Generally, yes, the skills you have from your race and class are it (see here in the Basic Rules for the closest it comes to specifically stating this). Some subclasses grant you extra proficiencies, like the Rogue Scout, and there are feats like Skill Expert. There's also a warlock invocation that grants some additional proficiencies. Tasha's also introduced an optional rule for changing out an under-used proficiency at level up. But otherwise, if the rules don't say something like changing out or adding a skill happens, then it means it doesn't happen. Compare to ASIs.
There are rules for Training as a downtime activity; this is mainly intended for languages and tools though, plus maybe vehicle use as they're not really mentioned (but would be handy if you wanted to learn to drive a cart because nobody in your party has good Animal Handling for example).
You could discuss with your DM whether they'd allow training of a skill proficiency, but you'd need to have a good justification for how you're training it, and it could easily be more time consuming or costly than other training because skills usually represent things that require either longer term experience or a natural aptitude; you're probably not going to become proficient in Arcana with a quick introductory course, for example.
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Also keep in mind that you don't need to be proficient in a skill or tool in order to do an ability check with it, unless the check specifically requires proficiency. You don't need Stealth proficiency in order to attempt to Hide, for example.
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Are the proficiencies you start out with the only proficiencies your character will ever have?
Can you add new proficiencies such as when you level up? What rules are there for this, I can't seem to find any in the basic rules.
Generally, yes, the skills you have from your race and class are it (see here in the Basic Rules for the closest it comes to specifically stating this). Some subclasses grant you extra proficiencies, like the Rogue Scout, and there are feats like Skill Expert. There's also a warlock invocation that grants some additional proficiencies. Tasha's also introduced an optional rule for changing out an under-used proficiency at level up. But otherwise, if the rules don't say something like changing out or adding a skill happens, then it means it doesn't happen. Compare to ASIs.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
There are rules for Training as a downtime activity; this is mainly intended for languages and tools though, plus maybe vehicle use as they're not really mentioned (but would be handy if you wanted to learn to drive a cart because nobody in your party has good Animal Handling for example).
You could discuss with your DM whether they'd allow training of a skill proficiency, but you'd need to have a good justification for how you're training it, and it could easily be more time consuming or costly than other training because skills usually represent things that require either longer term experience or a natural aptitude; you're probably not going to become proficient in Arcana with a quick introductory course, for example.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Also keep in mind that you don't need to be proficient in a skill or tool in order to do an ability check with it, unless the check specifically requires proficiency. You don't need Stealth proficiency in order to attempt to Hide, for example.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)