This article deals with the problem of communicative competence of a high school teacher. The analysis of dictionary entries of the basic concepts, as well as researchers of the interpretation of the concept of "competence" in relation to the educational process is given. It is shown that professional competence acts as a part of professional culture, is a qualitative characteristic of a person and determines the degree of mastery of a person by his professional activity. Communicative competence is a complex personal characteristic, an integral personal education that regulates interaction both in the teacher-student dyad and the integral system of relations between the individual and the surrounding socio-cultural reality.