Skills Assessment Guide: Which Authority Do You Need?
A positive skills assessment is a mandatory requirement for most skilled migration visas to Australia. But with over 30 different assessing authorities, each with their own requirements, costs, and processing times, figuring out which one you need and what to prepare can be confusing. This guide covers every major authority and gives you practical tips for a successful assessment.
In this guide
- What Is a Skills Assessment?
- Major Assessing Authorities
- ACS - IT Professionals
- Engineers Australia
- VETASSESS
- TRA - Trades
- ANMAC - Nurses & Midwives
- Other Authorities
- Tips for a Successful Assessment
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Create free accountWhat Is a Skills Assessment?
A skills assessment is an evaluation of your qualifications and work experience by an Australian authority to determine whether they meet the standard required for your nominated occupation in Australia. It is required for most skilled migration visa applications including the 189, 190, 491, 482, and 186 visas.
The assessment confirms that your overseas education is comparable to an Australian qualification and that your work experience is relevant and sufficient. Without a positive skills assessment, you cannot submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect or apply for most skilled visas.
Major Assessing Authorities at a Glance
| Authority | Occupations | Cost (AUD) | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS | IT and computing professionals | $550-600 | 6-12 weeks |
| Engineers Australia | Engineers (all disciplines) | $1,200-1,700 | 4-16 weeks |
| VETASSESS | General professionals, managers, and non-trade occupations | $1,000-1,500 | 10-16 weeks |
| TRA | Trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, chefs, etc.) | $500-3,000 | 8-20 weeks |
| ANMAC | Nurses and midwives | $600-800 | 8-12 weeks |
| AITSL | Teachers (all levels) | $600-1,200 | 8-16 weeks |
| CPA/CA/IPA | Accountants and auditors | $600-1,100 | 6-12 weeks |
| AACA | Architects | $1,000-1,500 | 8-16 weeks |
| AIMS | Medical scientists and lab technicians | $700-900 | 6-10 weeks |
ACS - Australian Computer Society (IT Professionals)
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) assesses all IT and computing occupations including software engineers, developers, systems analysts, network engineers, database administrators, and ICT project managers.
What ACS Requires
- Qualifications: An ICT-related bachelor's degree or higher. If your degree is not ICT-related, you need additional years of relevant work experience
- Work experience: Varies based on qualification relevance. With an ICT major: 2 years of relevant experience. With a minor ICT component: 4 years. Without ICT qualifications: 6 years
- Employment references: Detailed employment reference letters on company letterhead, including specific duties performed, dates, and confirmation of full-time/part-time status
- Academic transcripts: Official transcripts showing subjects studied
ACS Experience Deductions
ACS deducts a number of years from your work experience as a "suitability period" - this means those years count for the assessment but are NOT counted as skilled employment for points. Typical deductions:
- ICT major + closely related work: 2 years deducted
- ICT major + not closely related: 4 years deducted
- Non-ICT degree: 6 years deducted
This is crucial for your points calculation - the deducted years do not earn you points for work experience.
Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia (EA) assesses all engineering occupations - civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, chemical, mining, and more. The assessment is based on your Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).
What the CDR Requires
- Three Career Episodes: Detailed technical reports (1,000-2,500 words each) describing engineering projects or tasks you have completed. Each must demonstrate your engineering competencies
- Summary Statement: A matrix mapping your career episodes to the competency elements for your nominated occupation category
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD): A list of professional development activities you have undertaken
- Qualification documents: Degree certificates and academic transcripts
Assessment Categories
- Professional Engineer: Requires a 4-year bachelor of engineering (Washington Accord accredited or equivalent)
- Engineering Technologist: Requires a 3-year bachelor of engineering technology (Sydney Accord)
- Engineering Associate: Requires a 2-year advanced diploma or associate degree (Dublin Accord)
VETASSESS
VETASSESS is one of the largest assessing authorities, covering hundreds of occupations across professional, managerial, and general categories. If your occupation is not assessed by a specialised authority, it is likely assessed by VETASSESS.
Common Occupations Assessed by VETASSESS
- Marketing specialists, HR managers, financial advisers
- Social workers, psychologists, counsellors
- Scientists (non-medical), environmental specialists
- Hospitality managers, real estate agents
- Many other professional and managerial roles
What VETASSESS Requires
VETASSESS requirements vary by occupation group (Group A through Group F), with each group having different qualification and experience requirements. Generally, you need:
- Qualifications: A qualification at or above the level required for your occupation group, with major content relevant to the nominated occupation
- Work experience: Typically 1-5 years of relevant post-qualification work experience, depending on your occupation group and qualification level
- Employment evidence: Reference letters, payslips, tax records, and contract documents
TRA - Trades Recognition Australia
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) assesses trade occupations such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, chefs, bakers, motor mechanics, and hairdressers.
TRA Assessment Pathways
- Job Ready Program (JRP): For international graduates from Australian trade courses. Includes a Provisional Skills Assessment, Job Ready Employment, and Job Ready Final Assessment
- Skills Assessment (offshore): For applicants applying from overseas with overseas trade qualifications and experience
- Skills Assessment (onshore): For applicants already in Australia with overseas qualifications
What TRA Requires
- Trade qualification (Certificate III or equivalent)
- At least 3 years of post-qualification work experience (varies by trade)
- Detailed employment evidence including photos of work, reference letters, and sometimes a practical skills assessment
ANMAC - Nurses and Midwives
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) assesses registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and midwives for migration purposes.
What ANMAC Requires
- Nursing/midwifery qualification: Must be equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree in nursing or midwifery
- Registration: Current or recent registration as a nurse/midwife in your home country
- Recency of practice: Must have practiced nursing/midwifery within the last 5 years
- English language: IELTS 7.0 in each band (or equivalent PTE/OET score) - this is higher than most other occupations
Other Assessing Authorities
AITSL - Teachers
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) assesses early childhood, primary, secondary, and special education teachers. Requirements include a 4-year teaching degree (or 3-year degree plus graduate diploma in education), at least 1 year of supervised teaching practice, and English proficiency.
CPA Australia / Chartered Accountants ANZ / IPA - Accountants
Accountants can be assessed by CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA. You need a degree with specific accounting coursework covering at least 9 core areas (financial accounting, management accounting, audit, taxation, corporate law, economics, statistics, information systems, and finance).
AACA - Architects
The Architects Accreditation Council of Australia assesses architects. You need a recognised architecture degree (typically 5 years) and may need to complete additional assessment components.
Find Your Assessing Authority
Enter your occupation and see which authority assesses it, plus estimated costs and timelines.
Use Skills Recognition ToolTips for a Successful Assessment
1. Choose the Right Occupation
This is the single most important decision. Your nominated occupation must closely match your actual qualifications and work experience. If there is a mismatch, your assessment will likely be negative. Research the ANZSCO code descriptions carefully and choose the occupation that best fits your profile. Use our PR Points Calculator to see how different occupations affect your points score.
2. Get Employment References Right
Most assessment rejections are due to inadequate employment evidence. Your reference letters must include:
- Written on company letterhead with the company's ABN or registration number
- Signed by a supervisor or HR manager (not a colleague at the same level)
- Your exact job title and employment dates (start and end dates)
- Whether you worked full-time or part-time (and hours per week)
- A detailed list of duties and responsibilities - not just a job title
3. Get Documents Translated and Certified
All documents not in English must be professionally translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. Additionally, most authorities require certified copies (not originals) of your documents. Check each authority's specific certification requirements.
4. Apply for the Right Assessment Type
Some authorities offer different assessment types for different visa purposes. Make sure you apply for the assessment that matches the visa you intend to apply for. For example, ACS offers different assessments for skilled migration vs. employer-sponsored visas.
5. Budget for the Total Cost
The assessment fee is just one part of the cost. Factor in document translation, certification, postage, and the possibility of needing to reapply if your first assessment is negative. Use our Visa Cost Calculator to estimate the total cost of your migration journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which skills assessment authority do I need?
The assessing authority depends on your nominated occupation. ACS assesses IT professionals, Engineers Australia assesses engineers, CPA/CA/IPA assess accountants, VETASSESS assesses many general professional and non-professional occupations, TRA assesses trades, ANMAC assesses nurses and midwives, and AITSL assesses teachers. Use our Skills Recognition tool to find your authority.
How much does a skills assessment cost?
Costs vary by authority: ACS charges approximately $550-600 AUD, Engineers Australia charges $1,200-1,700 for a CDR, VETASSESS charges $1,000-1,500, TRA charges $500-3,000 depending on the assessment type, ANMAC charges approximately $600-800, and AITSL charges approximately $600-1,200. Additional costs may include document translations and postage.
How long does a skills assessment take?
Processing times vary: ACS takes 6-12 weeks, Engineers Australia takes 4-16 weeks, VETASSESS takes 10-16 weeks, TRA takes 8-20 weeks, ANMAC takes 8-12 weeks, and AITSL takes 8-16 weeks. These are standard timeframes and can vary based on application volume and complexity.
What happens if my skills assessment is negative?
A negative assessment means your qualifications or experience do not meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. You can appeal the decision, provide additional evidence, nominate a different occupation, gain more work experience and reapply, or study to bridge qualification gaps. Each authority has its own review or appeal process.
Do I need Australian qualifications for a skills assessment?
No, you do not need Australian qualifications. Skills assessments accept overseas qualifications and work experience. However, your qualifications must be comparable to the Australian equivalent for your nominated occupation. Some authorities may require bridging courses if there are significant gaps.