Skills Assessment: Which Authority Assesses Your Occupation? Complete Guide (2025-26)

Getting your skills assessed is the first major hurdle in your Australian migration journey. But here’s what catches most people off guard: there isn’t just one assessment authority. Australia has over 25 different assessing bodies, and choosing the wrong one wastes months of time and hundreds of dollars.

Your occupation determines which authority assesses you. Apply to the wrong body, and they’ll simply reject your application. No refunds. No transfers. You start from scratch.

This guide shows you exactly how to identify your correct assessing authority, what each major body requires, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that delay migration timelines by 6-12 months.

Why Your Assessing Authority Matters

Skills assessment proves your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. Without it, you cannot lodge most skilled visa applications.

The Department of Home Affairs designates specific assessing authorities for each occupation on their skilled occupation lists. You must use the designated authority for your occupation. There’s no choosing between options.

What Happens If You Choose Wrong

If you apply to the incorrect authority, they will refuse to assess you. You lose your application fee (typically AUD 500-1,200). You must then apply to the correct authority and pay again.

This mistake commonly costs applicants 2-3 months in delays plus doubled assessment fees.

How to Find Your Correct Assessing Authority

Finding your assessing authority takes three simple steps.

Step 1: Identify Your ANZSCO Code

Every occupation has a six-digit ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) code. This code determines your assessing authority.

Search the official skilled occupation lists on the Department of Home Affairs website. Look up your occupation title and note the ANZSCO code.

For example:

• Civil Engineer: ANZSCO 233211
• Software Engineer: ANZSCO 261313
• Registered Nurse: ANZSCO 254411
• Accountant (General): ANZSCO 221111

Step 2: Check Which Occupation List Includes Your Code

Your ANZSCO code will appear on one or more of these lists:

Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL): Occupations for Subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas

Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL): Occupations for Subclass 190 and 491 visas only

Regional Occupation List (ROL): Occupations for Subclass 491 visa only

The list shows your designated assessing authority next to your occupation.

Step 3: Verify on the Assessing Authority Website

Visit the assessing authority’s official website and search for your ANZSCO code. Confirm they assess your specific occupation and check their current requirements.

This verification step prevents applying to an authority that may have recently changed their assessment scope.

Major Assessing Authorities: Who They Are and What They Do

Australia’s skills assessment landscape includes general authorities and specialist professional bodies. Here are the major players.

VETASSESS: The Generalist Authority

VETASSESS assesses the widest range of occupations across all skill levels and industries.

Who they assess:

• Managers (most types)
• Professionals in various fields
• Technicians and trades workers
• Community and personal service workers

What they evaluate:

• Educational qualifications (Diploma to PhD level)
• Work experience relevance and skill level
• Employment documentation

Processing time: 7-10 weeks standard, 10 business days priority

Fees (2025-26):

• Standard assessment: AUD 1,205.60 (inside Australia including GST)
• Standard assessment: AUD 1,096.00 (outside Australia excluding GST)

VETASSESS is your assessing authority if no specialist body covers your occupation. They assess over 350 different occupations.

For detailed guidance on VETASSESS assessments, see our comprehensive guides for occupations such as Architectural Draftsperson, Building Associate, and Manufacturer.

Engineers Australia (EA): For Engineering Professionals

Engineers Australia assesses all engineering occupations, including Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and specialized engineering fields.

Who they assess:

• Professional Engineers
• Engineering Technologists
• Engineering Associates
• Engineering Managers

Assessment pathways:

• CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) for engineers with non-accredited qualifications
• Accord pathway for engineers with Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord qualifications
• Skill Assessment for Engineering Technologists and Associates
• Australian Accredited Engineering Qualification Assessment for engineers with qualifications accredited by Engineers Australia or recognized as Australian engineering degrees

Accurate EA Assessment Pathways (2025–26)

Engineers Australia assesses engineering occupations, but the required pathway depends on whether your qualification is accredited:

 1. Accredited Pathway (NO CDR Required)

If your qualification is accredited under a recognised Accord, you usually do not need a full CDR. Accredited pathways include:

• Washington Accord – typically 4-year professional engineering degrees

   

• Sydney Accord – typically 3-year technologist degrees

   

• Dublin Accord – associate level qualifications

   

Applicants with these accredited degrees can apply via the Accredited Qualification Pathway and are not normally required to submit a CDR.

2. Non-Accredited Qualifications → CDR Required

If your qualification is not accredited by EA or by an Accord, then you must use the CDR pathway for your skills assessment. This applies widely to:

• Overseas engineering degrees not on an Accord list

   

• Qualifications not recognised as accredited by EA

   

• Some Australian Advanced Diplomas / Associate Degrees unless accredited under Dublin Accord

   

In these situations, a full Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) is required which includes:

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

   

• Three Career Episodes

   

• Summary Statement
  (all demonstrating your competencies)

   

Recent Change 

From 1 September 2024, EA tightened the rules for Australian Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree assessments:

• Only accredited Advanced Diplomas/Associate Degrees (under the Dublin Accord) can use the Australian Qualification Pathway (no CDR).

   

• If the qualification is not accredited, applicants must use the CDR pathway — unless they qualify for a very limited interim arrangement (e.g., Civil Engineering Draftsperson applicants who enrolled before 1 Sept 2024, and only until Dec 2026).

   

Not all engineers need a CDR.
If your degree is accredited by the Washington, Sydney, or Dublin Accord, you can use the accredited pathway and usually don’t write a CDR.

Non-accredited degrees typically require a CDR.
This is the common situation for many overseas qualifications, and EA currently assesses them through the CDR pathway.

Accreditation matters more now than before.
Recent updates strengthened this distinction especially for sub-degree qualifications (e.g., associate diplomas). 

Australian Computer Society (ACS): For ICT Professionals

ACS assesses all Information and Communications Technology occupations.

Who they assess:

• Software Engineers and Developers
• ICT Business Analysts
• Database and Systems Administrators
• Network and Security Specialists
• ICT Project Managers

What they evaluate:

• ICT qualifications (AQF or comparable)
• Work experience in ICT roles
• Core ICT skills alignment

Key ACS requirement:
They deduct years from your work experience based on qualification relevance. An ICT degree might have 2 years deducted, while a non-ICT degree could have 4-6 years deducted.

Processing time: 6-8 weeks typically

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA): For Tradespeople

TRA assesses trade occupations requiring practical skills and hands-on experience.

Who they assess:

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Carpenters and Joiners
• Automotive Mechanics
• Chefs and Cooks
• Hairdressers
• Many other trade occupations

Assessment types:

• Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) for offshore applicants
• Job Ready Program (JRP) for onshore graduates
• Temporary Skilled Employment (TSS) for employer-sponsored visas

What makes TRA different:
They often require practical skills verification, trade qualifications, and evidence of supervised work experience. Some assessments include practical tests.

Processing time: Varies by assessment type (8-20 weeks)

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA): For Health Professionals

AHPRA assesses and regulates health practitioners, including nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals.

Who they assess:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners

   

• Chinese Medicine Practitioners

   

• Chiropractors

   

• Dental Practitioners (Dentists + allied dental roles)

   

• Medical Practitioners

   

• Medical Radiation Practitioners

   

• Midwives

   

• Nurses (including Registered & Enrolled Nurses)

   

• Occupational Therapists

   

• Optometrists

   

• Osteopaths

   

• Paramedics

   

• Pharmacists

   

• Physiotherapists

   

• Podiatrists

   

• Psychologists

   

What they require:

• Registration in your home country
• English language evidence (usually higher than migration minimums)
• Recency of practice requirements
• Criminal history checks

Key point:
AHPRA assessment leads to Australian registration, which is required to work in these professions. It’s both your skills assessment and your pathway to employment.

While VETASSESS skills assessment itself does not require English language proof, you will need to demonstrate English proficiency when applying for your visa. For health professionals assessed by AHPRA, higher English scores are typically required for registration.

To meet these requirements, consider PTE Academic preparation at PTEClasses.com.

CPA Australia, CA ANZ, IPA: For Accountants

Three bodies assess accounting occupations depending on your qualification and specialization.

CPA Australia: Assesses General Accountants and Management Accountants
Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ): Assesses General Accountants and Taxation Accountants

Institute of Public Accountants (IPA): Assesses General Accountants

What they evaluate:

• Accounting qualifications covering 12 core areas
• Work experience in accounting roles
• Professional memberships (some pathways)

Processing time: 8-12 weeks typically

Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL): For Teachers

AITSL assesses teaching qualifications for Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Teachers.

What they require:

• Teaching qualification (4-year Bachelor or postgraduate qualification)
• At least one year of supervised teaching practice (practicum)
• English language proficiency (typically higher than general migration requirements)

Key challenge:
Your qualification must be comparable to an Australian teaching degree and include all required practicum hours. Many overseas qualifications don’t meet these criteria without additional study.

Processing time: 8-10 weeks

Quick Reference: Authority by Profession Category

Business and Administration

• Accountants: CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA
• Financial Analysts: VETASSESS
• Human Resource Managers: VETASSESS
• Marketing Specialists: VETASSESS
• Business Analysts (non-ICT): VETASSESS

Engineering and Technology

• All Engineers: Engineers Australia
• ICT Professionals: Australian Computer Society (ACS)
• Surveyors: Surveyors Board (varies by state)
• Architects: Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)

Health and Community Services

• Occupation,Skills Assessment Authority (For Migration)
• Nurses & Midwives,ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council)
• Doctors,AMC (Australian Medical Council)
• Psychologists,APS (Australian Psychological Society)
• Physiotherapists,APC (Australian Physiotherapy Council)
• Occupational Therapists,OTC (Occupational Therapy Council)
• Social Workers,AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers)

Trades and Technicians

• All Trade Occupations: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
• Engineering Technicians: Engineers Australia or VETASSESS
• Building Inspectors: VETASSESS
• Automotive Technicians: TRA

Education and Training

• Teachers (all levels): Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)
• Education Managers: VETASSESS
• Vocational Education Teachers: TRA or VETASSESS

Other Professional Occupations

• Lawyers: State/Territory Admitting Authorities
• Veterinarians: Veterinary Surgeons’ Boards
• Medical Laboratory Scientists: Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS)
• Dental Professionals: Australian Dental Council (ADC)

Understanding Assessment Requirements by Authority Type

Different authorities focus on different assessment criteria. Understanding what matters to your specific authority helps you prepare stronger applications.

Qualification-Focused Authorities

Different authorities, like EA, AITSL, AHPRA etc place strong emphasis on educational qualifications in most cases.

But it depends on the occupation.

AITSL and AHPRA stick more strictly to qualification standards.

Teachers need a recognized teaching degree with practicum.

Health professionals like nurses or physiotherapists require specific accredited qualifications for registration.

What they need (common across these authorities):

Official degree certificates

Complete academic transcripts

Detailed course descriptions or syllabi

NAATI certified translations

Experience-Focused Authorities

VETASSESS, ACS and some TRA pathways etc prioritise work experience quality and recency.

They assess how your employment demonstrates the required skills.

They check if it meets Australian work standards.

What they need:

Detailed employment reference letters

Payslips or tax records

Job descriptions and responsibilities

Evidence of progression and skill development

Competency-Based Authorities

Engineers Australia requires demonstrating specific competencies through detailed reports.

Your CDR must show how you applied engineering knowledge, solved problems, and managed projects throughout your career.

What they need:

• Three Career Episodes (detailed project descriptions)
• Summary Statement mapping competencies
• Continuing Professional Development records
• Employment references supporting your claims

Common Mistakes That Delay Skills Assessment

Mistake 1: Choosing an Occupation That Doesn’t Match Your Experience

Many applicants choose occupations based on points availability rather than genuine work experience. If your employment doesn’t align with the occupation’s core duties, you’ll receive a negative assessment regardless of which authority assesses you.

Example:
Applying as Software Engineer when your work is actually Systems Administration. These are different occupations with different assessing criteria.

Mistake 2: Incomplete Employment Evidence

Reference letters must detail your specific duties, not just job titles. Generic letters stating “performed all duties of a [job title]” rarely satisfy assessing authorities.

Your letters should describe what you actually did daily, what projects you worked on, what tools or systems you used, and what outcomes you achieved.

Mistake 3: Missing Document Certification

Most authorities require certified copies of documents, not originals or plain photocopies. A Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, or authorized person must certify copies.

Uncertified documents lead to automatic delays while you obtain proper certification.

Mistake 4: Applying Before Gathering All Documents

Some applicants submit partial applications hoping to “add documents later.” Most authorities don’t allow this. Incomplete applications are simply refused, and you must reapply (and repay).

Gather everything before submitting. Check the authority’s document checklist thoroughly.

Mistake 5: Ignoring English Requirements for Registration-Based Assessments

AHPRA and AITSL often require English test results as part of assessment, even though skills assessment technically doesn’t mandate English for migration purposes.

If your authority requires English evidence for registration, you must provide it regardless of migration visa requirements.

How Long Does Skills Assessment Take?

Processing times vary significantly by authority and assessment complexity.

Important: These are estimates. Complex cases involving overseas qualifications, extensive experience verification, or unclear documentation can extend processing significantly.

Plan your timeline assuming longer processing rather than best-case scenarios.

Skills Assessment Costs: What to Expect

Skills assessment represents a significant migration expense. Budget carefully.

Note: These costs cover skills assessment only. Visa application fees, biometrics costs, health examinations, and English tests are separate expenses.

Additional costs include document certification, translations (if required), and potentially professional help with report writing (especially for Engineers Australia CDRs).

Why Professional Guidance Makes a Difference

Skills assessment seems straightforward until you start reading the detailed requirements. Each authority has specific documentation formats, evidence requirements, and assessment criteria that aren’t always obvious from their websites.

Professional migration agents understand these nuances because they handle dozens of assessments annually across different authorities.

How Think Higher Consultants Helps with Skills Assessment

Our MARA-registered migration agent has extensive experience with skills assessments across all major assessing authorities.

We help you:

• Identify your correct assessing authority before you apply
• Determine which occupation best matches your actual experience
• Prepare comprehensive documentation that meets authority requirements
• Draft strong employment reference letters that address assessment criteria
• Review qualifications to identify potential issues before submission
• Choose the optimal assessment pathway when multiple options exist
• Navigate complex cases involving multiple countries or qualifications

For detailed information about Australian skilled migration pathways and how skills assessment fits into your overall strategy, visit Think Higher Consultants.

A positive skills assessment is mandatory, but it’s just the first step. We guide you through the entire process from skills assessment through to visa grant.

What Happens After a Positive Assessment

Once you receive a positive assessment, it remains valid for typically 3 years (though this varies by authority and visa type). You can use it to lodge skilled visa applications during this validity period.

Your positive assessment doesn’t guarantee visa approval. You still must meet all visa requirements, including points score, age, English language, health, and character checks.

However, withouta  positive assessment, you cannot even submit the most skilled visa applications. It’s the foundation everything else builds on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose between different assessing authorities?

No. The Department of Home Affairs designates specific authorities for each occupation. You must use the designated authority for your nominated occupation.

What if my occupation has no designated authority?

This typically means your occupation isn’t on any skilled occupation list and therefore isn’t eligible for skilled migration. Consult a migration agent to explore alternative pathways.

Can I get assessed for multiple occupations?

Yes, but you must apply separately to each relevant authority and pay separate fees. Most applicants choose one occupation strategically rather than applying for multiple.

How long is skills assessment valid?

Typically 3 years from issue date, but this varies by authority and visa type. Always verify validity requirements for your specific visa application.

What if I receive a negative assessment?

You can often reapply with additional evidence or consider alternative occupations. Some authorities allow review or appeal processes. Professional advice helps determine your best options.

Do I need skills assessment for employer-sponsored visas?

It depends on the visa subclass. Some employer-sponsored pathways require skills assessment while others don’t. Check specific visa requirements.

Can I start my visa application before receiving an assessment?

No. You must have positive skills assessment before submitting Expression of Interest (EOI) or visa applications for most skilled pathways.

What if my qualification is from a non-English speaking country?

You’ll need NAATI certified translations of all documents. The qualification itself can still be assessed if it meets Australian equivalency standards.

Ready to start your skills assessment journey? Contact Think Higher Consultants for expert guidance on choosing your occupation, selecting your assessing authority, and preparing a strong application that positions you for migration success.Occupation,Skills Assessment Authority (For Migration)

Nurses & Midwives,ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council)

Doctors,AMC (Australian Medical Council)

Psychologists,APS (Australian Psychological Society)

Physiotherapists,APC (Australian Physiotherapy Council)

Occupational Therapists,OTC (Occupational Therapy Council)

Social Workers,AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers)