The Skill Level System, Decoded.

Career Development Courses are AFSC-specific study guides and end-of-course exams produced by Air University (AU/A4L). Each AFSC has volumes covering its technical knowledge, regulatory requirements, and operational procedures. 5-level CDCs cover apprentice-through-journeyman content. 7-level CDCs add supervisory, training management, and career field management topics.

Your unit training manager (UTM) enrolls you in your CDC set through AFTR. You receive the physical or digital volumes and study on your own. When you are ready, the UTM schedules you for an End-of-Course Exam (ECE) administered at a formal testing center or through official online testing. The exam is closed-book. Passing requires a minimum score set by the CDC program for your AFSC.

One retest is typically authorized after a mandatory 30-day study period. A second failure requires commander notification and a formal remedial training plan. Two failures in the same CDC set is a career marker — it will appear in your training record and raises questions on promotion boards. Do not attempt the exam until you are ready. Your UTM can help you identify weak areas.

CDCs must be complete before your skill level can be upgraded. No skill level upgrade means no promotion finalization in most cases. The CDCs are not just a checkbox — they are part of a three-gate system: (1) CDCs complete and ECE passed, (2) OJT tasks certified, (3) minimum time met. All three must be done. Completing CDCs without finishing OJT tasks still blocks your upgrade.

CDCs are updated periodically by your career field's Career Field Manager (CFM). When new volumes are issued, outstanding trainees may be required to complete supplemental material. If you receive updated volumes during your CDC period, verify with your UTM whether you need to study the new content before testing. Outdated CDCs are a common source of confusion during retrain programs.

Your CDCs are the primary study source. Do not rely solely on flashcard apps or third-party study guides — exam content is drawn from the official volumes. The Air University e-Learning portal and myLearning (AF Portal) are the official digital access points. Some career fields maintain informal study groups — ask your NCOs.

• Part I: Career Field Overview — grade and rank requirements, assignment considerations, and training philosophy for your AFSC
• Part II: Training Standards — the complete list of tasks with proficiency codes indicating what level must be trained to at each skill level
• Section A: OJT task list — the actual tasks that must be certified by your supervisor
• Section B: Course requirement listing — what formal courses apply at each skill level
• Proficiency codes: A (can perform with assistance), B (can perform without assistance), C (can perform to instructor level) — different tasks require different proficiency levels

Every AFSC's CFETP is publicly available on Air Force e-Publishing:

Search by AFSC number in the publication search. Your UTM should also have a current copy. If your unit's copy is more than 18 months old, check e-Publishing — CFETPs are updated periodically and your training requirements may have changed.

The Part II task list uses columns to indicate the proficiency level required at each skill level. Look for your AFSC's 5-level column — any task with a proficiency code there must be trained and certified before your 5-level upgrade can proceed.

Bring your CFETP to conversations with your trainer and UTM. Know which tasks you have left. Do not wait for your supervisor to track this for you — it is your career.

The CFM owns the CFETP, including the task list and proficiency code requirements at each skill level. When the Air Force updates CFETP requirements, removes tasks, or adds new qualification standards, that change originates from or is approved by the CFM for that career field. CFMs also influence CDC content through coordination with Air University.

CFMs have authority to waive or adjust certain training requirements in cases where mission requirements, deployment, or exceptional circumstances prevent normal training progression. Waivers are not routine and typically require command-level coordination. If a standard training timeline is impossible for your situation, the chain to the CFM — through your UTM, training manager, and functional area manager — is the right path.

CFMs are managed through Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) functional management offices. Your UTM and senior career field NCOs will know how to contact the CFM for your AFSC. AFPC publishes career field management pages on myPers (mypers.af.mil) that include CFM contact information for most career fields.

Most airmen never deal directly with their CFM. Where the CFM matters: (1) if there is a dispute about your training requirements that cannot be resolved at the unit level, (2) if you are in a unique duty situation where normal training is not possible and you need a formal waiver, or (3) if you are pursuing functional management roles or a special duty assignment within your career field. For most day-to-day training issues, your UTM is the right contact.

If your 5-level is not awarded before your promotion window for SrA or SSgt opens, your promotion can be held. In most cases, the promotion date is adjusted — you still get the promotion once the upgrade is complete, but you lose the back pay and seniority of the original date. The longer the delay, the more this costs you in both money and promotion timing going forward.

The most common reason airmen fall behind is not getting enrolled in CDCs promptly after arriving at their first duty station. This often happens during busy operational periods or when UTMs are stretched thin. It is your responsibility to know your status and push for enrollment. Ask your supervisor and UTM about CDC enrollment within your first 60 days at your duty station.

Busy units with high op tempo can neglect OJT task documentation for months. You can complete CDCs and still be blocked on skill level upgrade if your task list is incomplete. Maintain your own copy of your CFETP task list and track your completions. Do not assume your supervisor is tracking it. Review your AFTR record regularly.

Talk to your UTM immediately. They have visibility on your training record and can identify the specific blocks. If CDCs are the issue, they can initiate enrollment and help schedule the exam. If OJT tasks are the issue, they can work with your supervisor to prioritize task certifications. If there are extenuating circumstances (deployment, medical, PCS during training), document them — they may support a training waiver through the chain of command.

Skill level requirements are also tied to reenlistment eligibility in some AFSCs and circumstances. An airman who has not completed 5-level requirements and is approaching ETS may face reenlistment complications if the upgrade is not on track. Do not let this surprise you at the 12-month-out mark. Track your training status the same way you track your ETS date.