Leaders of the Automation Federation and representatives from the US Department of Labor (DOL) recently completed work on the Automation Competency Model. The formal federal document defines the skills needed by automation professionals and will help academic institutions prepare supporting course materials. DOL staff is working to finalize the model. Plans are under way to update the current information on the Automation Competency Model as it appears on the DOL Web site. A national Web seminar will take place discussing the final model and the importance it offers in building the next generation of automation professionals. The Model will be reviewed on a yearly basis by the Automation Federation and the DOL to insure it stays relevant.