Abstract: This article is dedicated to the problems of preparation of personnel of higher qualification. The object of this research is the teaching of foreign language with regards to the programs of training of the scientific-pedagogical personnel in the postgraduate school. The subject is the problem that emerges in educator’s practice in controlling the understanding of the narrowly-specialized scientific articles by the post-graduates. The author introduces the definition of a professional competency of an educator, as well as substantiates its necessity. The structure of professional competency consisting of the linguistic, terminological, and scientific-communicative competency is being developed. Special attention is given to the terminological competency as the main component of professional competency of the foreign language educator, who introduces the programs of scientific-pedagogical personnel training in the postgraduate school. The polling demonstrated that educators face the problem of proper understanding of the narrowly-specialized texts and scientific articles because they have just the linguistic education. The main conclusion consists in formulation of the new definition of “professional competency” of the foreign language educator in preparation of the scientific-pedagogical personnel in the postgraduate school.