---
title: What is Competency and Expertise Level?
description: Desribe the Competency and Expertise level within the BCM Institute's body of Knowledge
image: https://blog.bcm-institute.org/hubfs/PIC%20BCM%20BoK/Competency_Roadmap.png
---
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##### Business Continuity Management
# What is Competency and Expertise Level?
All training syllabus within BCM Institute has been designed to assist professionals in upgrading their knowledge and skill, using the "Know", "Do" and "Manage" **Expertise Level**. Concurrently, the **Competency Level** (CL) is a set of building blocks for BCM Institute's training and certification requirement. Each (discipline) domain is broken into three distinct levels: Foundation (CL 1), Intermediate (CL 2) and Advanced (CL 3).
[Moh Heng Goh](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/blog/author/moh-heng-goh) May 26, 2021
###### Business Continuity Management Certified Planner-Specialist-Expert
Linking closely to the BCM Body of Knowledge, there are two building blocks to support our participants' learning journey. One is the [**Competency Level**](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/Competency_Level_(CL)) or CL, the other is the Level of Expertise or [**Expertise Level**](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/Level_of_Expertise).
#### Competency Level
Each BoK is further divided into three level of competency or **CL**. They are the:
1. Foundation (leading to "Planner" certification);
2. Intermediate (leading to "Specialist" certification; and
3. Advanced (leading to "Expert" certification.
The only exception is the BCM Audit course which starts from:
1. Intermediate leading to "Auditor" certification; and
2. Advanced leading to "Lead Auditor" certification.
Hence, in BCM Institute's course offering, our courses are often, referred to as "Foundation", "Intermediate" and "Advanced" level courses.
It useful to determine which level of competency that you are attending. You can find out more by asking "[What is My BCM (CM, CC, DR & Audit) Competency Level?](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/blog/what-is-my-bcm-cm-cc-dr-audit-competency-level)"
Upon understanding how **Competency Level (CL) **is developed on how knowledge is acquired by the potential candidates.
#### Expertise Level
All training syllabus within BCM Institute has been designed to assist professionals in upgrading their competency using the "**Know**, **Do** and **Manage**" Expertise Level. This [expertise level](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/Level_of_Expertise) is applicable to the respective areas within BCM Institute's five domain of discipline.
##### KNOW
For professionals who would like to be acknowledged for their fundamental understanding of a given discipline. It usually include personal who is involved in the project or programme but is lead by a designated BCM professional (For example, the Business Unit BCM Coordinator at the department or division level and for senior management being led by the Organisation BCM Coordinator))
#### DO
For professionals who would like to be acknowledged for their understanding and training of the intricacies and maintenance of their organization's plans be it for BCM, CM, CC or DR.
To obtain any of the disciplines’ (BC, CM, CC or DR) Specialist certification, one has to have at least one year of experience in the discipline of choice, pay an application fee and pass the relevant qualifying examination.
##### MANAGE
For professionals who are tasked to oversee and manage the organisation’s plans and would like to know how to implement, manage and maintain the plans.
They will be given the Expert certification only upon passing the appropriate qualifying Expert examination, have at least three years of experience and pay an application fee.
| **Level** | **Expertise Level** | **Competency Level** | **Certification Level** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Know | Foundation | Planner |
| 2 | Do | Intermediate | Specialist |
| 3 | Manage | Advanced | Expert |
The **Competency Level (CL)** is a set of building blocks for BCM Institute's training and certification requirement. Each subject domain is broken into three distinct levels:
1. Foundation (CL 1)
2. Intermediate (CL 2)
3. Advanced (CL 3)
There breakdown for each of the domain are as follows:
- **\[A\] \[BCM Audit\]** CL 1B, CL 2A and CL 3A ;
- **\[B} \[Business Continuity Management\]** CL 1B, CL 2B and CL 3B;;
- **\[C\] \[Crisis Management\]** CL 1C, CL 2C and CL 3C for crisis management domain
- **\[CC\] \[Crisis Communication\]** CL 1CC, CL 2CC and CL 3CC; and
- **\[DR} \[Disaster Recovery\]** CL 1D, CL 2D and CL 3D.
| | ** Expertise Level** | **Know** | **Do ** | **Manage** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Domain (Discipline)** | **Course Code** | **Competency Level (with Code)** | | |
| **Audit** | A | CL 1B | CL 2A | CL 3A |
| **Business Continuity** | B | CL 1B | CL 2B | CL 3B |
| **Crisis Management** | C | CL 1C | CL 2C | CL 3C |
| **Crisis Communication** | CC | CL 1CC | CL 2CC | CL 3CC |
| **Disaster Recovery** | D | CL 1D | CL 2D | CL 3D |
The arrangement of the tiers represents the increasing level of specificity and specialization of the BCM audit (A), business continuity (B), crisis management (C), crisis communication (CC), and disaster recovery (D) skills and knowledge content.
#### 1. Foundation (CL 1)
You can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge during the preparation of the examination here:
| Course name | You should be reading: |
| --- | --- |
| BCM-200 | CL 1B |
| CM-200 | CL 1C |
| CC-200 | CL 1CC |
| DRP-200 | CL 1D |
#### 2. Intermediate (CL 2)
You can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge during the preparation of the examination here:
| Course name | You should be reading: | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BCM-300 | CL 1B | CL 2B |
| CM-300 | CL 1C | CL 2C |
| CC-300 | CL 1CC | CL 2CC |
| DRP-300 | CL 1D | CL 2D |
#### 3. Advanced (CL 3)
You can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge during the preparation of the examination here:
| Course name | You should be reading: | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BCM-400 / BCM-5000 | CL 1B | CL 2B | CL 3B |
| CM-400 / CM-5000 | CL 1C | CL 2C | CL 3C |
| CC-400 / CC-5000 | CL 1CC | CL 2CC | CL 3CC |
| DRP-400 / DRP-5000 | CL 1D | CL 2D | CL 3D |
You are strongly advise to read competency levels based on the course you are attending and attempt the practice exams questions before sitting for the actual exams.
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