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This article is an attempt to state an understanding of the notion of a competency as an educational objective. A competency is defined as the ability to use a concept or theory as a tool for some purpose. It is distinguished from the more general ability to judge which tool is best to use for a given purpose. A professional training program or other learning situation utilizing competencies that ignore the question of judgment is insufficient. One must be concerned with whether the use of certain tools (whose use is defined by a competency) will be wise or intelligent. There is a clear advantage in distinguishing between these two kinds of competency (the correct understanding of a tool, and the correct judgment of its value in any given situation) and in incorporating both kinds into curriculum development. (Author)