Ngày cập nhật:14/01/2025

Australia Skills Assessment 2025: Key changes

In 2025, Australia skills assessment process is vital for skilled workers seeking to migrate. This assessment evaluates applicants’ qualifications and professional experience, ensuring they meet the needs of the Australian labor market. Boost your chances of success with expert tips for a smooth skill assessment application.

Mục Lục

1 Australia Skills Assessment
2 Assessing Authorities in Australia
3 Latest Requirements for Australia Skills Assessment 2025
4 Process of a Skill Assessment
5 Skills Assessment Fees
6 Importance notes for Australia skills assessment
7 Expert Tips for a Successful Skills Assessment

Australia Skills Assessment

Skills Assessment is a crucial step in the Australian visa application process for skilled migrants. It’s designed to evaluate whether your qualifications, experience, and skills align with the Australian job market.

A positive Australia skills assessment doesn’t guarantee visa approval, but it’s essential for a successful visa outcome as it demonstrates your ability to contribute to the Australian economy.

Currently, all Australian skilled visas require a skills assessment. Common types of Skilled visas that require a skills assessment include:

Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent visa),
Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated visa),
Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional visa),
Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme visa),
Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage visa).

Assessing Authorities in Australia

Skills assessments for Australian skilled visas are conducted by Assessing Authorities, which are organizations authorized by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Applicants must register for a skills assessment with a relevant Assessing Authority.

Currently, there are 42 Assessing Authorities recognized by the Australian Department of Home Affairs to carry out Australia skills assessments.

Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Australian Institution of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS)
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
Certified Practising Accountants of Australia (CPAA)
Engineers Australia (EA)
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS)

Latest Requirements for Australia Skills Assessment 2025

Each Assessing Authority has its own specific requirements for skills assessment, depending on the profession, occupation, and other relevant factors. Below are the skills assessment requirements of some of the most common assessing authorities in Australia:

Assessing Authorities	Requirements
ACS	A full skills assessment based on: a resume, educational background, and professional certifications.
AITSL	IELTS: Overall 7.5 with Listening and Speaking 8.0, Reading and Writing 7.0. A minimum of 4 years of full-time study at an Australian university. During the university studies, the applicant must have completed at least 1 year of full-time study in a program relevant to the nominated occupation, including 45 days of work placement.
ANMAC	English language proficiency test: IELTS with a score of 7.0 or equivalent. Qualifications: All academic transcripts and certificates. Work experience: A minimum of 5 years of work experience as a registered nurse or midwife. References: Professional references, including at least 12 months of paid work experience in Australia, or 36 months of paid work experience overseas. Education: Completion of AHPRA-recognized courses. Registration: For international nursing graduates, registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is required.
CPAA	Require an IELTS band score of 7.0 or higher, successful completion of a Professional Year program, and an IELTS score of 6.0. Hold a qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field listed in Group 12, or a relevant Master’s degree. Demonstrated expertise in accounting through the completion of seven accounting and eight auditing subjects.
TRA	Full Skills Assessment based on: Professional certificates, Education qualification, Work experience, Salary statement…
VETASSESS	Ensure appropriate professional qualifications for the nominated job position. At least one year of relevant work experience within the last 5 years.

Previously, if an Australia skills assessment certificate expired before receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), applicants were unable to submit their visa application. This created significant challenges and time constraints for visa applicants.

However, the Australian government has updated the skills assessment regulations, offering a new opportunity for skilled migrants. Applicants now have an additional 60 days to complete their skills assessment after receiving an ITA.

This means that applicants can still submit their visa application even if their skills assessment certificate has expired, without worrying about missing the opportunity.

However, applicants must promptly apply for a new certificate within 60 days of receiving the ITA to ensure their application is complete.

Process of a Skill Assessment

The typical application process for a skills assessment includes the following steps:

Step 1: Research the occupation and assessment authority.

Identify the occupation: Use the Australian Skills Classification (ANZSCO) search tool to find the code and detailed information about your desired occupation.
Find the assessment authority: Each occupation has one or more assessment authorities. Search for the appropriate assessment authority on the Department of Home Affairs website or the authority’s website.

Step 2: Prepare the required documents.

Each assessment authority has different requirements for documents. You should carefully review the specific requirements on the assessment authority’s website.

Generally, Australia skills assessment applications require the following documents:

Passport or national identity card.
Qualifications relevant to the occupation.
Official academic transcripts.
English language proficiency test results
Work experience: employment contracts, employment references, payslips, etc.
Other documents

Step 3: Submit the application online.

Submit the application online: Access the relevant assessment authority’s website, complete the application form, and upload the required documents.
Pay the fee: After completing the application, pay the assessment fee as specified by the authority.

Step 4: Receive the assessment outcome.

The time taken to receive an assessment outcome can vary depending on individual cases. Generally, applicants will receive the outcome via email within 2 to 20 weeks of submitting a complete application.

Note that each Assessing Authority has its own specific skills assessment process.

For example, the Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) assessment process typically involves four stages: Provisional skills assessment, Job Ready Employment, Job Ready Workplace Assessment, and Job Ready Final Assessment.

Therefore, applicants should carefully research the assessment process of the relevant authority to meet the requirements for an Australian skilled visa.

Skills Assessment Fees

Each assessment authority has its fees for skills assessments and related services. As of August 2025, the skills assessment fees are charged as the following table:

Assessing Authorities	Fees
ACS	Skills assessment for Temporary Graduate 485: 600 AUD. Skill assessment for Post-Austral Study: 1100 AUD. General Skills Assessment: 1450 AUD. Recognition of Prior Learning: 605 AUD. Level 1 Appeal: 500 AUD. Level 2 Appeal: 600 AUD. Global Talent Visa Suitability Assessment: 960 AUD.
AITSL	Application for skills assessment: 1050 AUD. Appeal of assessment outcome: 868 AUD. Skilled Employment Statement (SES): 234 AUD.
ANMAC	Modified/Modified PLUS Skill Assessment: 395 AUD. Skill Assessment (Direct Care): 545 AUD. Full Skill Assessment: 595 AUD.
CPAA (For Offshore Applicants)	Skills assessment application: 495 AUD. Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment application: 545 AUD. Skills assessment (additional ANZSCO code): 227 AUD. Skilled employment assessment: 227 AUD Skills assessment and skilled employment assessment application (additional ANZSCO code): 309 AUD. Skills assessment update: 164 AUD Skilled employment assessment update: 164 AUD Skills assessment appeal: 164 AUD
EA	Australian engineering qualification assessment: 295 AUD Australian engineering qualification assessment plus relevant skilled employment assessment: 700 AUD Australian engineering qualification assessment plus overseas engineering PhD assessment: 550 AUD Australian Engineering Qualification Assessment + relevant skilled employment assessment + overseas engineering PhD assessment: 955 AUD
TRA	Technical Interview – Pathway 1: 2000 AUD Technical Interview – Pathway 2: 900 AUD Practical Assessment: 2200 AUD
VETASSESS	Applying from within Australia: 1136,3 AUD (Priority Processing Fee 886,6 AUD) The applicant is not a resident of Australia for tax purposes: 1033 AUD (Priority Processing Fee 806 AUD)

Please note that Australian assessing authorities may adjust their fees periodically based on changes in regulations or industry standards.

Applicants are advised to check the websites of the relevant assessing authorities to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date fee details.

Importance notes for Australia skills assessment

English Language Certificate

An English language proficiency Certificate is a mandatory requirement for skills assessment applications. A valid certificate is also essential for visas such as subclass 482, subclass 189, subclass 190, and subclass 489, which require a skills assessment.

The specific English language requirements can vary depending on the assessing authority. Generally, the following English language test scores are commonly accepted:

PTE Academic: a minimum score of 50 for each skill,
IELTS: at least 6.0 for each skill
TOEFL iBT: 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking, 13 in Reading, and 21 in Writing
OET: a minimum grade of B in each skill.

Moreover, the English language certificate must be valid for three years from the date of the Invitation to Apply (ITA). Therefore, applicants should carefully consider the validity period and required scores to avoid delays in their visa application.

Skills Assessment Validity

To maintain the validity of the skills assessment for your Australian skilled migration visa, it is important to check the expiration date on your certificate. Please ensure that your certificate remains valid within the specified timeframe, generally three years from the date of issue, unless a different expiry date is indicated.

Provisional Skills Assessment

There are two primary types of skills assessments in Australia: Provisional Skills Assessments and Full Skills Assessments.

Provisional Skills Assessments are typically granted to recent graduates of Australian universities to apply for a 485 visa, allowing them to work in Australia for a limited period. However, this assessment is not sufficient for applying for permanent skilled migration visas such as the subclass 190, 491, or 189 visas.

To apply for these visas, applicants require a Full Skills Assessment, which demonstrates that their qualifications and work experience meet the Australian occupational standards.

Skills Assessment for Freelancers

Freelancers and self-employed individuals may encounter specific challenges when undergoing a skills assessment due to the unique nature of their work. Unlike traditional employees, freelancers may need additional documentation to demonstrate their skills and experience. This may include:

Business registration,
Tax returns,
Bank statements,
Client contracts,
Reference letters, and a portfolio of their work and projects,…

Expert Tips for a Successful Skills Assessment

Choose a suitable occupation and research the requirements

The first step is to select the right occupation for Australia skills assessment based on your qualifications and experience. Thoroughly research job descriptions, required skills, and assessment criteria for each occupation. Ensure that your work experience and qualifications directly relate to the chosen occupation.

Prepare complete and accurate documentation

A skills assessment application usually requires you to provide lots of documents, including your qualifications, transcripts, work experience, professional certificates, and reference letters. Ensure that all documents are accurately translated and certified as required.

Improve your skills

If you feel that your knowledge or skills do not fully meet the requirements, consider enrolling in courses, workshops, or short-term training programs to enhance your qualifications. This will boost your confidence during the assessment process.

The information above provides a comprehensive guide to the Australian skills assessment. A thorough understanding of these details will significantly enhance your chances of successfully migrating to Australia.

If you have any questions about the skills assessment process or wish to explore Australian skilled migration pathways in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact the VEM.

Registered for practice (MARN: 1577877) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), Mr. Peter Cao will assist you with expert guidance and the best possible pathway.

Consultation with VEM