Set up skill scales

Skill scales enable you to define the criteria by which a skill can be measured. There is a skill scale set up in the system by default called Skill scale with three values; Competent, Competent with supervision, and Not competent.

Create a skill scale

To create a new skill scale follow these steps:

1. Go to Quick-access menu > Skills.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the manage skills page.

3. Click the Add a new skill scale button.

4. Complete the skill scale settings.

5. Click Save changes.

Your new skill scale is now added and you are able to set the default value and the proficient value.

The last scale value entered during set up is the default value which displays on a learner’s record of learning (Totara Learn only).

Add skill scale values

After creating your skill scale you may wish to add new skill scale values.

To add new scale values, follow these steps:

1. Go to Quick-access menu > Skills.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the skill frameworks page.

3. Find the skill scale to which you wish to add a value.

4. Click that skill scale’s name to open it.

5. Above the table of skill scale values, click Add scale value.

6. Configure the scale value settings.

7. Click Save changes.

You can move the new scale value to where you wish it to sit in the scale, and set it as the minimum proficient value if desired.

Edit a skill scale

Once you have created a skill scale with a number of values in it and set the proficient value, you may later wish to change these.

To edit a skill scale, follow these steps:

1. Go to Quick-access menu > Skills.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the Manage skills page.

3. Find the skill scale you wish to edit.

4. Click the cog icon ( ) in the Options column.

5. Make the changes required and click Save changes.

Edit a skill scale value

You can edit or add individual skill scale values. To edit a scale value, follow these steps:

1. Go to Quick-access menu > Skills.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the skill frameworks page.

3. Click the name of the skill for which you wish to edit the scale values.

4. Depending on the change you wish to make either:

   • Click the cog icon ( ) next to the value you wish to change

   • Click the Add scale value button to add a value to your scale

5. Adjust or complete the settings.

6. Click Save changes.

7. Click All skill scales to return to the Manage skills page.

Skill scale settings

When creating or editing skill scale you can configure the following settings.

Skill scale value settings

When creating or editing a scale value you can configure the following settings.

Set default and proficiency values

Once you have created your skill scale you may wish to set the Learning plan default value* (Totara Learn only) or the Minimum required proficiency value**.

If you change the minimum required proficiency value of a scale once it is in use this may impact the proficiency status of assigned users and/or any proficiency value override set by assignment.

To set a scale value, follow these steps:

1. Go to Quick-access menu > Skills.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the Manage skills page.

3. Find the skill scale for which you want to set values.

4. Click the name of the skill scale to open it.

5. Use the radio buttons to set the values as required.

6. Click Save and apply changes.

*The Learning plan default value will be automatically awarded until a user provides the required evidence to demonstrate proficiency, as specified in the learning plan (Totara Learn only).

**The Minimum required proficiency value is the lowest value a user has to achieve to be considered proficient in a skill using this scale. All higher scale values are automatically classified as proficient values (i.e. values at which the user will be considered proficient).