Teachers have two assessing authorities: AITSL for school teachers and ACECQA for early childhood teachers. Here's which applies to you, what's assessed, and what it costs.
For a points-tested visa such as the 189, 190 or 491, teachers need a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation. Which body assesses you depends on the age group you teach:
Both check that your teaching qualifications are comparable to an Australian initial teacher education (ITE) qualification — level, content, practicum and English. The skills assessment is separate from registration with a state/territory teacher regulatory authority, which you'll also need to teach.
Official information: AITSL — migrate to Australia and ACECQA — migration skills assessment.
Book a consultation to confirm your authority, English target and registration pathway before you apply.
| ANZSCO | Occupation | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| 241111 | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher | ACECQA |
| 241213 | Primary School Teacher | AITSL |
| 241411 | Secondary School Teacher | AITSL |
| 241511 | Special Needs Teacher | AITSL |
| 134111 | Child Care Centre Manager | ACECQA |
Confirm your code and authority with our ANZSCO occupation search.
| Item | Authority | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Application for skills assessment | AITSL | $1,154 |
| Appeal of outcome | AITSL | $904 |
| Skilled Employment Statement (SES) | AITSL | $255 |
| Early childhood teacher assessment | ACECQA | See ACECQA schedule |
AITSL fees (effective 1 July 2025) have no GST; a partial refund of AUD $946 may apply if assessment hasn't commenced. ACECQA confirms receipt within ~10 business days and aims to complete within 60 calendar days. Confirm current fees on the AITSL and ACECQA sites.
Teaching has demanding English thresholds and strict practicum requirements — these are where applications most often fall short.
AITSL assesses school teachers (e.g. Secondary 241411, Primary 241213). ACECQA assesses the Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (241111) — transferred from AITSL on 7 December 2024 — plus Child Care Centre Manager and certain child care roles.
The AITSL application is AUD $1,154 (effective 1 July 2025), appeal $904, SES $255, with no GST. ACECQA sets its own fees for early childhood assessments — confirm on the ACECQA site.
Teaching assessments and registration generally require high English scores (e.g. IELTS or PTE Academic at the level set by the authority and teacher regulator). We confirm the current requirement.
ACECQA confirms receipt within about 10 business days and aims to complete within 60 calendar days of a complete application.
Whether your teaching qualifications are comparable to an Australian ITE qualification — level, content, practicum and English. It's separate from state/territory teacher registration.
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.
Since the early-childhood function moved to ACECQA in December 2024, applications sent to the wrong body bounce and lose weeks. Confirming the authority first prevents it.
Illustrative only; outcomes depend on your individual circumstances.
Book a confidential consultation with a registered migration agent. We'll confirm whether AITSL or ACECQA assesses you, your English target, and how registration fits your timeline.