A study was conducted to develop and examine an alternative to the traditional occupational experience method of the development of professional vocational teacher education competencies. A professional competence examination was developed to measure effectiveness of varying types and amounts of occupational experiences in developing vocational teacher competencies. A modular curriculum was written and implemented along with an occupational experience at four university sites. Pre- and posttests were administered to a laboratory group consisting of preservice business and distributive education teachers. Two reference groups, which had occupational experience without the modules, were also examined to provide a control. Results indicated that professional vocational education competence can be engendered through a directed occupational experience program strategy. (The professional Competencies Battery with scoring instructions, and copies of the twenty directed occupational experience modules are appended. The modules focus on the areas of program planning, instruction, cooperative education, community relationships, technical development, laboratory plan, guidance, advisory committee, and program evaluation.) (JH)