The rapid growth of world population has increased the demand for education and face to face education has become insufficient to supply this demand. As a response to this, open and distance learning has become one of the fundamental approaches to obviate this paucity. Specifically, the online practices of open and distance learning that are facilitated by Internet technologies have become frequently applied practices instead of being an alternative to face to face education. Because it is a type of learning that learners experience relatively distant from each other and the instructor, open and distance learning is a process of learning that necessitates learners to employ various competencies and skills. In the present study, a review of literature is made and 58 skills and competencies are identified. These are later classified as metacognitive, cognitive, technological and affective competencies and skills. It is believed that such a classification may provide guidance in making informed decisions in the design of the learning processes, the determination of readiness of learners, and in the identification and modification of the content of orientation activities that are prepared to make students develop these skills in open and learning. It is also believed that such a classification can be used to survey student readiness for open and distance learning, and identify the domains that need to be supported most.