(BPT) - For busy adults juggling careers, families and full lives, going back to school has often meant fitting into a system that was not designed with them in mind. The good news is that competency-based education — a more flexible, skills-centered approach that allows learners to progress by demonstrating what they know and can do, rather than simply moving through a traditional schedule — is gaining traction. In fact, as of last year, more than 1,500 U.S. institutions have adopted roughly 2,400 undergraduate and 750 graduate competency-based education programs.
The rise of competency-based education could not have come at a better time. Right now, employers are focused on hiring employees who can demonstrate the skills needed to succeed in their field. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2026 survey, nearly 70% of employers now use skills-based hiring, while SHRM research has found that 78% of HR professionals say pre-employment assessments have improved the quality of hires.
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