Perk Rate

Perk rate is a derived statistic. It describes how often the character is allowed to pick a perk. A character's perk rate depends on his race and on certain traits such as Skilled (which increases the rate) or Fear the Reaper (which decreases it). Some perks, like Divine Favor, may decrease the perk rate as well.

Fallout, Fallout 2
In Fallout and Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics, the perk rate is 3, which means that it is possible to pick a new perk every 3 levels. You are not able to save up perks to use at future perk acquiring levels. Any unselected perk will be lost forever at the next perk level if you do not select one before this time. E.g. level 3 > perk not chosen, level 6 > perk not chosen (level 3 perk point lost), level 9 > better criticals chosen (level 6 perk point lost).

Fallout 3
In Fallout 3, the perk rate is always 1 - that is, you can pick a new perk every level.

Fallout: New Vegas
In Fallout: New Vegas, the perk rate is 2 - You can pick a new perk every 2nd level. :)

Fallout Tactics
In Fallout Tactics, the racial perk rate for humans is 3, which means that they can pick a new perk every 3 levels. The rate is 4 for ghouls, super mutants and deathclaws, and 2 for dogs. Robots cannot pick Perks at all, i.e. their perk rate is infinity. You are able to save up perks to use at a later time.

Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
In Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, "skills" work like perks in other Fallout games. The "perk" rate is 1.

Lionheart
In Lionheart (a non-Fallout game using the SPECIAL system), the first perk is taken at Level 2, not 3, but the subsequent perks are taken every 3 Levels.