual to successfully perform work functions or tasks in a defined work setting. Proficiency can also relate to efficiency or effectiveness in completing a task. Two individuals may both be considered competent to perform a task, but one may be able to complete it in less time or to a higher quality standard.

Proficiency Management

Organisations from different industry sectors apply strategies and structured processes to ensure that their personnel maintain or improve their proficiencies. This is particularly important in industries where mistakes can be costly and life-threatening.

The use of simulation training has been practiced in the military and aerospace industry for years. However, for a long time, those two entities were the only ones that had the budget to afford such training programs. Due to innovations in technology, these types of training devices have recently become more affordable and accessible.

These industries include: Aviation (specifically pilots and air traffic control); Defence; Motor Racing; Healthcare; Emergency Services; Mining & Resources; Transport; and Agriculture.

The above industries make extensive use of scenarios & role plays, war games, exercises, and disaster / crisis simulations to stress test their systems, tune up performance, optimise processes, improve safety, test theories, train staff and most importantly, to monitor, maintain and improve proficiency.

The video below clearly demonstrates that the pilot uses all their skills and experience to land this aircraft with 40 knot cross winds. They apply their experience & judgement to make appropriate decisions, use deep situational awareness to understand the operational environment, leverage their many hours spent flying and training in simulators, and use their proficiency in piloting the aircraft to make a textbook landing that any airline Chief Pilot (and insurance company) would be proud off!

Laboratory Proficiency Testing

Some industries that require certification to ISO 15189 or ISO/IEC 17025 must monitor the quality of their laboratory results and participate in proficiency testing programs. These proficiency testing programs are aimed at determining the performance of individual laboratories for specific tests or measurements.

Proficiency Testing schemes operate by providing participating laboratories with test samples for analysis. Laboratories analyse the test samples as part of their normal routine and report the results to the scheme organisers. Laboratories are then provided with a report showing how closely their results agree with the accepted values.

From the data collected during proficiency testing, laboratory managers can identify staff that may require further training. Training allows staff to appreciate their contribution to the output quality of their lab. This leads to more consistent working practices throughout a laboratory and keeps the team focused on how routine procedures should be carried out.

Regular participation in proficiency-testing:

• Provides staff with an insight into the performance of their laboratory
• Benchmarks performance with that of other laboratories
• Demonstrates a commitment to measurement quality to regulatory authorities, accreditation bodies, and end users of analytical data

VERITAS would welcome the opportunity to discuss how Competence and Proficiency Management, together with the use of simulations or role plays using risk-based scenarios, could positively impact your organisation.