Level 2 specification
NR/L2/TEL/30200
Competence in Professional Telecommunications Engineering
Issue 1, 06 June 2026 · Design process, assurance & records
The overarching rules for competence of anyone doing telecoms engineering work on NR infrastructure — frameworks, assessment, review, profiles, assurance and governance — with role-specific modules underneath
Clause map — what each clause deals with
| 1 | Purpose | What the standard is for: competence and assessment of everyone who designs, plans, builds, tests, operates, maintains or disposes of telecoms assets on NR infrastructure |
| 2 | Scope | Applies to anyone doing telecoms engineering work on NR-managed infrastructure, NR staff and suppliers alike |
| 3 | Definitions | Terms used — action learning, assured competency, competence authority, route to competence and so on |
| 4 | Structure of the standard and supporting documentation | How the parent standard and its modules fit together |
| 5 | Accountability for the competence of individuals within telecommunications | Who is accountable for an individual's competence — employer, line manager, competence authority |
| 6 | Competence frameworks | Competence frameworks are defined and owned by the competence authority, following NR/L2/CTM/201 as a minimum |
| 7 | Defining competence | What competence means (ability, including medical fitness, to do a role consistently) and how requirements are set |
| 8 | Assessing, awarding, and recording competence | Assessment and award follow the relevant module; organisations must record competencies |
| 9 | Exceptional circumstances | Alternative arrangements in emergencies or industrial action, agreed by the competence authority |
| 10 | Reviewing and assuring competence | Each competency is reviewed at least at the mid-point of its validity period |
| 11 | Defining competencies as assured or non-assured | How the competence authority decides whether a competency is assured |
| 12 | Competence profiling | Profiles set which competencies and levels a role/post needs, tied to Unique Position Numbers |
| 13 | Migration from occupational competence to professional competence | How careers move from occupational to professional competency |
| 14 | Delegation of authority for telecommunications competencies | Who may be delegated to set requirements or award competencies |
| 15 | Medical requirements | Medical fitness levels for competencies, per NR/L2/OHS/00124 |
| 16 | Diversity and inclusion | Inclusive approach — not unfairly excluding people from gaining or keeping competence |
| 17 | Governance | The Telecommunications Capability Development Group as the competence authority's forum |
| 18 | Systems (information technology) | NR employee competencies are recorded in Oracle (OCM), the master system |
| 19 | Sustainability | Environmental and sustainability considerations in the capability approach |
| 20 | Route to competence | The blended pathway to competence — training, coaching, action learning, assessment |
| 21 | Pre-requisite competencies, dependencies and training pre-requisites | Competencies that must be held before another can be awarded |