Skills identification, validation, and acknowledgment are components of a skills recognition system.

• Identifying skills figures out what specific skills an individual has based on evidence which typically includes official certifications (college/university transcripts, licenses), workplace recognition, informal acknowledgment from their peers or work supervisors, and self-reflection.
• Validating skills is confirming that an individual’s identified skills meet certain standards or requirements.
• Acknowledgement of skills formally recognizes and gives credit to an individual’s abilities.