What is a Professional Standard?

A professional standard is a document that describes the professional activities and competencies necessary for working in a particular profession. It outlines the set of skills, knowledge, and personal qualities required to successfully perform a job.

Why is a Professional Standard Needed?

A professional standard serves as the foundation for creating educational plans and training programmes that meet labour market demands. It also provides a basis for assessing the competence of an employee or job applicant.

Employers use professional standards to describe job positions when drafting staffing schedules and job descriptions, selecting employees, determining professional requirements for workers, and planning training.

Employees and job seekers refer to professional standards to identify the differences between the skills they have and the ones they need, to plan their development and career, and to schedule training over a long period.

Organisers of training, students, parents, consultants, and others involved in employment and education can find information in the professional standard descriptions about the personal and professional skills required by the labour market.

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