*Professional Continuing Education; Professional

Describing competency only in terms of individuals' technical capabilities is fast becoming inadequate. Practitioners in the 21st century must be able to apply the technical capabilities of their professions as they work with others within and external to their professions. A perception of the professional as a package of capabilities is the result of a problem-solving approach to professional practice that has evolved over the past decade. As professional practice moves toward a systems orientation, the factors that define competency increase in number and complexity. Both situational and human factors must be addressed in defining competency. Education and testing for competency should focus on professionals ' work in teams as well as on their individual competencies. The need to introduce a team focus into professional preparation does not diminish the importance of fully preparing eac