Skills Assessment

To apply for a Points Tested Skilled Migration visa, you must nominate an occupation from the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations at the time of invitation. You must provide evidence that your skills have been evaluated by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.
You must obtain full (permanent) skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority to be used for Points Tested Skilled Migration. The criterion for different types of skill assessments used by an assessing authority is determined by the assessing authority in accordance with relevant professional standards. A skills assessment is only valid until the expiry date specified on the assessment, or until three years have passed from the date of issue, whichever comes first.

For recent graduates of Australian educational institutions applying for a subclass 485 visa, some assessing authorities issue a provisional or subclass 485 skills assessment. The main distinction is that, unlike a full or permanent skills assessment, a subclass 485 skills assessment does not require skilled employment in the applicant's occupation. A suitable provisional skills assessment issued for subclass 485 is ineligible for a Points Tested Skilled Migration visa.

Evidence of full registration is a suitable skills assessment for Points Tested Skilled Migration for doctors. As proof of full registration, we will accept one of the following certificates issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency :

A suitable skills assessment for solicitors is evidence of admission to practise as a lawyer in the relevant State/Territory.

Competency assessments are issued by competent authorities. A skills assessing authority is an organisation that verifies that your skills meet the requirements for employment in a specific occupation.

The combined list of eligible skilled occupations includes all relevant occupations organised into four occupational lists. The majority of occupations on each list have their own method of determining authority. Only a skills assessment issued by the appropriate assessing authority will be accepted.

It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate assessing authority for your occupation and, if necessary, obtain skills assessment. Each assessing authority has its own set of assessment procedures, timetables, and fees.

Obtaining appropriate skills assessment is required for some visa subclasses (and streams) and may be requested for others. You should read all of the information available about the visa you want to apply for. This will allow you to determine whether or not you need to submit a skills assessment and when you need to get one.

In almost all cases, assessing bodies will require you to have post-secondary qualifications, such as a university degree or a trade certificate, in order to receive a positive assessment of your skills.

Significant relevant work experience may be acceptable in a small number of occupations. Each assessing authority can tell you what the qualification requirements are for the occupations they evaluate.

Assessing authorities, not employment agencies, are in charge of conducting skills assessments for migration purposes. Requests for job placement will not be responded to by the assessing authorities. They are unable to provide advice on the likelihood of your visa application's success.

When you apply for Points Tested Skilled Migration, you can only nominate one occupation. You may, however, apply to any number of skills assessing authorities prior to submitting your Expression of Interest until you obtain suitable skills assessment. Once you have been invited to apply for a Points Tested Skilled Migration visa through Skill Select, you are unable to change your nominated occupation.
Make an appointment with one of our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to learn more about your visa options.