Involving 195 vocational, technical, and adult education (VTAE) personnel from Wisconsin's 16 VTAE districts, this study was designed to identify the teaching competencies needed by beginning VTAE teachers and to recommend alternative delivery systems for obtaining professional competencies necessary for VTAE certification. With plans to provide a basis for assistance in developing the certification curriculum for new teachers and for directing professional development delivery systems that are realistic and competency based, a survey instrument containing 88 competency statements from 10 major categories was developed and sent to the respondents. The respondents rated each competency according to the need by vocational teachers and the time the competency is needed. Results from the survey showed that all competencies on the list were needed and that most were needed within the first three months of classroom experience. In a comparative study between subgroups, results showed that teacher educators saw more competencies needed earlier than did new teachers or certified teachers. Possible uses of the results were noted: Results may aid teacher educators in deciding those competencies needed as survival skills and those that may be held until later, and also may give teacher educators a more realistic base for determining the curriculum for certification courses. The appendixes include the survey instrument used, the tabulated data, and other related information. (BM)