The Professional Knowledge and Skills base

Accessing the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB)

The CILIP Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB) is the sector skills standard for the information, knowledge, library and data profession. It has been developed in consultation with employers, practitioners, sector experts and learning providers. It is recognised as the foundation of learning and skills development for the profession and often referred to as the “PKSB” by the community.

We have developed a variety of tools to help our Members, Employer Partners, Learning Partners and third parties get the most out of the PKSB. Learn more about the value of the PKSB.

CILIP Members

The Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB) is a valuable career development tool, developed specially for our members. The PKSB helps you to identify training needs and to prepare for appraisals, CILIP Professional Registration, career development and planning, job applications and progression.

At the heart of the PKSB is a set of ethics and values which a range of generic skills and professional expertise are built around. Giving you everything you need to apply ethical professional practice in your work.

If you are a member signed in to the website, please use the link below. There will be a pop-up window and you just have to click Submit to be taken to your PKSB area.

The Online Tool is a CILIP member benefit and the best way for individuals to use the PKSB. To support our Welsh-speaking members we provide a downloadable Welsh Language PDF of the PKSB.

Employer Partners

As an employer

The PKSB provides an important tool for employers committed to developing their staff, enabling the identification of skills and knowledge gaps within an organisation and providing a framework for staff training and development plans. CILIP is able to supply an editable PDF and also a Team Assessment Tool. The latter is able to survey 10 staff (Standard Employer Partner) or 50 staff (Premium Employer Partner).

If you’d like to use the PSKB for staff development, or would like to discuss a bespoke survey for your organisation, contact the Employer Partner Team who’ll be happy to help.

For more details, contact the Employer Partner team.

Learning Partners

The PKSB is used as the framework for accrediting academic and vocational qualifications and training for the information profession.

For more details on course accreditation you can find the PKSB Accreditation Guide below, visit the accreditation pages or contact Member Services.

Sectors and Specialisms

PKSB Healthcare Sector Guide

Commissioned by Health Education England, this guide provides real-world context for how the skills and knowledge described in the PKSB are applied in the healthcare sector. It sets the PKSB within the healthcare context and shares hints, tips and resources to support skills and knowledge development. It can be used alongside the PKSB self-assessment tools. The guide is intended to assist people working in library, information and knowledge roles in healthcare, including those delivering services to healthcare workers or students.

CILIP members can download the PKSB Healthcare Sector Guide and use it independently or in conjunction with the PKSB Online Tool.

Non-members working for the NHS in England can request access to the PKSB Healthcare Sector Guide and Self-Assessment PDF from HEE's NHS Knowledge and Library Services team or find out more from the Knowledge for Healthcare Learning Academy.

Using the PKSB for Knowledge Management Professional Registration

The PKSB underpins CILIP Professional Registration. To further support the Knowledge Management Professional Registration offer, CILIP has created additional resources including the Guide to Knowledge Management Chartership (publication pending) and the Guide to Knowledge Management Fellowship.

The Knowledge Management Professional Registration wheel is an additional resource to highlight the KM within the PKSB for candidates.

For Knowledge Management Chartership – sections 6. Knowledge Management; 10. Customer Focus, Service Design and Marketing; and 12. Strategy, Planning and Management.

For Knowledge Management Fellowship – sections 6. Knowledge Management; 11. Leadership, Advocacy, Influencing and Personal Effectiveness; and 12. Strategy, Planning and Management.

Full details of professional registration requirements can be found in the candidate information for Knowledge Management Professional Registration.