Engineers Australia is the assessing authority for engineering occupations. Whether your qualification is accredited, Accord-recognised, or needs a CDR, here's how the pathways, fees and evidence work.
Engineers Australia (EA) confirms that your engineering qualifications meet Australian standards for your occupational category, so you can claim your occupation for a points-tested skilled visa such as the 189, 190 or 491.
Your pathway depends on where and what you studied. If your degree is from an Australian accredited program or a program recognised under an international Accord, EA assesses the qualification directly. If not, you demonstrate equivalent competency through a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).
Official information: see Engineers Australia — migration skills assessment.
Book a consultation to confirm your occupational category and whether you need a CDR — before you invest the time writing one.
EA assesses you against one of four categories, each tied to a level of qualification.
Washington Accord level. Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Structural and similar professional engineering roles.
Sydney Accord level. Applies technology to engineering problems, often in design and development.
Dublin Accord level. Technician-level roles supporting professional engineers and technologists.
Plans and directs engineering work. A relevant skilled employment assessment is a mandatory part of this category.
If you hold an Australian engineering degree accredited by Engineers Australia, your qualification is assessed directly — the lowest fee and simplest route.
If your degree is from an accredited program in a Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord signatory country, EA can recognise it against the relevant category.
For qualifications not accredited or Accord-recognised. You demonstrate competency through three Career Episodes, a Summary Statement, a CPD list and your CV.
CDRs must be your own work and are screened for originality. Plagiarism leads to a ban on reapplying — we guide structure and competency mapping without writing your episodes for you.
Indicative fees including GST. A fast-track add-on is available on most pathways.
| Pathway | Fee incl. GST (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Australian accredited qualification | $346.50 |
| Washington / Sydney / Dublin Accord qualification | $555.50 |
| Accord qualification + relevant skilled employment | $1,034.00 |
| Standard CDR | $1,034.00 |
| CDR + relevant skilled employment | $1,512.50 |
| Fast-track add-on | +$396.00 |
Review $368.50; Appeal $704. Fees rise around 3–4% from 1 July 2026 (approved by the Department of Home Affairs). The fast-track fee is non-refundable. Confirm current amounts on the Engineers Australia fees page.
A selection of ANZSCO engineering occupations EA assesses.
| ANZSCO | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 233211 | Civil Engineer |
| 233311 | Electrical Engineer |
| 233512 | Mechanical Engineer |
| 233111 | Chemical Engineer |
| 233214 | Structural Engineer |
| 233215 | Transport Engineer |
| 233611 | Mining Engineer (Excluding Petroleum) |
| 233915 | Environmental Engineer |
| 233914 | Engineering Technologist |
Confirm your code and category with our ANZSCO occupation search.
What you need depends on your pathway. We confirm the exact set for your case.
EA assesses four categories: Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, Engineering Associate and Engineering Manager. This covers ANZSCO occupations such as Civil Engineer (233211), Electrical Engineer (233311), Mechanical Engineer (233512), Chemical Engineer (233111), Structural Engineer (233214) and Environmental Engineer (233915), among others.
A Competency Demonstration Report is the pathway for engineers whose qualifications aren't from an Australian accredited program or recognised under the Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accords. It includes three Career Episodes, a Summary Statement, a CPD list and a CV.
From 1 July 2026, a standard CDR is AUD $1,034 (incl. GST) and a CDR with relevant skilled employment is $1,512.50. An accredited or Accord qualification assessment ranges from about $346.50 to $555.50. Fast-track is an additional $396. Fees are set by EA and approved by Home Affairs.
It depends on document quality and whether more information is requested. A paid fast-track option assigns your application to an assessor within 20 business days, though that doesn't guarantee an outcome in that time.
A standard CDR assesses your qualification-equivalent competencies. Relevant skilled employment can be assessed as an add-on for migration points, and is mandatory for the Engineering Manager category.
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.
Career Episodes written around what 'the team' did — not the applicant's personal engineering decisions — are a common cause of a negative outcome, and plagiarism flags can block re-application. Structuring episodes around your own role avoids both.
Illustrative only; outcomes depend on your individual circumstances.
Book a confidential consultation with a registered migration agent. We'll confirm your occupational category, the right pathway, and how to structure a strong CDR or qualification application.