Competency based education (CBE) focuses on students acquiring knowledge and skills, called competencies, required for a particular course/degree. Mature students seem to be particularly suited for CBE, as they enter a course of study with variable backgrounds of knowledge and skills, usually aiming for a professional qualification. However, CBE is gaining ground in undergraduate courses as well. In truth, CBE core elements (such as laboratory experience, skills, problem solving, team work, ethics, student research and enquiry) pre-existed the formulation of CBE in the modern era. Nowhere is this so true than the medical sciences field. Physiology always played a key role in the curricula of medical studies and of health allied professions. However CBE implementation is fragmented and varied in Europe. In Greece the importance of physiology for the acquisition of medical/health allied competencies has been recognized almost from the beginning of the University system. This talk will discuss the implementation of CBE in Greece and will draw comparisons with European-wide examples.