Assumed abilities

A university or college degree, or any certification, gives a certain level of “confirmed competence” or “assumed abilities”.  The qualification is third-party validation around that person’s capabilities. 

Someone else – some other institution – has judged the credential-holder to be competent.  The other party has determined that the holder is able to do the credentialed kind of thinking or problem-solving.  That third-party validation is part of the value of the degree or credential. In some roles or industries, specific credentials are less important.  But in the built environment, the opposite is true:  a level of competence is assumed and should be expected.