1. Development and Use of the
Core Bioscience Skill Standards
Skill Standards Working Group: Jeanette Mowery, Vivian Ngan-Winward,
Linda Rehfuss, and Allison Pappas
How were the Core Bioscience Skill
Standards developed?
What do I need to know before reading the
Core Bioscience Skill Standards?
What does the bioscience industry have to
say about the Core Bioscience Skill
Standards?
The Core Bioscience Skill Standards identify those skills which industry employers reasonably
expect an entry-level bioscience technician to have mastered through their program of study,
whether that technician works in the area of Biomanufacturing, Medical Devices, or the
Biotechnology Laboratory.
Terminology
Critical Work Functions are the broadest areas of responsibility for an entry level technician. Critical Work
Functions are general enough that the vast majority of entry level technicians have job descriptions that
encompass them.
A Key Activity is an essential task performed by a worker on a regular basis. Key Activities are specific enough
that students or entry level workers can be assessed to determine their level of mastery.
A Performance Indicator is a guide that can be used to determine if a key activity has been performed well.
Underlying Technical Knowledge includes areas of expertise that a worker must have in order to excel in
performing a Key Activity.
An Assessment is an exercise that can be undertaken to determine an individual’s proficiency in performing a
Key Activity.
Critical Work
Function
Key Activity
Performance
Indicator
What is the general area of
responsibility?
What are the related tasks?
i.e., What must the worker do?
How do we know when the
task is performed well?
Underlying Technical
Understanding
What are the required areas of expertise
a worker must have in order to perform
the task with excellence?
Assessment
What evaluations could be used to
test the worker’s ability to perform
the task well?
Preliminary identification of Critical Work Functions
and Key Activities by Skill Standards Working Group
Review by bioscience
educators
Review by bioscience
industry
Revision of Critical
Work Functions and
Key Activities
Identification of Performance Indicators, Underlying
Knowledge and Assessments
The Core Bioscience Skill Standards are:
• a collaborative effort between the Biomanufacturing, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology
Laboratory Hubs.
• applicable to all bioscience technician students, independent of location or program.
• were designed to be
non-circuitous. Performance
Indicators, Underlying Knowledge,
and Assessments are meant to add
new, useful information to the Core
Bioscience document.
How do I access and use the Core
Bioscience Skill Standards?
Bioscience Educators
• For new programs, the Core
Bioscience Skills are a great place to
start when developing curriculum.
• Existing programs can ensure that
they are teaching their students the
skills that employers expect of entry
level technicians.
Bioscience Employers
• When an applicant has graduated
from a program that has implemented
c3bc’s Core Bioscience Skill Standards,
you can be confident that the applicant
has the skills required for success.
• Use the Core Bioscience Skill
Standards to assess your own
technicians’competency level.
You can find the Core Bioscience Skill Standards and
associated documents at:
https://sites.google.com/site/c3bcbioscienceskillstandards/
Scan this QR
code to access
the website
now!
This product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or
its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.
65%
Pharmaceutical/
Biopharmaceutical
12%
Medical Devices
12%
Biomanufacutring
12%
Bio-
technology
More than 20 individuals who oversee
entry-level bioscience technicians
have participated in the online survey.
Their industry expertise is indicated in
the pie chart, right.
Industry feedback on the Core Bioscience Skill Standards:
• has been achieved through an online survey as well as
through in-person meetings.
• has been overwhelmingly positive.
• is still welcome! If you, or someone you know, is
interested in taking the survey, please send them here:
https://goo.gl/uOPqSL
Critical Work Function % of companies whose employees perform the
tasks specified within this Critical Work
Function
Maintain a safe and productive work environment 98.6
Provide routine facility support 91.5
Perform measurements / tests / assays 100
Comply with applicable regulations and standards 93.7
Manage and communicate information 100
Perform mathematical manipulations 100
Medical
Devices
Biotechnology
Laboratory
Bio-
manufacturing
Core Skill
Standards