What are Units of Competency?

Confused about units of competency, elective units, modules, courses and other building qualifications training jargon?

Then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s take the confusion away and look at the different parts that make up the training qualification in an easy to follow format.

Think of:

• Units of Competency as centimetres
• Modules as metres
• Courses as kilometres, and
• A Qualification as your destination!

… or if the metric system doesn’t float your boat… inches, yards and miles. 🙂

Let’s start with the smallest piece… the unit of competency.

A unit of competency is also known as a ‘Competency Standard’. It is a particular knowledge and skill that results in (and complies with) the standard of performance expected within a particular industry. Sometimes trainers and training organisations refer to them simply as units, competencies, and competency specifications.

In training, a unit of competency is the smallest unit that can be assessed and recognised. We’ve chosen to liken units as centimetres here because they are small. And, as you are aware, there are smaller measurements (eg. millimetres or micrometres). So consider those as small blocks of study – such as the chapters of material you read during your studies and the small tasks that may accompany them (and make up a unit of competency).

There are two types of units of competency:

1. Core Units
2. Elective Units

Core Units are mandatory units of study that must be completed within the qualification you want to achieve. Elective Units are units that are chosen from a long list of units provided by the training package designers to make up the total package.

Picture this example: to receive a certain qualification you may need to complete 6 Core Units and 4 Elective Units. Back to Basics haven chosen a group of Elective Units that will ensure you are proficient in your workplace. Then you would begin your studies covering the 10 units (ie. 6 core and 4 electives).

Units of competency are written with the unit’s code at the beginning. For example, a Core Unit of Competency within the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) is the CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work. CP stands for Construction and Plumbing Services. BC stands for Building and Construction.

Back to Basics cluster the Units of Competency together to fit into modules that relate to a specific major field of expertise. For example, a unit of competency called ‘Manage occupational health and safety in the building and construction workplace’ would form part of a module about Site Management. It wouldn’t be within a module about Financial Management – this module would be more likely to contain a unit like ‘Manage small business finances’.

So as modules are larger blocks and are made up of the units of competency, they are more like a metre.

Then we have something bigger again… the kilometre – the course. A number of modules make up a full course, and the course gets you to your destination – your desired qualification.

Hopefully the above has made things clearer for you. Please feel free to contact our office and chat or leave a message on the website – we’re all about making the process of you achieving your building and construction qualification as smooth and streamlined as possible.