Competentienormen

Competentienormen are formal statements that describe the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes required to perform a task or role at a defined level of performance. They serve as reference points for education, training, assessment, certification, and workforce planning, and can also support professional recognition and licensing. The term is commonly used in the Netherlands and Flanders, but concepts exist in many national and sectoral qualification systems. Competentienormen are often developed by professional bodies, sector organizations, educational institutions or government agencies, and may be aligned with national or international qualification frameworks.

Typically, competentienormen are organized into domains or competency areas. Each domain contains specific performance indicators or criteria and a description of the expected level of proficiency. Levels can follow descriptors from novice to expert or use numerical scales. In addition to technical knowledge and skills, many normen include cross-cutting competences such as communication, teamwork, ethics, safety, and digital literacy. The standards may also address contextual factors like legal requirements, quality assurance, and professional responsibility.

Development and maintenance usually involve task analyses, literature reviews, stakeholder consultations, and validation processes. They are updated to reflect changes in technology, regulation, and professional practice. The norms are used to design curricula, learning outcomes, and assessment rubrics, and to shape certification exams. Employers and public bodies rely on them for recruitment, appraisal, and licensing, while individuals use them to guide learning paths and demonstrate transferable qualifications. Challenges include keeping standards up to date, avoiding rigidity, and ensuring applicability across diverse workplaces and cultures.