Australian skills assessment for chemical engineer

Struggling with the Australian Skills Assessment for Chemical Engineering? Learn about the requirements, process, and important notes for a successful Skills assessment in this article, shared by our qualified and experienced consultant.

Skills Assessment for Chemical Engineers in Australia

Skills assessment for chemical engineers is a formal evaluation to verify that an individual possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to practice as a chemical engineer in Australia.

Engineers Australia (EA) is the primary assessing authority for engineering occupations in Australia, including chemical engineering. They are responsible for evaluating the qualifications and experience of overseas-trained engineers seeking registration in Australia.

The ANZSCO code for chemical engineers is 233211. This code is used to classify occupations and is essential for visa applications and Skills assessments.

Australian Visa Options for Chemical Engineers

Chemical engineers considering migrating to Australia have several skilled visa options to explore, including:

• Subclass 189 – Skilled (Independent) visa
• Subclass 190 – Skilled (Nominated) visa
• Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa
• Subclass 407 – Training visa
• Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (Medium Term Stream)
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (State or Territory nominated)
• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (Employer-sponsored stream)

Most of these skilled visas require a skills assessment from a designated assessing authority. A successful skills assessment for chemical engineers is a prerequisite for a successful visa application.

For detailed information on skilled visa requirements, please refer to “ Australian Skilled Visa For 2024 – 2025 Migration”

Skills Assessment Requirements for Chemical Engineers

Assessment Pathways

EA offers six pathways for assessing the qualifications of chemical engineers:

Pathway A: Accredited Qualification

This pathway is suitable for applicants holding a qualification accredited by Engineers Australia. There are four sub-pathways under this option:

• Australian Qualification Pathway: For applicants who have completed their studies in Australia and hold an Engineers Australia-accredited qualification.
• Washington Accord Qualification Pathway: For applicants with a qualification from a country fully signatory to the Washington Accord.
• Sydney Accord Qualification Pathway: For applicants with a qualification from a country fully signatory to the Sydney Accord.
• Dublin Accord Qualification Pathway: For applicants with a qualification from a country fully signatory to the Dublin Accord.
• Other Recognized Qualifications: For applicants holding qualifications not covered by the above but recognized by Engineers Australia.

Pathway B: Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)

CDR pathway is for applicants who do not hold an accredited qualification or prefer not to be assessed based on their degree title or course content. Applicants must demonstrate their competency through a CDR and achieve an IELTS score of 6.

Assessment Checklist

Core Documentation Requirements

Regardless of the chosen assessment pathway, all applicants need to submit the following documents:

• Comprehensive CV or Resume: Outlining your engineering education, work experience, and professional achievements.
• Academic Degree Certificate: An original copy of your degree certificate. If you haven’t graduated yet, a letter of completion might be accepted for Australian qualifications.
• Academic Transcripts: Official and complete transcripts, including any recognition of prior learning and course syllabi.
• English Language Proficiency: Valid IELTS, TOEFL iBT®, or PTE Academic™ results.

Additional Documentation

Depending on your specific circumstances, you may need to provide:

• Passport-Standard Photograph: Recent photo meeting specified dimensions.
• Prime Identification Document: Your current passport, including the photo and name page.
• Official Change of Name Documents: If applicable, documents proving a name change (e.g., gazette publication, legal certificate).
• English Translations: Official translations of any documents that are not in English.

However, the checklist just provides a general overview. Applicants should access the official EA website for the most accurate and up-to-date document requirements based on your specific circumstances and chosen assessment pathway.

Engineers Australia Skills assessment process

Understanding the Engineers Australia skills assessment process is the first step to a successful outcome. The following steps will guide you through:

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

The first step in the EA Skills assessment process is to establish your eligibility. This involves determining your qualification’s suitability for an assessment pathway. Key factors include:

• Country of qualification: Where you obtained your engineering degree.
• Qualification type: The level and nature of your qualification (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s).
• Accreditation status: Whether your qualification is recognized by Engineers Australia or an international accreditation body.

You can use the qualification checker on the International Engineering Alliance website to verify your qualification’s accreditation status.

Step 2: Identify Your Occupational Category

Based on your qualifications and experience, determine the category that best aligns with your career aspirations from the four occupational categories for skilled migration below:

• Professional Engineer
• Engineering Technologist
• Engineering Associate
• Engineering Manager

Step 3: Choose Your Assessment Pathway

The specific assessment pathway you follow depends on your qualifications and chosen occupation. The available pathways are:

• Australian Qualification Pathway: For Australian qualifications accredited by Engineers Australia.
• Washington Accord Pathway: For qualifications from countries signatory to the Washington Accord.
• Dublin Accord Pathway: For qualifications from countries signatory to the Dublin Accord.
• Sydney Accord Pathway: For qualifications from countries signatory to the Sydney Accord.
• Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) Pathway: For applicants without accredited qualifications or those who prefer assessment based on experience.

Step 4: Prepare and Submit Your Application

To apply for an EA Skills assessment, you’ll need to create an online account and gather the required documentation. The application process involves:

• Creating an online account on the EA portal.
• Uploading necessary documents, such as your passport, qualifications, transcripts, CV, … (as mentioned above).
• Following the online application guide for specific instructions.

Step 5: Assessment Processing

Once your application is submitted, it typically takes around 15 weeks for it to be assigned to an assessor. However, processing times can vary based on application complexity and the information provided. You can track your application’s progress through the EA portal.

Step 6: Receive Your Assessment Outcome

EA will notify you of the assessment outcome via email. A successful assessment will result in a migration skills assessment outcome letter.

Step 7: Review and Appeal (If Necessary)

If you disagree with the assessment outcome, applicants have the option to appeal if may be possible under specific conditions. You can also request a review within three months of receiving the initial decision.

Although EA can provide a review to improve your result in the future, please note that Engineers Australia does not provide migration advice or allocate migration points.

If you need further details on migration or visa application, please contact VEM for personalized consultation. VEM  is here to assist you every step of the way!

Engineers Australia Skills assessment

EA Skills Assessment Fees

Currently, ANMAC offers 2 categories of Skills assessments: Migration skills assessment and Australian-accredited engineering qualification assessment. In addition, ANMAC also provides other services related to Skills assessment. Applicants can refer to the detailed fees 2025 below:

EA Skills Assessment Validity

According to EA’s standpoint, there is no official expiry date for your assessment outcome letter. While EA’s assessment has no expiration date, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) may have different validity policies. It’s essential to check the latest DIBP guidelines for specific requirements.

If the DIBP requests an updated assessment letter, contact Engineers Australia for further instructions.

Important Notes for Chemical Engineers

Check your qualifications

Accredited qualifications are engineering qualifications recognized through international agreements known as Accords. There are three primary Accords relevant to Engineers Australia (EA): the Washington Accord, the Sydney Accord, and the Dublin Accord.

To be considered for accreditation under these Accords by EA, your qualification needs to meet the following criteria:

• Completion Date: Your degree must have been completed on or after the year your country became a full signatory to the relevant Accord.
• Program Accreditation: Your program must fall within the accreditation period specified by your country’s signatory website. Terms like “intake,” “commencement,” or “graduate year” may be used.
• Full Accreditation: Your program must hold full accreditation status. Provisional accreditation is not sufficient.

Check your documentation format

Before uploading any documents, applicants must ensure that all submitted materials meet Engineers Australia’s (EA) specific requirements.

Please avoid submitting the following:

• Certified copies of original documents
• Black and white scans
• Scans of photocopies
• Low-resolution scans (minimum resolution of 300 dpi required)
• Duplicate uploads of the same document

Submitting any of the above may cause a delay in processing.

Distinguish between Skills assessment and Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)

Chemical Engineers who require a skilled migration visa to Australia need to distinguish between a Skills assessment and a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).

To be eligible for the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA), applicants must hold qualifications from Australia or a country signatory to the Sydney, Dublin, or Washington Accord. Otherwise, a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) is required.

For detailed information, please contact VEM. Our registered migration agent (MARN: MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648) will provide you with personalized guidance to navigate your immigration journey successfully.

By: Peter Phong D Cao – Registered migration agent.

(MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648)