Well long time i don’t have read how its work, but i remember something like that :
You begin with cleric rank 1, you exp take skill poit who can be used where you want, after spend a certain amount of point you will have the possibility to do pass to the rank 2, priest for exemple. After that if i remember well you can stay priest as long as you want to have all priest skill, but if you choose to go to rank 3 you will only keep few skill from rank above (3? i am not sure) etc etc, so at the if you are rank 7 you will have few skill from all you rank before, but you can stay the rank you want and maximise this classes, i am not sure if i am clear and if i answer you question xD, tell me if its not clear, and maybe i say something wrong, like i said long time i’ve not check how that work.