Before a points-tested skilled visa, a designated authority must confirm your qualifications and experience match your occupation. Here's who assesses what, what it costs, and how to get it right the first time.
A skills assessment is a formal check by a government-designated assessing authority that your qualifications and work experience genuinely match your nominated occupation under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
For the points-tested skilled visas — subclasses 189, 190 and 491 — a suitable skills assessment is a prerequisite. You generally need it before you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI), and it must be valid when you're invited to apply. It also feeds directly into your points score, because skilled employment is only counted once an authority confirms it.
Get the occupation and authority right at the start and the rest of your application becomes far more predictable. Get them wrong and you can lose months and fees. For a plain-English primer, read skills assessment explained.
Book a consultation with a registered migration agent for an honest read on your occupation, the right authority, and your likely points.
Each ANZSCO occupation is mapped to one authority. These are the main ones — search your exact occupation to confirm.
| Authority | Covers | Typical occupations |
|---|---|---|
| ACS | ICT & software | Software Engineer, Developer Programmer, ICT Business Analyst, Systems & Network Engineer |
| Engineers Australia | Engineering | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Chemical, Environmental Engineer |
| VETASSESS | Professional & general | Marketing Specialist, Management Consultant, Production Manager, plus 360+ others |
| Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) | Trades | Cook, Chef, Carpenter, Electrician, Motor Mechanic |
| ANMAC | Nursing & midwifery | Registered Nurse, Midwife, Enrolled Nurse |
| AITSL / ACECQA | Teaching | Secondary & Primary Teacher (AITSL); Early Childhood Teacher (ACECQA) |
| CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA | Accounting & finance | Accountant (General), Management Accountant, External Auditor |
| ACWA / AASW | Community & social work | Welfare/Community Worker (ACWA); Social Worker (AASW) |
Don't see your role? Use our ANZSCO occupation search to find your code, assessing authority and which skilled lists it appears on.
Assessing authorities are set by the Australian Government and can change. Always confirm the current authority for your occupation before applying.
Detailed, occupation-aware guides for the most common assessing authorities.
For software engineers, developers, analysts and network/systems roles. Pathways, the experience deduction, fees and document checklist.
Read the ACS guideFor 360+ professional and general occupations. Qualification and employment relevance, points-test advice, fees and timelines.
Read the VETASSESS guideFor all engineering categories. The CDR pathway, accredited and Accord qualifications, fees and processing.
Read the Engineers Australia guideFor registered nurses, midwives and enrolled nurses. Assessment types, NMBA registration, English, fees and timelines.
Read the ANMAC guideFor cooks, chefs, carpenters, electricians and mechanics. The MSA, Job Ready and OSAP programs, fees and evidence.
Read the TRA guideSchool teachers (AITSL) and early childhood teachers (ACECQA). Occupations, English, qualification comparability and fees.
Read the teachers guideThe three assessing bodies, competency areas, occupations, English and fees for accountant assessments.
Read the accountants guideDon't see your authority? Ask us — we work with every assessing body.
Occupation-specific guides for some of the most common skilled migration roles.
ANZSCO 241111, assessed by ACECQA. Comparability, English, evidence and timelines.
Read the guideANZSCO 351311 / 351411, assessed by TRA. Job Ready vs MSA vs OSAP, evidence and fees.
Read the guideWelfare/community workers (ACWA) and social workers (AASW). Occupations, fees and process.
Read the guideIndicative current fees for the main migration pathways. Always confirm the latest on the authority's own site.
| Authority | Typical fee (AUD) | Main pathway | Indicative timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS | $625 – $1,498 | By pathway (Qualification / Post-Study / General / RPL) | From ~15 days; varies with documents |
| VETASSESS | $1,096 – $1,206 + priority | Full skills assessment (qualification + employment) | Varies; priority processing available |
| Engineers Australia | $555 – $1,512 | Accredited / Accord qualification, or CDR | Standard or paid fast-track (assessor in 20 business days) |
| ANMAC | $395 – $595 | Modified / Full / Direct Care | ~6–8 weeks to start |
| TRA | $720 (MSA) | MSA, Job Ready ($3,410) or OSAP | Program-dependent |
| AITSL / ACECQA | $1,154 (AITSL) | Qualification comparability | ACECQA target ~60 days |
| CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | from ~$514 | Qualification (+ skilled employment) | ~30 business days (CPA) |
Fees are set by each authority, usually include GST for Australian tax residents, and are reviewed regularly (several rise with CPI). Figures here are a guide only — see each authority's official fee page, linked in our detailed guides.
The steps are broadly the same across authorities — the evidence differs.
We match your background to the right ANZSCO occupation and identify the assessing authority and pathway that apply.
Qualifications, transcripts, detailed reference letters, payslips and ID — organised the way your authority expects.
We prepare and submit your application and pay the assessment fee through the authority's portal.
The authority reviews your qualification and employment. The outcome letter confirms your occupation and the experience that counts for points.
With a positive outcome we lodge your Expression of Interest and pursue nomination where relevant.
It's a formal check by a designated Australian authority that your qualifications and work experience genuinely match your nominated occupation (its ANZSCO code). For most points-tested skilled visas a suitable skills assessment is a prerequisite before you can be invited to apply.
It depends on your occupation. ICT and software roles go to ACS, engineers to Engineers Australia, trades to TRA, nurses to ANMAC, teachers to AITSL or ACECQA, accountants to CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA, and a wide range of professional and general occupations to VETASSESS. Use our occupation search to confirm yours.
It varies by authority and pathway. As a guide, ACS ranges from about AUD $625 to $1,498, VETASSESS professional assessments are about AUD $1,096–$1,205 (priority processing extra), and Engineers Australia ranges from about AUD $555 to $1,512. Confirm current fees on the authority's site before applying.
For subclasses 189, 190 and 491 you generally need a suitable skills assessment before you submit your EOI, and it must be valid at the time of invitation. Some employer-sponsored pathways also require one.
Most are valid for three years from the date of issue, though some authorities differ. We confirm the validity window for your authority and time your lodgement accordingly.
The general rules are above. These next calls decide your outcome — and they need your documents to answer. Guess wrong and it can cost months and fees:
Last reviewed: June 2026 — authority rules and fees change; we confirm the current position for your case.
We regularly see two applicants with near-identical CVs end up with very different points — because one nominated the wrong occupation or mis-read the experience rules. A short assessment up front prevents paying a fee for the wrong pathway.
Illustrative only; outcomes depend on your individual circumstances.
Book a confidential consultation with a registered migration agent and get clear, honest advice on your occupation, the right assessing authority and your best route to Australia.