A "skill" represents knowledge, abilities, or learned behaviors described in a short phrase that communicates discrete, discernable value an individual can demonstrate or acquire.

Skills are informed by industry certifications and licenses, job profiles and data, employer insights, industry and academic standards, and other relevant inputs.

"Open" refers to the open-source code used to create and share skills. This means anyone can participate in the development and implementation of tools, discussions, collaborations, and projects that lead to skills-based education and employment solutions. All open resources, code, collaboration, and solutions are designed to be freely available, publicly accessible, and useable by anyone.

Open standards promote inclusion, transparency, and equity and minimize barriers to skills-based hiring and education practices.

RSDs are the descriptive statements of skills that workers and learners need to be able to successfully do their jobs or complete their field of study.

A skills library is a database of industry-informed skills and their baseline attributes and relationships that are organized to represent targeted industries, occupations, and job roles.

A group of related skills make up one collection (or one "book") in a Skills Library. Example: Skills required for a job as a respiratory therapist is one Collection since the skills within this job are related.

LERs are comprehensive, exchangeable digital records of achievements learned in school, on the job, through volunteer experiences, or in the military and may be represented as skills, competencies, course, certifications, degrees, and other credentials. LERs may also contain validated work history, portfolio artifact/evidence, self-asserted accomplishments, etc. LERs may also be referred to as Interoperable Learning Records (ILRs) or a skills wallet.

Skills-based education focuses on building a learner’s skills and making those skills evident across learning experiences and programs. Skills-based education can help students capitalize on the skills they have earned, no matter where they have earned them, and more easily identify learning opportunities that will help them achieve their career goals.

Skills-based hiring focuses on a candidate’s verified skills rather than other subjective criteria. Skills-based hiring can help employers access talent that is generally overlooked by traditional hiring methods, such as people of color, women, people with disabilities, people with criminal records, people who have paused their careers to care for family members, and people who lack a four-year degree.