title: A competency assurance program.
abstract: This concept of a competency assurance program, originated by the author, projects a structure capable of assuring the competency of the individual practitioners in a field. The components of such a program are role delineation, initial competency education, practitioner assessment, subsequent competency education, and practitioner evaluation. This article describes these components, defines their relationship, and emphasizes the importance of their contribution to competency assurance.
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012380:Role; D012647:Self-Assessment