Due to an increased awareness of the need for accountability in vocational education, much attention is being focused upon competency-based vocational education. The U.S. Office of Education is supporting work for the development of competency measures for vocational skill areas. Two occupational competency tests in each of seven areas will be developed, reviewed, field tested, and validated to ensure their effectiveness. These tests are available to all states that wish to utilize them. Many features of competency-based testing procedures offer advantages over other methods. These advantages include being free from sex bias and race bias. The identification of competency requirements for occupational areas is a process which requires a great deal of care. Competency-based vocational education will be an increasingly important component in educational programs. The Bureau of Occupational and Adult Education supports and encourages its use. (Author)