This article demonstrates the main results obtained by a study conducted in 2009 with 166 professional social workers who directly exercise the profession in Gran Concepción, Chile. The study was stimulated by the absence of empiric studies about the valuation of the generic competencies these professionals require in the direct exercise of their profession. The study followed a transversal-descriptive design of a quantitative nature. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire, and the analyses were based on single, double and multiple variables. Their reliability were calculated according to Cronbach's alpha at 0.934. The main results show a high valuation of the generic and systemic competencies, followed by interpersonal and instrumental ones for the exercise of the profession.
Social workers; Generic competencies; Systemic competencies; Interpersonal competencies; Instrumental competencies
