In this study we aim at identifying the competences fulfilled by teachers in work situations. The research was conducted with 10 elementary school teachers from a public school in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba. Two techniques were used to collect data: (a) semi-structured interview script and (b) participant observation. Data were analyzed by thematic content analysis and compared to participant observation data. Discussion: competences were categorized into five dimensions: about processes, service, technical, about the organization and social (we took as the main reference the concept and categorization developed by Zarifian). Despite the distinction made in the analysis, it can be said that the complementarity is the main characteristic of competence and, in most situations, they are mobilized simultaneously.
Professional Competence; teaching work; elementary education