Skills Assessment for Australian Migration Guide

A skills assessment is an evaluation by a designated assessing authority that confirms your qualifications and work experience are suitable for your nominated occupation in Australia.

It's not a test you sit. Instead, you submit documents — qualifications, employment references, evidence of work experience — and the assessing body evaluates whether you meet the standards for your occupation as practised in Australia.

The assessment looks at: - Whether your qualifications are equivalent to the required Australian standard - Whether your work experience is relevant and genuine - Whether you meet any additional requirements specific to your occupation (like registration or licensing)

Different occupations are assessed by different bodies. Here are the main ones:

### VETASSESS The biggest assessing body, covering hundreds of occupations across professional, trade, and general categories — accountants, marketing professionals, chefs, managers, and many more.

### ACS (Australian Computer Society) Assesses ICT occupations — software engineers, developers, systems analysts, database administrators, cybersecurity specialists.

### Engineers Australia Assesses engineering occupations — civil, mechanical, electrical, mining, and other engineering disciplines.

### TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) Assesses trade occupations — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, welders, and other skilled trades.

### ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) Assesses nurses and midwives.

### AACA (Architects Accreditation Council of Australia) Assesses architects.

### AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) Assesses teachers.

### CPAA / CAANZ / IPA Assess accountants — CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and the Institute of Public Accountants.

Other bodies include AIMS (medical scientists), ACWA (social workers), DAA (dietitians), and more. Your migration agent or the Department's occupation list will tell you which body you need.

Costs vary significantly by assessing body:

• - VETASSESS: $600–$1,800 depending on the type of assessment
• - ACS: $500–$550 for a standard assessment
• - Engineers Australia: $600–$1,200 depending on the pathway
• - TRA: $300–$3,000+ (trade assessments can involve practical testing)
• - ANMAC: $600–$900
• - AITSL: $1,200–$1,600
• - Accounting bodies: $500–$1,000

These are just the assessment fees. If your qualifications need to be translated, verified, or if you need additional evaluations, costs can add up. Factor this into your overall migration budget — use our cost estimator for a full picture.

Processing times vary, but here's a rough guide:

• - VETASSESS: 8–12 weeks (can be longer for complex cases)
• - ACS: 6–8 weeks
• - Engineers Australia: 6–13 weeks
• - TRA: 8–12 weeks (longer if practical assessment required)
• - ANMAC: 8–12 weeks
• - AITSL: 12–16 weeks

Some bodies offer priority processing for an additional fee. If you're in a rush because an EOI round is coming up, it might be worth paying extra.

Pro tip: Start your skills assessment early. It's often the longest lead-time item in the visa process, and delays here push everything back.

These are the pitfalls we see regularly:

### Wrong Occupation Nominated People sometimes choose an occupation that sounds right but doesn't match their actual qualifications or duties. An accountant nominating as a "finance manager" when their role is really accounting is a common mistake.

### Insufficient Work Experience Many occupations require a minimum amount of post-qualification experience. If you're short by even a few months, you'll fail.

### Poor Employment References Assessing bodies want detailed references on company letterhead, signed by a supervisor, describing your duties, hours, and dates. A vague "to whom it may concern" letter won't cut it.

### Qualifications Not Equivalent Your overseas degree might not be considered equivalent to the required Australian qualification level. VETASSESS, for example, assesses whether your qualification is comparable to an Australian bachelor's degree (or whatever the required level is).

### Incomplete Documentation Missing transcripts, untranslated documents, or failing to provide statutory declarations when references aren't available.

This is one area where a migration agent earns their fee. A good agent will:

• - Match you to the right occupation — Based on your actual qualifications and duties, not just the job title
• - Prepare your employment references — Many agents help draft references to ensure they meet the assessing body's requirements
• - Check your qualifications — Advise whether your overseas qualifications are likely to be accepted
• - Identify potential issues early — Like experience gaps or qualification-level problems
• - Handle the application — Submit everything correctly the first time
• - Manage rejections — If your assessment is negative, they can advise on review options or alternative occupations

A failed skills assessment doesn't just waste money — it wastes months of processing time. Getting it right the first time matters. Find a skilled visa specialist in our directory.

Once you have a positive skills assessment, you can:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
2. Receive an invitation to apply for a visa (based on your points — check our points calculator guide)
3. Lodge your visa application within 60 days of invitation

Your skills assessment is typically valid for 3 years, though this varies by assessing body. Don't let it expire before you use it.

Remember, the skills assessment is just one piece of the puzzle. You also need to meet English requirements, health and character checks, and the points threshold.