[Kromm]

Skill 12 is a good baseline. Remember to add all applicable bonuses in your mind and ensure that the final result is a sensible level.

A TL8 GP who examines people in her office at her leisure, taking 20-40 minutes instead of the ~10 minutes assumed in the rules on pp. B424-425, gets +2 or +3 for a "very favorable" task (a mildly risky day-to-day job), +1 or +2 for extra time, and from +1 (quality) to +4 (quality) for a room full of TL8 gear, depending on budget. That's +4 to +9. Split the difference and call it +6 at TL8. Thus, someone with skill 12 is functioning at 18 most of the time, which is as good as can be expected.

A cinematic field medic who's routinely taking -9 for haste and getting at most +1 for good gear is at -8, and might want skill 20 just to have the basic professional 12 on adventures.