Building standards: professional competency framework for verifiers

Annex B: Terminology

Terms and definitions align with those set out in section 3 of BS 8670-1:2024.

Behaviour - observable things that an individual does or does not do.

Competence - application of skills, knowledge, experience and behaviour to achieve a defined outcome.

Competency assessment - evaluation of an individual’s performance against competence requirements, supported by documentary evidence.

Competency framework - sets out the procedures and requirements for the development, assessment and maintenance of agreed skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours required for an individual undertaking a role, function, activity or task in order to perform their work to predetermined standards and expectations and to maintain or improve their performance over time.

Competency management - systematic identification, development, assessment, deployment and maintenance of the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours required to fulfil responsibilities and to perform activities or tasks to recognised standards of competence.

Continuing professional development (CPD) - activities undertaken by an individual to maintain and develop competence, including formal and informal learning, self-assessment, obtaining feedback and identifying areas for improvement.

Experience - participation in relevant activities or observation of facts and events leading to acquisition or improvement of knowledge and skills.

Knowledge - assimilation of facts, theories and practices in relation to a given role, function activity or task.

Revalidation - formal process of reassessing an individual’s competence against a sector-specific framework on a periodic basis to check that competence has been maintained.

Skills - ability to perform an activity or task consistently with a specific intended outcome.

Validation - formal process of assessing an individual’s competence against a sector-specific competence framework.