diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8b907885861..ebb561de0ae 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ release.
 
 ### Semantic Conventions
 
+- Clarify that attribute requirement levels apply to the instrumentation library
+  ([#3289](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/3289))
 - Fix grammatical number of metric units.
   ([#3298](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/3298))
 - Rename `net.app.protocol.(name|version)` to `net.protocol.(name|version)`
diff --git a/specification/common/attribute-requirement-level.md b/specification/common/attribute-requirement-level.md
index c7fb99345ce..3543970a29e 100644
--- a/specification/common/attribute-requirement-level.md
+++ b/specification/common/attribute-requirement-level.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 _This section applies to Log, Metric, Resource, and Span, and describes requirement levels for attributes defined in semantic conventions._
 
+Attribute requirement levels apply to the [instrumentation library](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/main/specification/glossary.md#instrumentation-library).
+
 The following attribute requirement levels are specified:
 
 - [Required](#required)