Assesses technical knowledge and skills related to the performance requirements of a specific job, whether such knowledge and skills were acquired through formal or informal means. Section 241 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972, requires the Secretary of HEW, in carrying out his functions relating to qualifications for health manpower, to develop and conduct a program to determine the proficiency of individuals in performing the duties and functions of practical nurse, therapists, medical technologists and cytotechnologists, radiologic technologists, psychiatric technicians, or other health care technicians and technologists. The program is to use formal testing of the proficiency of individuals, and is not to deny any individual, who otherwise meets the proficiency requirements for any health care specialty, a satisfactory proficiency rating solely because of his failure to meet formal educational or professional membership requirements. Proficiency examinations are to determine the necessary work qualifications of health personnel (therapists, technologists, technicians and others) who do not otherwise meet the formal educational, professional membership, or other specified criteria established under Medicare regulations so that services provided by these individuals will be eligible for payment.