“Competenciesâ€� – which in this paper include skills, knowledge, abilities, learning objectives, and outcomes – play a fundamental role in education, training and career advancement. This is reflected in the many standardized lists of competencies ranging from occupational standards (MOS and O*Net) and task lists (UJTL) to educational standards (Common Core Standards) and industry standards (NIMS, OPITO, etc.). It is also reflected in the emergence of organizations such as the Competency-Based Education Network (CBEN), and in initiatives sponsored by federal agencies such as the Departments of Labor, Defense, and Education, and the White House. Nonetheless, competencies are still not managed or exchanged in a standardized or interoperable way. Training systems cannot access lists of competencies through an Application Programming Interface (API), training packages define their own tasks and outcomes rather than use existing ones, and competency-based records of achievement are rarely transportable across military-civilian barriers. The consequences are severe: Jobs go unfilled by qualified unemployed workers (especially veterans) and billions of dollars are wasted because of unnecessary or ineffective training. Multiple efforts aim to change this. These include standardization efforts, technology development sponsored by the government and by private industry, and government initiatives. This paper provides an overview of competencies, reports on competency-related efforts, and discusses the implications for the training community.