Competency Model Clearinghouse, US Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Competency Model Clearinghouse (CMC) is an online resource that provides validated industry competency models that can be used as the basis of educational programs and curricula for a variety of industry sectors. The Clearinghouse is an important tool for the development of career pathways such as systems of stackable credentials, within and across industry sectors, and provides a customizable framework for competency-based education and training, assessment, and credentialing.

The Industry Competency Model Initiative: Promoting a Skilled Workforce is an effort  of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and industry partners collaborating to develop and maintain dynamic models of the foundational and technical competencies that are necessary in economically vital industries and sectors of the American economy. The goal of the Initiative is to promote an understanding of the skill sets and competencies that are essential to educate and train a globally competitive workforce. It does this by providing competency models for key industry sectors. A competency model is a collection of multiple competencies that together define successful performance in a defined work setting. There are currently 26 models in a wide variety of industries:

Accommodation and Food Services

• Food and Beverage Service
• Hospitality, Tourism, and Events

Construction

• Commercial and Industrial Construction
• Heavy Highway Civil Construction
• Residential Construction

Energy and Utilities

• Advanced Commercial Buildings Energy Management
• Energy Generation, Transmission and Distribution
• Renewable Energy
• Water and Wastewater

Finance and Insurance

• Financial Services

Health Care and Social Assistance

• Health Information Management
• Fundamentals of Health Care
• Long-term Care, Supports, and Services

Information

• Cybersecurity
• Enterprise Security
• Information Technology

Manufacturing

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Mechatronics
• Semiconductor-Nanotechnology Manufacturing

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

• Automation
• Bioscience
• Engineering
• Geospatial Technology

Retail Trade

• Retail

Transportation and Warehousing

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Other Models

• Entrepreneurship
• Home Energy Professional – Evaluation and Inspection
• Home Energy Professional – Installation/Site Management

The models serve as a resource to inform discussions among industry leaders, educators, economic developers, and public workforce investment professionals as they collaborate to identify specific employer skill needs; develop competency-based curricula and training models; develop industry-defined performance indicators, skill standards, and certifications; and develop resources for career exploration and guidance.