Criteria, purposes, and methods for evaluating the clinical competence of students in the allied health professions.

A review is presented of the methods related to the development of criteria and methods for evaluating the clinical competence of students in the allied health professions. The evaluation instrument should reflect the competencies expected of the student at the entry level of the profession and should be objective, valid, reliable, and practical. Since strengths and limitations are inherent in all types of evaluative techniques, a combination of techniques is desirable. The evaluation process should serve as a means of assessing student performance, improving instruction, evaluating program goals and objectives, and encouraging student development.