How does the training approval workflow work?

An employee submits a training request for a specific skill — including the training date, written evidence, and supporting documents. The request routes to their manager (or a delegated approver). The manager reviews the evidence and approves or rejects with one click. Every action is timestamped and recorded.

Can I require evidence for training submissions?

Yes. Each skill can be configured independently. You can require text evidence (a written description of the training), file attachments (certificates, completion records, photos), or both. Up to five files per submission, 10 MB each.

Who can approve training requests?

Direct managers, admins, and delegated approvers. Employees can designate a subject-matter expert or trainer as the approver when submitting — useful when the person who observed the training isn’t the direct manager. Self-approval is blocked.

Does training expire?

If configured, yes. You set expiration timelines per skill — in days, months, or years. When approved training reaches its expiration date, it’s flagged. Employees can renew by submitting a new request with fresh evidence. The original approval record is preserved in the audit trail.

How is this different from tracking training in an LMS?

An LMS tracks course completions. SkillsDB’s training approval workflow connects training to specific skills in a career framework, requires configurable evidence, routes through a structured approval process, and links the result to proficiency benchmarks. You don’t just know who completed a course — you know whether the training closed a skill gap.

Can I see training status across my team?

Yes. The Training Matrix shows every skill and every employee in a career, color-coded by training status — Approved, Pending, or Rejected. Filter by department, region, or role. Click any cell to see the full record with dates, evidence, and approver details.

How quickly can we set up the training workflow?

Enable training dates on a career, configure evidence requirements per skill, and you’re live. Bulk update settings let you configure multiple skills at once. Most teams have their first training submissions flowing through the approval process within days.

What percentage of training actually transfers to job performance?

<a href="https://hbr.org/2019/10/where-companies-go-wrong-with-learning-and-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research published in Harvard Business Review</a> found that only 12% of employees apply new skills learned in L&D programs to their jobs. One reason: training often isn't connected to a verified skill gap or reviewed for relevance before it's approved. A structured approval workflow ensures every training investment is tied to a real development need — with evidence required before it's marked complete.

Training Approvals

Know what your training spend actually bought.

A structured training approval workflow that connects employee requests to managers, evidence, and the skills that actually need developing.

Book Demo

Training approval dialog showing a pending request with employee name, skill name, training date, text evidence, and attached documents — with Approve and Reject buttons at the bottom.

Training requests arrive by email, Slack, or hallway conversation. Managers approve based on budget left, not skills needed. Nobody tracks whether the training was completed, whether evidence was submitted, or whether it moved the needle on actual proficiency. When leadership asks “what did we get for our training spend?” — the answer is a shrug.

The disconnect between training investment and skills outcomes isn’t a reporting problem. It’s a workflow problem. Requests aren’t connected to gaps. Approvals aren’t structured. Evidence isn’t required. And nothing expires.

Why Should Training Approvals Connect to Skills?

SkillsDB’s training approval workflow ties every request to a specific skill in a career pathway. Employees submit training with evidence — dates, written descriptions, and supporting documents. Managers or subject-matter experts review and approve with one click. Every action is timestamped and attributed. And because training is connected to proficiency benchmarks, you can see whether the investment actually closed the gap. Training stops being an expense you justify and becomes a process you measure.

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How It Works

For Talent Development

Employees submit training requests with evidence. Managers review and approve. The record connects to proficiency data — see whether training actually closes the gap.

For Resource Planning

Use the Training Matrix to see which employees have approved training for project-critical skills. When staffing an engagement, the data is already there.

For Workforce Strategy

Assess training coverage across teams and departments. Filter by career or skill to see where investment is landing and where capability gaps persist.

For Frontline Training

Configure evidence requirements for safety-critical skills — mandatory attachments, expiration timelines. Every record is structured, timestamped, and linked to the approver.

Only 12% of employees apply new skills learned in L&D programs to their jobs. Structured approval workflows that tie training to specific skills and require evidence of completion close the gap between course attendance and actual capability.

— Harvard Business Review

SkillsDB has been helping organizations manage training approvals and close skill gaps since 2008. Fortune 500 customers. SOC2 Type II certified. GDPR compliant. 30+ countries served.

Stop approving training you can’t measure.

Connect every request to a skill, every approval to evidence, and every outcome to a benchmark. See how SkillsDB makes training investment accountable.

Book Demo

Know what your training spend actually bought.

Why Should Training Approvals Connect to Skills?

How It Works

For Talent Development

For Resource Planning

For Workforce Strategy

For Frontline Training

Related Features

Skills Matrix

Career Frameworks

Certifications

Gap Analysis

Learning Plans

Proficiency Assessment