✔ Reviewed September 2026 by a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518899). Official sources: Home Affairs: SkillSelect.
For most skilled and many employer-sponsored visas, you need a positive skills assessment from the authority that assesses your occupation. It’s often the longest step in the process, so getting it right first time matters. This guide from Study Mate Migration walks you through it step by step.
General information only, current at the date of publishing. Visa rules and fees change often, so always check the official Department of Home Affairs website or get advice before you apply.
What is a skills assessment?
A skills assessment is an independent check that your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. Each occupation has a designated assessing authority, listed against the occupation on the skilled occupation lists.
Common assessing authorities
| Assessing authority | Typical occupations |
|---|---|
| Engineers Australia | Engineers (usually through a Competency Demonstration Report, or CDR) |
| Australian Computer Society (ACS) | ICT and software occupations |
| VETASSESS | Many professional and general occupations |
| Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) | Trades such as electricians, chefs and mechanics |
| ANMAC | Registered nurses and midwives |
| AITSL | School teachers |
| CPA Australia, CA ANZ, IPA | Accountants |
Always confirm the authority for your exact occupation code, because some occupations have more than one option or special rules.
Step by step
- Choose the right occupation. Match your qualification and real day-to-day duties to the occupation description. This is the most important decision.
- Check the authority’s requirements. Each one has its own rules for qualifications, work experience, English and document formats.
- Gather evidence. Usually degree certificates, transcripts, detailed employment references, payslips or tax records, and ID.
- Prepare any written reports. Engineers Australia needs a CDR with career episodes and a summary statement. ACS has an RPL pathway for some applicants without an ICT degree.
- Submit and respond quickly to any requests for more information.
- Use the result correctly. A skills assessment may also set the date your skilled employment counts from, which affects your PR points.
Common reasons for a negative outcome
- Choosing an occupation that doesn’t match your actual duties
- Employment references without enough detail about duties and hours
- Copied or reused content in reports such as a CDR (authorities check for plagiarism)
- Missing or inconsistent documents
How Study Mate helps
We help engineers with CDR writing and review, ICT professionals with ACS RPL reports, and applicants in other occupations with document preparation. See our skills assessment services, or check the PR points calculator to see where you stand.
Talk to Study Mate Migration
Study Mate Migration (also known as StudyMate) is an Adelaide-based education and migration consultancy. Our Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518899) can check your eligibility, explain your options and prepare a complete application.
