Competency-based education (CBE) describes instructional programming designed to guide students through progressive levels of demonstrated mastery in order to receive course credit, rather than credit awarded based on semester completion. These programs are usually student-paced, not bound by traditional semesters, and offer the potential for cost and time savings for students. This entry provides an overview of the origins and growth of CBE and then addresses the understanding of curriculum as the institution’s broader academic plan for student success, encompassing faculty; course development (specifically the design, sequence, and assessment of competencies); program delivery considerations; and redesigned student services essential for CBE.