---
title: "Using the skills profile"
slug: "using-the-skills-profile"
tags: ["Explainer", "How-to", "Totara Skills"]
updated: 2026-10-08T07:25:59Z
published: 2026-10-08T07:25:59Z
canonical: "totara.help/using-the-skills-profile"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using the skills profile

The **Skills profile** page brings a user's assigned [skills](/totara-20/docs/what-are-skills-1), current progress and development opportunities together in one place. Rather than requiring users to piece together information from different areas of the system, it presents a single view of what skills are assigned, how proficient the user currently is, and where further development may be needed.

Users can see at a glance which skills they are proficient in, which need attention, and where to focus future development. This supports ownership of learning, preparation for future roles, and more meaningful conversations with managers or mentors.

The view also clarifies expectations by connecting skill progress to a user's role, goals or career direction. Rather than treating skills as a static checklist, the skill profile supports ongoing reflection, planning and tracking of progress over time.

## Access your own skills profile

You can access your own skills profile by following these steps:

1. Navigate to *Develop > Skills.*
2. [Review the skill profile](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#reviewing-a-skill-profile) and [manage your skills](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#managing-skills).

## Access another user’s skills profile

Users with the required permissions can view another user's skill profile by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the user's profile and select **Skills**.
2. Alternatively:
  1. Select the user in the [team heatmap](/totara-20/docs/view-skills-heatmap-for-your-team) (My team) or [organisation heatmap](/totara-20/docs/view-skills-heatmap-for-your-organisation) (Skills overview) and select the user to assess.
  2. Open the **Assess other users** view from the current skill profile and select the user to assess.
3. [Review the skill profile](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#reviewing-a-skill-profile) and [manage the user’s skills](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#managing-skills).

## Reviewing a skill profile

At the top of the skill profile, a summary area displays the user's profile image, name, position and organisation, along with an overall proficiency percentage. This percentage reflects the proportion of the user's assigned skills in which they are currently proficient.

Alongside the user information, [competency role](/totara-20/docs/what-are-competency-roles) tiles are displayed. Each tile represents a grouping of skills assigned to the user through their position and shows the percentage of skills within that role in which the user is proficient. Selecting a tile filters the skills list below to show only the skills assigned through that competency role.

![The main skills profile view.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-T8ZH3AEM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

The main body of the page is the skills list. By default, skills are grouped by their parent skill, with only skills that have no child skills displayed within each group. Grouping can be switched off to display a single flat list of all skills instead. Above the list, a search field allows a specific skill to be located, and sorting options allow the list to be ordered alphabetically, by status priority (in order: **Expired**, **About to expire**, **Overdue**, **Not proficient**, **Not assessed**, **Proficient**), or by expiration date (soonest or furthest).

![The skills list on the skills profile page.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-ZRTD1Z0W.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

[Filters](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#skill-filters) are also available above the list to narrow down the skills shown, based on criteria such as proficiency, status, assignment type, or date ranges. The columns displayed in the list can be customised, and the list can be exported in a chosen format.

Selecting a skill's name from the list opens its details in a side panel, giving access to further information and, where permitted, assessment and management actions.

![The side panel displayed when selecting a skill.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-FJW8AENH.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

### Skill filters

The following filters are available in the skills list of the skills profile.

| Filter | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Skill to develop | Shows only skills marked for further development. |
| Proficiency | Show only skills that are: - Not assessed - Proficient - Not proficient |
| Status | Show only skills that are: - About to expire - Expired - Overdue - Pending review |
| Assignment type | Show only skills that are: - Required skill - Self-assigned skill - Assigned by others |
| Expiration date | Show skills with an expiration date in the specified range. |
| Due date | Show skills with a due date in the specified range. |

### Skill list columns

The following information is displayed for each skill on the skills profile.

| Column | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Assessor rating | The latest rating provided by an assessor and the rating date. A dash is shown if no rating is available or an assessor rating is not required. |
| Self-rating | The user's latest self-rating and the rating date. A dash is shown if no rating is available or self-rating is not required. |
| Achievement level | The user's achieved level shown as coloured pills, alongside a status icon. Pills represent the number of levels in the skill scale, an outline indicates the required level, and an arrow indicates the target level. Hovering over the pills displays a tooltip with this information in text form. |
| Expiration / due date | The skill's expiration date or the assessment's due date. An icon is displayed for skills that are about to expire, have expired, or are overdue. |

### Skill statuses

The following statuses are displayed for each skill on the skills profile.

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Not assessed | The skill is assigned but has not yet been rated. |
| Proficient | The required proficiency level has been achieved. |
| Not proficient | The skill has been rated, but the required level has not been achieved. |
| About to expire | The skill is currently proficient and has entered its configured warning period. |
| Expired | The skill's expiration date has passed and a new assessment is required. |
| Overdue | The assessment due date has passed and the assessment has not been completed. |
| Pending review | An assessment or reassessment by another person is required. |

> [!NOTE]
> To choose which columns are displayed, select the three-dot icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-88FZGPDM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)) and choose **Show/hide columns**, then use the checkboxes to select the columns required and apply the changes.

### Export the skills profile

You can export the list of skills in a skills profile for reporting or record-keeping purposes by following these steps:

1. Select the three-dot icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-88FZGPDM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)) above the skills list.
2. Select **Export to PDF** or **Export to CSV** to export the currently displayed skills list.

## Managing skills

Depending on whose profile is being viewed and the permissions assigned, additional actions may be available from the skill profile.

### Mark a skill as a skill to develop

To mark a skill as a skill to develop, follow these steps:

1. Hover over a skill.
2. Click the empty star icon. The star becomes coloured and remains visible.
3. Select the star icon again if you wish to unmark the skill.

> [!NOTE]
> A skill can also be marked or unmarked as a skill to develop from the **Skill details** side panel.

### Self-assign a skill

To self-assign a skill on [your own skills profile](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#accessing-a-skill-profile), follow these steps:

1. Click **Self-assign skills**.
2. In the side panel that opens, search for a skill. Only skills available for self-assignment that are not already assigned are shown.
3. Select the skill to assign, or use the **Browse** option to view all skills available for self-assignment.
4. If available, set the current experience level.
5. Optionally, select the target level you’re aiming to achieve.
6. Confirm the action.

> [!NOTE]
> The required proficiency level is defined by the skill's configuration. The target level is stored separately and does not replace the required level.

### Assign a skill to another user

To assign skills to a user on [their skills profile](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#access-another-users-skill-profile1), follow these steps:

1. Click **Assign skills**.
2. In the side panel that opens, search for a skill. Only skills available for assignment to that user, and not already assigned to them, are shown.
3. Select the skill to assign, or use the **Browse** option to view all skills available for assignment.
4. If available, set the user's current experience level, and optionally select a target level.
5. Click **Assign**.

### Unassign a skill

To unassign a skill from the skills profile, follow these steps:

1. Select a skill name to open the skill side panel.
2. Click the three-dot icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-88FZGPDM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)) and select **Unassign a skill**.
3. Click **Okay** to confirm.

> [!NOTE]
> On a user's own profile, only a self-assigned skill with no other active assignment types can be unassigned. On another user's profile, only a skill assigned by the current user, with no other active assignment types, can be unassigned.

## Skill details panel

When selecting a skill on the skills profile, a panel will be displayed showing the skill details. The top of the panel shows the skill description, the user's achievement level pills and the expiration date (if set). Users can hover over the pills to see a tooltip with the achievement level information in text form.

### Skill details tabs

Within the skill details panel, there are multiple tabs containing further information about the skill.

| Tab | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Assessment | Shows the configured achievement path and the progress of each criterion. Each achievement step appears in an expandable section; a green check indicates a requirement has been met, and a grey check indicates it has not. Authorised users can complete manual ratings or checklists here. |
| Comments | Read or add comments. Comments are only visible to the user whose profile is being viewed and to their assessors. |
| Attachments | View or upload attachments. Attachments are only visible to the user whose profile is being viewed and to their assessors. |
| Activity log | Review changes such as assignment, rating and achievement events. |

### Set a skill's target level

To set the target level for a skill, follow these steps:

1. Select a skill to open the side panel.
2. Click **Set your target**.
3. Select the target level.
4. Click **Save changes**.

The selected target level is indicated by an arrow on the achievement level scale.

![Setting the target level for a skill in the side panel.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-YZCT78F8.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

### Complete a skill assessment

To rate a user’s skill via their skills profile, or your own skill where applicable, follow these steps:

1. Select a skill to assess.
2. On the **Assessment** tab, expand the relevant criteria.
3. For a manual rating, select the achievement level. For a checklist, select **Yes** or **No** for each step.
4. Optionally, enter a comment.
5. Click **Save changes**.

A new record is added to the [assessment history](/totara-20/docs/using-the-skills-profile#view-assessment-history) each time an assessment is completed.

![Rating a user's skill on the Assessment tab.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-EI70QTDG.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

### View assessment history

An assessment history record is created whenever an assessment criterion is met. For criteria-based achievement paths, a record is created only after all criteria required for a particular scale level have been met.

To view the assessment history for a skill, follow these steps:

1. Select the skill from the skills profile.
2. Select the **Assessment history** button.

The achievement level shown for a record is the level associated with that assessment. Note that it can be lower than the user’s current overall achievement level.

![Viewing the assessment history for a team member's skill.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-G4N3GRTX.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A50%3A34Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A50%3A34Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2FHuBN7m0BcqB2zn2bKsppJAwvK4cEf29GYFJ727JpBs%3D)

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