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This paper explores a range of assessment system design features for the establishment of a national competency based assessment system to support the emergency management competency standards within the Public Safety Training Package. The discussion is based on a review of policy developments in the vocational education and training (VET) sector and research in the field of competency based assessment in Australia. The paper begins with an overview of government initiatives in VET and identifies technical issues and concerns associated with validity, reliability and the role of judgement/decision making in competency based assessment. The authors then explore system level features required to implement a competency based assessment system within the emergency management field and to meet the requirements of the Public Safety Training Package. Other industry skills-based assessment systems are examined in order to propose the most appropriate system features for assessment against emergency management competency standards. Assessment methods being tested in the health care and management professional areas are explored for strengths and weaknesses in light of their applicability to emergency management competencies. In the final section of the paper, technical solutions to problems associated with multiple methods of observation are outlined. The authors propose an approach using the latest developments in the field of educational measurement and online applications that could result in a robust assessment and reporting system.