The basic competency skills include reading, writing, and computational skills. While the assessment of these skills is not always standardized, deficiencies in these skills are widely reported. The U.S. Department of Education estimates U.S. adult literacy levels in three broad categories. Prose literacy—skills and strategies needed to understand and use information from texts that are frequently found in the home and the community.

Document literacy—skills and strategies required to locate and use information contained in nontextual materials that include tables, graphs, charts, indexes, forms, and schedule. Quantitative literacy—knowledge and skills needed to apply the arithmetical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and in combination with printed materials, as in balancing a checkbook or completing an order form. When creating a program to address basic skill deficiencies, employers should operationally define each basic skill. This varies widely from organization to organization.

There are at least two common characteristics: (1) an aptitude test and (2) small-group and one-on-one instruction. An aptitude test is important for assessing the current ability level of each trainee. Small-group and one-on-one instruction are important for supplying feedback to the trainee and conducting remedial work.