Skills Assessment and Assessing Authorities

What is the skills assessment requirement?

To apply for a General Skilled Migration visa you must nominate an occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) at the time you apply and when your application is assessed. The Skilled Occupation List lists all eligible occupations for General Skilled Migration, and the number of points awarded for each.

Regardless of which General Skilled Migration visa you apply for, you must provide evidence that your skills have been assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation before your visa can be granted.

Who can assess your skills

The SOL provides a complete list of the relevant assessing authority for each occupation on the list. Contact details for these authorities are available at the end of the SOL.

It is your responsibility to contact the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation and obtain a skills assessment. Each assessing authority has its own assessment procedures, timeframes and charges. You are strongly advised to contact the relevant assessing authority well before you intend to lodge your application to arrange your skills assessment.
See:
Skilled Occupation List
Australian Skills Recognition Information

Specific information on skills assessments for Medical Practitioners is available.
See: Migration of Medical Practitioners under the General Skilled Migration Program

How to get your skills assessed

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

In a small number of occupations, substantial relevant work experience may be acceptable. Each assessing authority will be able to advise you what the qualification requirements are for the occupations they assess.

Note: Some assessing authorities may impose a validity date on a skills assessment. You will need to ensure that your application is lodged.
See: Australian Skills Recognition Information

Recognition of qualifications and employment in the 1 July points test

Information that you should provide about your qualifications and skilled occupation in support of an application for a points tested General Skilled Migration visa from 1 July 2011.
See: Recognition of Qualifications and Employment in the 1 July 2011 Points Test ( 73KB PDF file)

Assessing authorities role in finding you employment in Australia

Assessing authorities are responsible for undertaking skills assessments for migration purposes and are not employment agencies. The assessing authorities will not reply to requests for job placement. They cannot give advice on the allocation of points or the likely success of your General Skilled Migration application.

Submitting more than one skills assessment

You can only have one nominated occupation in your migration application. Prior to lodging your migration application, you may, however, apply to any number of skills assessing authorities until you obtain a suitable skills assessment. You are unable to change your nominated occupation once your visa application has been lodged.
See: Australian Skills Recognition Information

Evidence to attach to your application

To lodge a valid application you must provide a certified copy of a positive skills assessment by a relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation.

You must attach with your application certified copies of all the documents you provided to the assessing body including:

• a certified copy of your post-secondary qualifications, such as your degree or diploma certificate as well as your transcripts or mark sheets
• if you have worked in an occupation where substantial work experience may be acceptable, certified copies of references provided by your employers that outline the position you held and the duties you performed.

See: Australian Skills Recognition Information