TS 13173

TS 13173 is a vocational standard for the computer software education specialist. It defines and classifies the occupation, and it addresses the minimum tools, equipment, and hardware needed to perform the work, together with the way the required occupational qualities are measured and assessed. In general terms, a software education specialist is the professional who plans and delivers training so users, employees, or learners can use software correctly and effectively.

The technical role behind software training

The standard’s core subject is the role itself and the practical environment in which that role is carried out. In broader technical context, software training work draws on knowledge of operating systems, application software, user interfaces, training tools, and workplace software usage processes. Effective software education is not limited to explaining features; it also helps learners build correct usage habits, reduce operational errors, and gain basic troubleshooting confidence in real work settings.

Assessment of qualifications and occupational fit

TS 13173 also covers how the occupation’s minimum qualities are measured and evaluated. That means the role is understood not only through technical knowledge, but also through communication skill, instructional ability, practical application, technical accuracy, and the capacity to manage a training environment. In practice, software education competence is often judged through hands-on performance, scenario-based tasks, success in transferring knowledge to users, and the extent to which training objectives are achieved. The standard is useful because it gives the occupation a common definition and a shared basis for evaluation.