ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the terms “competence” and “competent professional.” The example of a plumber is used to demonstrate someone who exhibits professional competences. The elements that define these competences are the context in which a professional activity takes place, the various roles a professional assumes, the achievements a professional obtains, and the tools he or she uses to perform a given task. The authors show how competent professionals shift easily between various roles. Readers are invited to explore how these elements apply to their own professional lives.
