---
title: What is Competency Level (CL)?
description: Desribe the Competency level within the BCM Institute's body of Knowledge
image: https://blog.bcm-institute.org/hubfs/Certification%20CL-EL-BoK/Diag_CertLvl_Competency.png
---
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##### Business Continuity Management
# What is Competency Level (CL)?
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 has seven areas of Body of Knowledge (BoK) and in turn, each BoK area 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) Mar 12, 2019
###### Business Continuity Management Certified Planner-Specialist-Expert
Linking closely to the [BCM **Body of Knowledge**](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/blog/what-is-bcm-body-of-knowledge)** (BoK)** are two building blocks that support our participants' learning journey. One is the [**Competency Level**](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/Competency_Level_(CL)) **(CL)**, the other is the Level of Expertise or **[Expertise Level](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/Level_of_Expertise) (EL)**.
#### Competency Level
Each Body of Knowledge (BoK) has seven (7) areas. Each areas (for example, BoK 2 is Risk Analysis and Review) of the BoK is further divided into three level of competency or **CL**. The three CL (**CL 1, CL 2 and CL 3**) within each area will emphasized the depth of the knowledge. They are the:
1. Foundation or **CL 1** (leading to "Planner" certification);
2. Intermediate or **CL 2** (leading to "Specialist" certification); and
3. Advanced or **CL 3** (leading to "Expert" certification).
The only exception is the BCM Audit course which starts from:
1. Intermediate or **CL 2** leading to "Auditor" certification; and
2. Advanced or **CL 3** 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)"
Do note that the alphabet after the "CL" being the numeric "1", "2" and "3" represents the five specific subject area; Namely:
1. "**A**" is for ISO22301 BCM **A**udit
2. "**B**" is for **B**usiness Continuity
3. "**C**" is for **C**risis Management
4. "**CC**" is for **C**risis **C**ommunication
5. "**D**" is for IT **D**isaster Recovery
#### 1. Foundation (CL 1)
You can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge \[BoK 1 to 7\] during the preparation of the examination here:
| **Course name** | **You should be reading:** |
| --- | --- |
| BCM-200 | [CL 1B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1B:_Foundation_(BC)) |
| CM-200 | [CL 1C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1C:_Foundation_(CM)) |
| CC-200 | [CL 1CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1CC:_Foundation_(CC)) |
| DRP-200 | [CL 1D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1D:_Foundation_(DR)) |
#### 2. Intermediate (CL 2)
When you are attempting a intermediate level course, you can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge \[BoK 1 to 7\] during the preparation of the examination here:
| **Course Code** | **You should be reading:** | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BCM-8500 | [CL 1B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1B:_Foundation_(BC)) | [CL 2A](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2A:_Intermediate_(Audit)) |
| [BCM-300](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/bcm/embarking-your-bcm-learning-journey-by-attending-the-bcm-300-intermediate-course) | [CL 1B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1B:_Foundation_(BC)) | [CL 2B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2B:_Intermediate_(BC)) |
| [CM-300](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-management/learning-to-implement-your-crisis-management-plan) | [CL 1C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1C:_Foundation_(CM)) | [CL 2C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2C:_Intermediate_(CM)) |
| [CC-300](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-communication/cc-300-crisis-communication-implementer) | [CL 1CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1CC:_Foundation_(CC)) | [CL 2CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2CC:_Intermediate_(CC)) |
| [DRP-300](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/it-disaster-recovery/attend-the-intermediate-level-it-disaster-recovery-implementer-course) | [CL 1D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1D:_Foundation_(DR)) | [CL 2D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2D:_Intermediate_(DR)) |
For auditing course BCM-8500, there is no CL-1A as the first module is to understand the BC management system. Hence, participants are required to review CL-1B
#### 3. Advanced (CL 3) 
You can view the summary of the terms used in BCM Body of Knowledge \[BoK 1 to 7\] during the preparation of the examination here:
| **Course name** | **You should be reading:** | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BCM-8530 | [CL 1B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1B:_Foundation_(BC)) | [CL 2A](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2A:_Intermediate_(Audit)) | [CL 3A](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_3A:_Advanced_(Audit)) |
| [BCM-400](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/bcm/complete-your-final-installment-of-advanced-level-bcm-400-level-training-course) / [BCM-5000 ](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/bcm/attend-the-most-comprehensive-business-continuity-management-bcm-5000-course) | [CL 1B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1B:_Foundation_(BC)) | [CL 2B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2B:_Intermediate_(BC)) | [CL 3B](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_3B:_Advanced_(BC)) |
| [CM-400](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-management/-am-i-ready-to-attend-the-cm-400-crisis-management-manager-course) / [CM-5000](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-management/attend-the-most-comprehensive-crisis-management-expert-level-course) | [CL 1C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1C:_Foundation_(CM)) | [CL 2C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2C:_Intermediate_(CM)) | [CL 3C](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_3C:_Advanced_(CM)) |
| [CC-400](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-communication/cc-400-crisis-communication-manager) / CC-5000 | [CL 1CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1CC:_Foundation_(CC)) | [CL 2CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2CC:_Intermediate_(CC)) | [CL 3CC](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_3CC:_Advanced_(CC)) |
| [DRP-400](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/it-disaster-recovery/next-module-to-complete-your-advanced-level-it-disaster-recovery-training-) / [DRP-5000](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/it-disaster-recovery/fast-track-your-it-disaster-recovery-learning-by-attending-the-advanced-level-it-dr-expert-implementer-course) | [CL 1D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_1D:_Foundation_(DR)) | [CL 2D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_2D:_Intermediate_(DR)) | [CL 3D](http://www.bcmpedia.org/wiki/CL_3D:_Advanced_(DR)) |
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.
For advanced auditing course BCM-8530, there is no CL-1A as the first module is to understand the BC management system. Hence, participants are required to review CL-1B
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/72dde470-73b3-4193-a7bd-ef64e8152d7e)
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