Competency based training is a learning approach that focuses on evaluating if employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job effectively. It emphasizes the development of practical skills and abilities over just providing theoretical knowledge.
A significant part of competency based training involves assessing an employee’s ability to complete a specific task, or accomplish an objective. The focus is on identifying gaps in their skillset and providing training that addresses these specific gaps.
Competency based training differs from comprehensive training courses that cover a topic or process from beginning to end. While comprehensive training is important, particularly when onboarding a new hire or teaching a new skill from scratch, it’s understood that the employee won’t remember every detail of the course or training session their first time through it.