Current theories of decision making propose that decisions arise through competition between choice options. Computational models of the decision process estimate how quickly information about choice options is integrated and how much information is needed to trigger a choice. Experiments using this approach typically report data from well-trained participants. As such, we do not know how the decision process evolves as a decision-making task is learned for the first time. To address this gap, we used a behavioral design separating learning the value of choice options from learning to make choices. We trained male rats to respond to single visual stimuli with different reward values. Then, we trained them to make choices between pairs of stimuli. Initially, the rats responded more slowly when presented with choices. However, as they gained experience in making choices, this slowing reduced. Response slowing on choice trials persisted throughout the testing period. We found that it was specifically associated with increased exponential variability when the rats chose the higher value stimulus. Additionally, our analysis using drift diffusion modeling revealed that the rats required less information to make choices over time. These reductions in the decision threshold occurred after just a single session of choice learning. These findings provide new insights into the learning process of decision-making tasks. They suggest that the value of choice options and the ability to make choices are learned separately, and that experience plays a crucial role in improving decision-making performance.Significance StatementWe investigated the dynamics of decision-making as rats initially learned to choose between visual stimuli associated with different rewards. Unlike prior research focusing on well-trained participants, we explored the initial stages of learning to make decisions. We used a behavioral design that separated value learning from choice learning. Initially, rats exhibited slower responses when making choices, but this slowing diminished with experience. Response slowing persisted throughout the period of early choice learning. Drift diffusion modeling found reduced evidence of reduced information requirements for making choices over the period of early learning, with decision thresholds decreasing after just one choice-learning session. These studies revealed that experience significantly enhances decision-making, and shed light on the learning mechanisms that underlie decision-making tasks.