Set Course Prerequisites

Prerequisites enforce a specific completion order across courses. A learner who has not completed all prerequisite courses sees the locked course with a "Prerequisites not met" message and a list of what to complete first.

Add Prerequisites to a Course#

1. Go to Admin → Courses and open the course editor.
2. Click the Settings tab.
3. Scroll to Prerequisites.
4. Click Add prerequisite and search for the course(s) that must be completed first.
5. Add as many prerequisites as needed.
6. Click Save.

Prerequisites take effect immediately. Learners who are already enrolled but have not met the prerequisites are blocked until they complete the required courses.

View and Manage All Prerequisites#

Go to Admin → Course Management → Prerequisites to see a global list of all prerequisite relationships across your catalog. Each row shows:

• The course that requires prerequisites
• The prerequisite courses that must be completed first
• The number of learners currently blocked

Click any row to open the course editor and modify the prerequisites.

Prerequisites vs. Learning Paths#

Use prerequisites for one-off dependencies (e.g., "Advanced SQL" requires "SQL Basics"). Use learning paths for complete programs (e.g., a three-month onboarding track).

Minimum Score Requirements#

You can require a learner to achieve a minimum score — not just complete — the prerequisite:

1. Click the ⋮ menu next to a prerequisite in the course editor.
2. Select Set minimum score.
3. Enter a percentage (e.g., 80%).
4. Save.

The learner must pass the prerequisite with at least that score before unlocking the dependent course.

Remove a Prerequisite#

1. Open the course editor → Settings → Prerequisites.
2. Click the × next to the prerequisite you want to remove.
3. Save the course.

Removal takes effect immediately. Learners who were blocked are immediately unblocked if their remaining prerequisites are met.

Circular Prerequisites#

SkillStream prevents circular dependencies (Course A requires Course B, Course B requires Course A). If you attempt to create a circular chain, you see a validation error and the save is rejected.

Troubleshooting#

Learner says they completed the prerequisite but are still blocked Check that the prerequisite course shows 100% completion in the learner's progress record (not just started). If they passed an assessment but have an incomplete video lesson, the course may not be marked complete.

Prerequisite was completed but minimum score was not met The learner needs to retake the prerequisite assessment and achieve the required score. Admins can re-enroll the learner in the prerequisite if retakes are not allowed by default.