When you are learning a new skill, you go through several levels of proficiency. The first set of levels are your academic proficiency, where you are learning the concepts and practicing. The second set of levels are your practical or occupational proficiency, where you use your skills in a practical way, such as an occupation or performance or for implementing a project.
If you participate in on-the-job training, it may be possible to move into practical application very quickly, depending on the skill and how easy it is to learn that particular skill.
The more complex and difficult a skill, the longer it takes to go from one level to another. Simple skills often allow you to skip levels, or rapidly move
Academic Proficiency
The first 4 levels are purely academic where you learn the concepts and practice the skill, but have not used them in a live environment or in a practical application.
Level 1: Background
You are aware of some of the basic concepts
Level 2: Struggling
You’ve tried the skill and are having trouble with it.
Level 3: Needs Practice
You haven’t reached “practiced” yet, but you are not struggling.
Level 4: Practiced
You are able to solve most problems you encounter that depend on this skill in an educational or theoretical or practice environment.
Practical Application
Once you reach these levels, you have started using your skills in practical applications.
Level 5: Awareness
Understands common basic applications enough to identify proper solutions, but cannot implement the solutions themselves without assistance.
Level 6: Beginner
You’re just starting to explore this skill in a practical environment and are able to implement basic solutions with little or no assistance.
Level 7: Familiar
You have basic practical knowledge of the skill, but plenty of room to learn more.
Level 8: Proficient
You’re comfortable in using this skill in routine ways.
Level 9: Expert
You’re ahead of the pack
Level 10: Master
You’re a pro and know this skill inside and out.
Level 11: Thought Leader
You are a leader in the field, and other people learn from your experience and insights.