Engineers Australia changed the way certain Advanced Diploma and Associate Degree qualifications from Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are considered for Migration Skills Assessment from 1 September 2024.
The change is still relevant in 2026, particularly for people considering an assessment as a Civil Engineering Draftsperson. Engineers Australia has an interim arrangement for some affected applicants, but this option is due to end after December 2026.
What Changed?
The main issue is whether the qualification is accredited.
For Engineering Associate-level qualifications:
- Qualifications recognised under the Dublin Accord can use the relevant accredited qualification pathway.
- Where the qualification is not accredited, the applicant will generally need to apply through the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway.
- A CDR allows Engineers Australia to assess the applicant’s engineering knowledge, skills and competency through the evidence they submit.
Full and provisional accreditation also need to be treated differently, which is explained further below.
Interim Arrangement for Civil Engineering Draftsperson
A specific interim arrangement is available for some applicants seeking assessment as:
Civil Engineering Draftsperson – ANZSCO 312211
It applies to current or former students who enrolled in or completed a non-accredited Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree before 1 September 2024.
The arrangement is available for migration purposes and Engineers Australia states that it will not continue after December 2026. Applicants using this option apply through the CDR pathway and need to provide additional evidence with their application.
What Needs to Be Shown in the CDR?
For this interim pathway, two of the three career episodes must demonstrate competencies relevant to Civil Engineering Draftsperson.
The evidence may come from:
- Relevant employment in the industry
- Unpaid work placement
- Simulated professional experience
- Industry activities such as site visits, presentations or conferences
- One major engineering project involving more than 120 hours, together with its assessment rubric
- Two minor projects involving up to 100 hours each
A Summary Statement is also required.
Where workplace experience is being used as part of a career episode, the supporting reference needs to be signed and dated, issued on official letterhead, and confirm details such as the organisation, period of experience, role and duties.
RPL, Credit Transfer and Shorter Study Periods
How the qualification was completed also matters.
If the program took less than 92 weeks because of Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Transfer or an entry requirement that reduced the study period, additional evidence may be required.
Depending on the circumstances, this can include:
- Details of units granted through RPL and how they were assessed
- Evidence of units granted through Credit Transfer
- Previous certificates and academic transcripts
- Qualifications used to meet an entry requirement for the shorter program
So, having the same qualification title as another applicant does not necessarily mean the assessment pathway will be identical.
Civil Construction Design RTOs Listed by Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia has also been working with RTOs on the accreditation of Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design programs.
Its current migration update lists:
| RTO | Accreditation | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lead College | Provisional | 2026 |
| Oban College | Provisional | 2026 |
| Albright Institute | Provisional | April 2026 |
| SITS College | Provisional | July 2026 |
| Australian College of Management and Innovation (ACMi) | Full | 2023 |
The accreditation relates to Civil Construction Design programs delivered in line with the training plan recommended by Engineers Australia.
Graduates whose program is fully accredited by Engineers Australia and who meet the applicable accreditation commencement requirements can apply through the Australian qualification pathway.
Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design – RII60520
The Engineers Australia Accredited Programs – June 2026 register gives more detail about individual providers, campuses and accreditation status.
Relevant entries for RII60520 Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design include:
| Provider | Campus | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| ACMi | East Perth | Full – 2023 |
| Lead College | Perth | Provisional – 2026 |
| Oban College | Perth | Provisional – 2026 |
| Oban College | Sydney | Provisional – 2026 |
| Albright Institute | Sydney | Provisional – July 2026 |
| Albright Institute | Melbourne | Provisional – July 2026 |
| Albright Institute | Brisbane | Provisional – July 2026 |
| Albright Institute | Adelaide | Provisional – July 2026 |
For these entries, the register notes that accreditation applies to graduates of the packaged Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design delivered according to the Engineers Australia-recommended training plan.
Why SITS College Is Not in the June Table
SITS College appears on Engineers Australia’s current migration update page as provisionally accredited from July 2026.
However, the accredited-program register being referred to here is dated 26 June 2026. The two records therefore reflect different points in time. For current decisions, the latest Engineers Australia information should always be checked.
Full and Provisional Accreditation
The two accreditation statuses do not mean the same thing.
Full accreditation means the program has completed the applicable accreditation process.
Provisional accreditation may be granted at an earlier stage, before enough graduates are available for a complete outcomes-based review. Engineers Australia states that a provisionally accredited program is not recognised under the relevant international Accord until full accreditation is achieved.
For students, this means it is important to check the accreditation status of the exact program, not simply whether the college appears somewhere on an Engineers Australia list.
Search Engineers Australia Accredited Programs
Search the June 2026 Engineers Australia Accredited Programs register by provider, qualification, program code, campus or accreditation information to find relevant program records.
Search results can include:
- Provider
- Qualification or program
- Program code
- Campus
- Accreditation status
- Accreditation commencement
- Engineering level, where listed
For example, a search for RII60520, Civil Construction Design or Albright Institute should return the matching records from the register.
Before Choosing an Assessment Pathway
Someone considering an Engineers Australia Migration Skills Assessment should check more than the name of their qualification.
Important details include:
- Exact qualification and program code
- RTO and campus
- Enrolment and completion dates
- Full or Provisional accreditation
- Whether the approved packaged Diploma and Advanced Diploma pathway was completed
- Any RPL or Credit Transfer used
- Whether the interim Civil Engineering Draftsperson arrangement applies
These details can affect which assessment pathway is relevant to the applicant.
How Think Higher Can Help
If you hold or are completing an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree engineering qualification, it is worth checking your study and accreditation details before preparing the skills assessment.
Think Higher Consultants can help review your qualification, RTO, campus, study history, accreditation information and supporting documents, and explain the Engineers Australia assessment process relevant to your circumstances.
Applicants considering the interim Civil Engineering Draftsperson arrangement should also keep the December 2026 cut-off in mind.
