Why do I need a certificate of competence (and why MTCS)?
The subject of competence is a thread which runs through every workplace the world over and, whilst it may not always be expressed as such, it’s there all the same.
If somebody is undertaking a task as part of their work, then we can assume that they have a degree of competence in that area. Conversely, if someone is unable to perform such task(s) and does not have the necessary skills to successfully undertake the task, then they are incompetent.
This isn’t a slur on them personally or an insult on their character, but they are not competent and therefore inept or unskilled at that task. Where conjecture inevitably sits around the whole subject comes when competence is pitted against experience.
Quite understandably, competence assessment and certification can come into question by persons who can boast many years of experience and an unblemished track record of undertaking their role(s) without issue or cause for concern.
As we touched-on in a previous article, there is a real need to balance experience and ‘traditional’ practices with defined, globally accepted and approved best practices, and this is where competence sits.
Evidence is a word we use frequently and for good reason: it is testimony and a valid, factual account of events that have (or have not) happened which accurately record the activities of a person undertaking their role in the workplace.
We’d never consider competence and experience to be conflicting in any way, but where competence can be measured and defined, experience cannot.
A personal audit
The auditing and maintenance of equipment is familiar to us all; after all, if the machinery and tools needed to undertake our work are faulty, then how can we be expected to carry out our tasks?
Not just today, not just tomorrow, but every time that piece of equipment is required – has it been tested to ensure that it’s safe to use and fit for purpose?
In the maritime and offshore energy industries it is our duty, without exception, to ensure that we too are working in a manner that is safe and our activities are fit for purpose: we expect it of our colleagues, and they expect it of us.
A benchmark of a person’s abilities
Having an eye on career progression/development and future employment are part and parcel of the offshore energy and maritime industries and whether you are currently in permanent employment or a freelance contractor, it’s only natural to have one eye on the future.
Undertaking a competence programme, achieving certification and committing to this as part of one’s continued personal development is a strong performance indicator to any potential employer. Likewise, it provides the opportunity to gain credit for achievement within an organisation.
It’s that word ‘evidence’ again – being able to point at a body of work that has been undertaken over a period of time, which has been witnessed and assessed and, ultimately, verified by a globally recognised independent awarding organisation is incredibly hard to argue against.
So think of it as exactly that: an unquestionable benchmark of your abilities to successfully carry out your role.
Risk management
The UK Health & Safety Executive define risk management as “a step-by-step process for controlling health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace”.
Having a competence programme which clearly defines how people work, how equipment is used, what are safe (or unsafe) work practices and processes enables risk to be managed, both at personal and at organisational level.
For any organisation involved in the maritime and offshore energy sectors which MTCS support, risk management is very much front and centre of their operations and having experienced personnel at the workplace who have proven, documented and certified competence builds a foundation for any risk management strategy.
Balancing need over want
Over the past two decades or more since MTCS was established, we’ve met very few people who want a certificate of competence; it is something that they need.
Certainly when it comes to applying for a new position, we have seen an increase in employers and recruitment companies requiring candidates to have a competence certificate (or be willing to undertake a competence assessment programme) from an independent provider such as MTCS.
Back to the start of this article, “why do I need a certificate of competence when I have years of experience under my belt?”, and we fully hear what you’re saying.
We can also fully appreciate that embarking upon a competence assessment programme adds to the working day of both candidates and assessors; it’s not an easy undertaking, in fact it can prove to be challenging.
But we also know the benefits are there for all to see.
If you’re still challenging the juxtaposition between experience and competence then we ask you to accept that the two can and should support each other. After all, without experience then how would we know what best (and safe) practice looks like?
Why choose MTCS for my certificate of competence?
MTCS are not the only competence assessment and certification option available to you and we fully appreciate that our approach may not suit everyone.
What we will say is that we are fully independent and that MTCS is globally recognised and have ourselves become something of the ‘go to’ provider for many maritime and offshore energy companies and personnel.
To achieve certification, candidates are required to adhere to established, defined and internationally accepted processes which are witnessed and assessed before being submitted for verification.
Undertaking a Grade Assessment (GA) or Individual Competence Assessment (ICA) and successfully achieving an MTCS Certificate of Competence isn’t easy and it will undoubtedly test you.
For one reason or another, not everyone who undertakes these programmes will succeed in gaining a certificate but there is always the opportunity for improvement and personal development in order to attain the consistent standards of competence in order to achieve a certificate.
The fact that there have been (and, unfortunately, still are) documented instances of unscrupulous persons attempting to pass off fraudulent MTCS certificates in order to gain or retain employment is, we believe, testimony to the value and high esteem upon which they are held.
Please be assured that our dedicated support team is available to assist where they can, and offer guidance to help candidates achieve their goal – we are with you all the way.