As described by Skillable, skill validation (also called validated learning) refers to the process of assessing, verifying, and documenting an individual’s competencies in a specific area. Learners demonstrate competency by putting the concepts and skills they have learned into practice. The term is particularly used in a training context; individuals who are validated to successfully put knowledge into practice are considered job ready.

Skills validation is commonly used in work contexts such as:

• Skill validation and certification preparation - Learners validate they have mastered the material in a course.
• Job readiness – Learners demonstrate proficiency by proving they can properly use a platform, tool, or software by performing real-world scenarios in safe environments.
• Technical sales enablement - Technical sales teams test their knowledge on product features and functions before meeting with customers.
• Customer support for proprietary software - Customer support representatives ensure they are ready for various types of customer calls by testing their ability to resolve issues before they start work.

Education Design Lab describes skills validation as the process by which an assertion that ‘I have a skill’ is substantiated. The assertion is typically:

• Conducted by qualified third party
• Creates trust that the individual possesses the skill
• Based on a shared understanding/rubric of the meaning of the skill
• Indicates the level and context of the skill
• Can be conducted through various methods

Skills validators refers to the methods / tools that are used to assess, verify, and document an individual's knowledge and competencies in a specific area. Common types of validation include:

• Demonstration in front of a skilled evaluator
• Endorsement from people who know the individual being evaluated
• Performance-based (hands-on) assessment.