In creating a SMART goal, which characteristic best describes the Achievable criterion?

• A. It must measure progress quantitatively.
• B. It must reflect the client's personal preference.
• C. It must be realistically attainable within current resources.
• D. It must be unrealistic to challenge the client.

Answer: (C)

Feasibility within current resources determines Achievable in a SMART goal. The idea is that the objective should be realistically attainable given the client’s available time, skills, materials, supports, and environment. It should push the client to grow, but not require impossible effort or resources that aren’t accessible within the planned timeframe. When you set this criterion, you assess what can actually be done now and, if needed, break the goal into smaller, doable steps or adjust resources to make it achievable.

Measuring progress quantitatively describes how you will track advancement, which is the Measurable aspect, not feasibility. Relevance or alignment with the client’s values and circumstances relates to whether the goal matters to the client, not whether it is realistically attainable. An goal that is deliberately unrealistic to be challenging would defeat the purpose of Achievable, since it sets up the client for likely failure.