Is it legal for PFC to skip SPC and be promoted to CPL without P status (no promotion board experience)?

I've been out for a long time...but CPL & SPC are the exact same pay grade...the only difference in what you wear on your sleeve would be your position in the TOE as to whether you are in a position of leadership/supervision over others or not. When I was in (68-71, active duty), I think we had specialists all the way up to E-7! These were usually office personnel, specialists in a skill, but, kinda like Warrant Officers, and some Commissioned Officers in the Navy and Air Force...having no "command" responsibility. (These "specialist" officers usually are retired at 0-4, since without command experience...that's as high as they get.)

All the CPL in my last unit were there just to do CQ.

probably

Yes , I went to Shake and Bake School back in 1969 as an 11E. Many good memories. The training was good and the Instructors were Top Notch. The role playing as a student was most interesting, it gave us insight into problem solving while acting as Senior Enlisted and Officer ranks. The Army put major problems in our paths right after promotion to Sergeant and they were real . At Ft Riley ( 1/4 Cav under the Big Red One ) and serving as an acting SFC I had two problems in our barracks , one troop had attempted suicide and blew off the lower portion of his face. The other was a returning Vietnam Veteran who promised to kill me in front of the troops. It was an interesting eight weeks while we prepared to go to Vietnam. Again it was good training, The objective was to solve the problem at the lowest level. In Vietnam as a member of the 11ACR we had bigger problems.

When I was EM the only non-acting CPLs were busted SGTs, FA gunners and some MPs. So if MOS calls for CPL at E-4, you could go from PFC to CPL.

E 4 and below do not require promotion board even if one those ranks qualify as a Nco .

I understand that this post is 2yrs old, but come on SGT Demian Shevchuk. SPC and CPL are the same rank (E4) but the difference is one (CPL) is considered a Jr NCO and in a leadership billet that has soldiers working for him or her. Also agreed about the MTO&E. Now, I am not saying SPC's can't be in a leadership position. I have been in a leadership role with the rank of SPC when I was an E-4, but not CPL due to the fact it was not in the MTO&E (Intelligence unit). There is no board for promotion from E3 to E4. You should known that since you were an E5 when you posted this.

When I was enlisted in 1972 I went from E-2 to E-4 at the end of AIT because I was in the top half of the class . At that time I had only been in the Army 8 months.

I went from PFC to Cpl and went into a team leaders position. Not sure if the regulations changed since the 80's though

I know a guy.
He picked up Pvt after he made Sgt. Got sent to the fleet. New Co made him Cpl about 30 minutes after he shoved a Lcpl against the bulkhead for talking crap.