Skills Assessment

Clear guidance for assessing your qualifications, employment experience and trade skills for Australian migration.

AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT

What Is a Skills Assessment and Do You Need One?

A skills assessment is an evaluation completed by the authority responsible for your nominated occupation. It considers whether your qualifications, employment history and professional or trade skills meet the standards required for that occupation in Australia.

For many skilled migration pathways, a suitable assessment is an important step before an Expression of Interest or visa application. The correct authority, assessment type and timing depend on your occupation and intended visa pathway.

Assessment essentials

What Assessing Authorities Commonly Review

Requirements differ between occupations, but most assessments examine a combination of these four areas.

01

Qualifications

Your education may need to be comparable with the Australian qualification level and field expected for the nominated occupation.

02

Relevant employment

Assessing authorities may ask for detailed evidence of paid work, duties, hours, dates and the level at which you performed the role.

03

English language

Some occupations or assessment pathways require an approved English test, while others apply different language or registration rules.

04

Registration or licensing

Regulated professions and licensed trades may have additional registration, licensing, practical assessment or supervised-work requirements.

Find the correct pathway

Common Assessment Bodies and Programs

Your nominated occupation and ANZSCO classification determine the relevant assessing authority. TMC can help you identify the correct body and assessment type before documents are prepared.

VETASSESS

General professional occupations

Assessment services for a broad range of professional and other occupations, subject to the pathway and criteria for the nominated occupation.

CPA / CA / IPA

Accounting occupations

Accounting applicants may be assessed by an approved accounting body, depending on the nominated occupation and migration requirements.

ACS

Information technology

The Australian Computer Society assesses many ICT occupations by reviewing qualifications, employment evidence and relevance to the nominated role.

ANMAC

Nursing and midwifery

Nursing and midwifery applicants may need an ANMAC migration skills assessment as well as meeting professional registration requirements.

TRA / JRP

Trade graduates and trade pathways

Trades Recognition Australia manages several programs. The Job Ready Program is an employment-based pathway for eligible Australian trade graduates.

AITSL

Teaching occupations

Teacher assessments generally consider qualifications, supervised teaching practice and English-language requirements for the nominated teaching occupation.

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Important: Different authorities can issue different assessment types. A provisional or employment-specific outcome may not satisfy the requirements of every visa pathway.

Cost and timing

Know What to Plan For

There is no single fee or processing time that applies to every occupation. Confirm the current details with the relevant authority before lodging.

Planning your budget

Skills Assessment Fees

Fees are set by each assessing authority and can change. The total depends on your occupation, assessment pathway and any optional service selected.

  • Authority application fee
  • Priority or fast-track service, where offered
  • Document review, reassessment or appeal charges
  • Professional registration, licensing or English-test costs
  • Visa application fees are separate
Planning your timeline

Processing Timeframes

Assessment timeframes vary between authorities and can be affected by application volume, occupation complexity and whether further evidence is requested.

  • Submit complete and correctly formatted evidence
  • Allow time for employer verification or practical assessment
  • Check the authority’s current published timeframe
  • Plan the assessment before your EOI or visa deadline
  • Keep the outcome valid for the relevant stage of your application
TRA PATHWAY

TRA Job Ready Program (JRP)

The Job Ready Program is an employment-based skills assessment pathway for eligible international graduates who completed an Australian trade or associate-professional qualification and are working in Australia in their nominated occupation.

A successful Provisional Skills Assessment is generally required before entering the program. Applicants develop and demonstrate their skills in an approved Australian workplace.

01

Job Ready Employment

TRA verifies eligibility and employment arrangements while the applicant develops workplace experience.

02

Job Ready Workplace Assessment

An assessor evaluates whether the applicant can perform at the required Australian standard in the workplace.

03

Job Ready Final Assessment

After the program requirements are met, TRA completes the final assessment and issues the outcome.

Program note: Eligibility, employment evidence, program steps and time requirements are determined by TRA and should be checked against the current JRP guidelines.

A clear, supported journey

Our Skills Assessment Application Process

A structured approach helps reduce uncertainty, organise evidence and address issues before submission.

01

Initial discussion

We review your goals, nominated occupation, visa pathway and any assessment history.

02

Authority and pathway check

We identify the likely assessing authority and the appropriate assessment type for your circumstances.

03

Preliminary eligibility review

Your qualifications, employment and other key criteria are checked before detailed preparation begins.

04

Personalised document checklist

You receive a clear list of identity, qualification, employment and supporting evidence to collect.

05

Evidence preparation

We help organise documents, employment statements and supporting material in the required format.

06

Application preparation

Forms and submissions are prepared carefully using the information and evidence you provide.

07

Quality review and lodgement

The application is reviewed for completeness and consistency before it is lodged with the authority.

08

Updates and follow-up

We help respond to further-information requests and keep you informed until an outcome is issued.

Why TMC Migration

Guidance Built Around Your Migration Goal

Skills assessment rules can be technical and occupation-specific. TMC helps you understand the pathway, prepare evidence and move forward with a clear plan.

01

Registered migration guidance

Receive advice in the context of your intended migration pathway—not just the assessment form in isolation.

02

Occupation-focused review

We help connect your duties, qualifications and employment evidence with the nominated occupation and authority criteria.

03

Clear document planning

Practical checklists and structured evidence preparation make the process easier to understand and manage.

04

Careful quality checks

Your application is reviewed for completeness, consistency and avoidable gaps before submission.

Not sure which authority applies to your occupation?

Book an obligation-free discussion and let our team help you identify the next practical step.

Helpful answers

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers are general information. Your occupation, assessing authority and visa pathway can change the correct approach.

A suitable skills assessment is generally required for points-tested General Skilled Migration pathways such as subclasses 189, 190 and 491. It may also be required for particular employer-sponsored or graduate visa streams. Requirements depend on the visa, stream and nominated occupation.

Arrange it well before any Expression of Interest, invitation or visa deadline. For points-tested skilled migration, the assessment normally needs to be suitable and valid at the relevant invitation or application stage.

Validity depends on the outcome and authority. Where no shorter period is specified, migration rules commonly treat an assessment as valid for up to three years from the assessment date. Always check the outcome letter and the requirements of your visa pathway.

This depends on the visa subclass and stream. Points-tested skilled migration generally requires a suitable assessment at the relevant invitation stage. Some other pathways may have different evidence rules. Obtain advice for the specific visa before lodging.

Options may include requesting a review, lodging a reassessment with stronger or additional evidence, addressing qualification or employment gaps, or considering another nominated occupation. The available option depends on the authority and reasons for the outcome.

The skilled occupation information published by the Department of Home Affairs identifies the assessing authority connected with each eligible occupation. The occupation must be selected carefully because similar job titles can have different ANZSCO codes and assessment criteria.

Common documents include identity records, qualifications and transcripts, employment references, payslips or tax evidence, position descriptions, registration details and English-test results where applicable. Each authority publishes its own checklist.

No. JRP is designed for eligible international graduates with relevant Australian trade or associate-professional qualifications who meet TRA’s program and employment requirements. Other TRA assessment programs apply to other applicant profiles.

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General information only: Skills assessment, occupation, visa, fee and processing requirements can change. Confirm current requirements with the relevant assessing authority and the Department of Home Affairs, or obtain advice for your individual circumstances.

Ready to Start Your Skills Assessment?

Tell us about your occupation, qualifications and work history. TMC will help you understand the likely assessment pathway and the evidence you may need.