Pre-visa step · Required for most skilled visas
Skills assessment for Australian migration
Every points-tested skilled visa and most employer-sponsored visas need a positive skills assessment from an authority designated for your occupation. This is the complete plain-English guide: which authority assesses which occupation, what they cost, how long they take and how to plan around them.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Skills assessment is the formal recognition by an Australian authority that your overseas qualification and work experience match the requirements of your nominated occupation.
- ✓Each occupation is assigned to a specific assessing authority. VETASSESS covers most professional occupations not covered by a specialist; Engineers Australia covers engineering; ACS covers IT; AHPRA / NMBA covers nursing.
- ✓Most assessments cost $500 – $1,500 and take 6–12 weeks. Trades (TRA Job Ready Program) cost $3,640 and take 12+ months because they include 1,725 paid Australian employment hours.
- ✓Skills assessment is valid for 3 years from issue date (2 for ACS in some streams). The assessment must be current at invitation, not just at EOI lodgement.
- ✓A positive skills assessment is required for 189, 190, 491, 482 Core stream (most occupations), 494 and 186 Direct Entry. It is not required for 858 (talent test substitutes), 188 (closed) or partner / family / visitor visas.
Authorities
Every assessing authority
10 authorities handle the bulk of Australian skilled migration assessments. Use the table to find yours.
| Authority | Covers | Cost | Time | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VETASSESS | Most professional and trade occupations not covered by a specific authority. Around 350 occupations. | $1,150 – $1,400 (professional general); $1,210 – $1,900 (trades and points-test advisory) | 12 weeks (online); 6 weeks (priority) | 3 years |
| Engineers Australia | All engineering occupations (Professional, Engineering Technologist, Engineering Associate, Engineering Manager). | $320 – $760 application fee + $370 – $740 per skill assessment outcome (CDR or Washington Accord stream) | 12 weeks (standard); 4 weeks (fast track) | 3 years |
| Australian Computer Society (ACS) | IT occupations on ANZSCO 261 / 262 / 263 codes (developers, engineers, sysadmins, security). | $540 – $1,000 (most applications $540 – $608) | 6–8 weeks (online); 1–2 weeks (post-Australian study) | 2 years (some streams 3 years) |
| AITSL | Teachers (early childhood, primary, secondary). | $900 (general); $400 (graduate) | 10 weeks | 3 years |
| AHPRA (NMBA, MBA, PsyBA, etc.) | Most health practitioners: nurses (NMBA), doctors (MBA), psychologists (PsyBA), pharmacists, physios, dentists, etc. AHPRA registration is the de facto skills assessment for visa purposes. | Varies by board ($1,500 – $5,500 typical for nurses; $9,000+ for doctors via the Standard Pathway). Includes language proficiency requirement check. | 3–12 months depending on board and pathway (NMBA OBA 3–6 months; MBA Standard Pathway 12+ months) | AHPRA registration is ongoing (annual renewal); visa skills assessment validity 3 years |
| ANMAC | Nurses (RN, EN), midwives. ANMAC works alongside AHPRA / NMBA – ANMAC is the skills assessor for migration purposes for some pathways. | $800 – $1,200 | 12 weeks | 3 years |
| CPA Australia | Accountants (CPA pathway). One of three accounting assessors alongside CA ANZ and IPA. | $565 – $725 | 4–6 weeks (online); 1 day (priority $1,400) | 3 years |
| CA ANZ | Accountants (Chartered Accountants pathway). One of three accounting assessors. | $610 | 6 weeks | 3 years |
| IPA | Accountants and bookkeepers (Institute of Public Accountants pathway). One of three accounting assessors. | $415 – $750 | 4–6 weeks | 3 years |
| TRA | Skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, bakers, chefs, hairdressers). Migration Points Advice or Job Ready Program required. | $3,640 (Job Ready Program, includes employment verification); $385 (Migration Points Advice) | Job Ready Program 12+ months (includes 1,725 hours paid employment); Migration Points Advice 6–8 weeks | 3 years |
Common occupations
Deep dive: 10 high-volume occupations
For the most common occupations applied to skilled migration, here is the assessor, the pathway and the things people get wrong.
Software Engineer (261313)
ACSCDR not required for most applicants; standard Migration Skills Assessment with degree + work experience. ICT degree directly relevant: 2 years experience needed. Non-ICT degree: 4–6 years experience.
Registered Nurse (254499)
AHPRA via NMBA + ANMACNMBA registration (or eligibility to register) is the de facto requirement. Internationally qualified nurses use the Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA) pathway: portfolio + Multiple Choice Question exam + Objective Structured Clinical Examination.
Secondary School Teacher (241411)
AITSLMust hold a 4-year degree including 1 year of teacher education or a Bachelor + 1-year PGCE-equivalent. English requirement is high: IELTS 7 each band Reading and Writing, 8 each band Listening and Speaking.
Plumber (334111)
TRA via Job Ready ProgramTRA Job Ready Program is the standard pathway: 1,725 hours paid employment in Australia in the trade, plus written and practical skills assessment. Cost $3,640 total. Typically 12+ months. Alternative: state-issued licence first, then Migration Points Advice.
Accountant (general, 221111)
CPA / CA ANZ / IPA (applicant choice)All three assessors are recognised. CPA pathway suits applicants planning to join CPA Australia post-PR; CA ANZ suits CA pathway; IPA is generally the most accessible for non-Big 4 backgrounds. All three require a relevant accounting degree.
Electrician (general, 341111)
TRA via Job Ready ProgramSame TRA process as plumbers. Additional state licence (e.g. NSW Fair Trading electrical contractor licence) required for actual work in Australia after PR. Some states give partial credit for overseas licences.
Civil Engineer (233211)
Engineers AustraliaWashington Accord pathway if the engineering degree is from a Washington Accord signatory country (most Western universities and many Asian universities). Otherwise CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) pathway: 3 career episodes, summary statement, CPD record.
Cook (351411)
TRA via Job Ready ProgramCook (TRA 351411) is a popular pathway for international students who completed Commercial Cookery in Australia. Job Ready Program with 1,725 hours of paid Australian employment is the standard.
Early Childhood Educator (241111)
AITSLMust hold a 3- or 4-year degree in early childhood education. English requirement is high: IELTS 7/8 split as for secondary teachers.
Medical Practitioner (253111 etc)
AHPRA via MBA + AMCAHPRA / MBA standard pathway requires AMC Part 1 + Part 2 exams plus 12 months supervised practice. Other pathways exist: Specialist Pathway (FRACGP, FRACS etc), Competent Authority Pathway (UK, Ireland, NZ, US, Canada graduates), and Limited Registration. Costs $9,000+ over 12–24 months for the standard pathway.
Order of operations
When to do the skills assessment
Skills assessment is needed at EOI lodgement for points-tested skilled visas (189, 190, 491). You cannot lodge an EOI without nominating an occupation, and the EOI is verified against the skills assessment when the invitation lands. So in practice the order is: confirm occupation → lodge skills assessment → wait for outcome → lodge EOI.
For employer-sponsored visas (482, 494, 186), skills assessment is needed at nomination for most occupations on the relevant occupation list. Some ANZSCO 1–2 occupations on the standard 482 Core stream are exempt. A migration agent can confirm whether your specific occupation needs an assessment before the employer commits.
The single biggest mistake applicants make is treating the skills assessment as a formality and discovering 6 months later that the qualification or work experience does not meet the assessor’s criteria. Get the skills assessment done BEFORE making any irreversible decisions (job offers, expensive English testing, partner visa coordination).
The second biggest mistake is letting a positive skills assessment expire mid-process. 3-year validity sounds long but EOI queues can be long. If your skills assessment expires before invitation, the invitation can be revoked. Re-assessment is usually faster (most authorities have a “re-do” pathway) but the additional cost and 2–6 weeks of processing can hurt.
Common questions
Skills assessment – common questions
How long is a skills assessment valid for Australian migration?
3 years for most assessing authorities. ACS is 2 years for some streams. Skills assessment must be current at the time of EOI invitation; if it expires while you are still in the queue, you need to re-do it (or apply for a Letter of Variation in some cases).
How much does a skills assessment cost?
Most professional assessments cost $500 – $1,500. Engineering assessments via Engineers Australia run $700 – $1,500 total. Medical Standard Pathway via AHPRA runs $9,000+. Trades via TRA Job Ready Program cost $3,640 total. Plan for at least $1,000 and budget separately from visa application fees.
Can I use any assessing authority for my occupation?
No. Each ANZSCO occupation code is assigned to one or more specific assessing authorities by the Department of Home Affairs. You must use a designated assessor for your occupation. For accountants, you can choose between CPA / CA ANZ / IPA; for engineers, only Engineers Australia; for most IT, only ACS. Check the Department’s assessing authority list before applying.
What is the difference between Job Ready Program and Migration Points Advice for trades?
Job Ready Program (TRA) is the full skills assessment pathway for trades migration: 1,725 hours paid Australian employment + practical and written assessments. It costs $3,640 total over 12+ months and gives a positive skills assessment for visa purposes. Migration Points Advice is for tradespeople with a current Australian state licence who only need a skills assessment for points-test purposes: $385, 6–8 weeks.
Do I need a skills assessment if I have an Australian qualification?
Yes – even Australian-qualified applicants need a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority for skilled migration. Many authorities have fast-track or post-Australian-study streams (e.g. ACS has a faster pathway for graduates of Australian ICT degrees). The cost and time are usually lower than for offshore-qualified applicants.
Can my skills assessment be challenged or revoked?
Yes, in limited circumstances. If new information comes to light (e.g. fraud in supporting documents), the authority can withdraw the assessment. Applicants who receive a negative assessment can usually request a review or reconsideration through the authority’s internal appeal process. Department of Home Affairs cannot grant a visa on a negative or expired assessment.
Next step
Get your skills assessment sorted before the EOI
Skills assessment is the foundation of any points-tested skilled migration. A MARA-registered migration agent can sense-check your occupation choice and assessor selection before you commit. Free first consultations are common.