Step 1: Review Levels

Before completing your competency assessment, familiarize yourself with the Skill Levels and how they relate to the Competencies.

Descriptions of Skill Levels

• For the purpose of the Competency Assessment Tool (C.A.T.), the Skill Level definitions are broad-based and are for reference purposes within the context of this tool only.
• The number of years experience assumes practical work experience within a particular competency area.

Skill Levels	Expectations	Work Experience
Level 0 – Introductory	has awareness of the subject area but may not have either technical skills or practical experience in the subject area given the individual's limited knowledge of the subject area, they may not have the basic technical skills or experience to perform at a staff level within as organization	0 <1 year
Level 1 – Basic	possesses or demonstrates ability at a threshold level in his or her role in the organization CGAs bring at least this level of competency with them to entry level positions demonstrates competence in the Level 1 - Basic competency areas	≥1 and <4 years
Level 2 – Intermediate	performs with experience and effectiveness assumes operational or management responsibility demonstrates effectiveness in the Level 2 - Intermediate competency areas	≥4 and <7 years
Level 3 – Advanced	usually acquires these advanced competencies through professional development and hands-on experience in a business or organization refers to senior professionals and executives, who must consult and weigh competing interests, take informed risks, and be accountable for decisions and the ensuing repercussions demonstrates mastery in the Level 3 - Advanced competency areas	≥7 years

Review the descriptions of Skill Levels for each competency by:

• printing the expanded list of competencies (pdf). Do not have Adobe Reader? Download it now.

or

• clicking Expand All to review these on screen

• clicking on each of the Skill Level buttons from 0 through 3

Step 2: Perform your current self-assessment

Now you understand what the levels mean and have reviewed the Skill Levels for each Competency, it is time to perform your current self-assessment. This will result in a Current Level profile.

• For each Competency, click on the blue area to select your current Skill Level.
• If some of the competencies are not relevant to your job or professional development requirements do not select a Skill Level. This will leave a “Not rated” result when you proceed to the evaluation step.
• During your session, you can go back and change any of your current Skill Level selections.

If you exit the C.A.T. at this point, your Current Level profile will be saved up to that point only on the computer that you performed the assessment on.

Step 3: Select a Target Profile

• Click Collapse All to hide the Skill Level descriptions for each Competency.

Click the Target Profile dropdown list and select the sample Target Level profile which most closely matches your professional goals.

• If your target job or profession development needs do not match any of the sample profiles, select Custom Profile from the dropdown list to create your own.
• Complete your Custom Profile by clicking on the pink areas to rate your target Skill Level for each Competency.
• We recommend that you obtain feedback from your supervisor or research available third party information to provide more objective ranking of Skill Levels for your customized Target Profile.
• During your session you may compare your Current Level profile against any Target Profile (Samples or Custom) by selecting from the dropdown list.

Step 4: Evaluate your results

• Once you select the Target Profile, the Assessment field will automatically compare to your Current Level profile and produce an Assessment result as Competence ,Strength ,or Need.
• The competencies that you left unrated will display “Not rated” in the Assessment field.
• Click on Need to be directed to relevant resources from within PD Network.

When you exit the C.A.T., your Current and Target Level Profiles will be saved up to that point only on the computer that you performed the assessment on.

The next time you return to the C.A.T., your Current Level profile (blue area) will display but the Target Level fields (pink area) will be blank. Simply select from among the Sample or Custom profile options to reinstate the Target Level profile.

Step 5: Update your Current or Target Level Profiles

Update Current Level Profile:

• Once you have completed some CPD activities relating to competencies where a need was identified, you may go and update your Current Level profile by clicking on the blue areas to update your skill levels.
• If you want to rework your Current Level profile from scratch, click Clear User Levels. Beware, once you do this there is no "undo" your Current Level profile will be cleared.

Update Target Profile:

• To change your Sample Profile selection, select a new Sample Profile from the dropdown list. (i.e., Controller, Public Practitioner, etc.)
• To change your Custom Profile, simply click the pink areas to select new Skill Levels.
• If you want to rework your Custom Profile click Clear Custom Profile. Beware, once you do this there is no "undo." Your Custom Profile will be cleared.

Note: The next time you return to the C.A.T., your Current Level profile (blue area) will display but the Target Level fields (pink area) will be blank. Simply select from among the Sample or Custom profile options to reinstate the Target Level profile.