Definition: KSA is a term that stands for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. This term can describe a candidate for employment, a current employee, or a job position. It refers to the attributes required of a candidate to perform a job properly. KSAs may include capabilities gained through education, service, or training.
KSAs that describe a job are also known as: evaluating factors, quality ranking factors, rating factors, or job elements.
The federal government typically uses KSAs when hiring to define the attributes that identify the best candidates for a position.
