🦘 Australia · Skills Assessment

Australian Skills Assessing Authorities

A skills assessing authority is the government-approved body that evaluates whether your overseas qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. A positive assessment is required before applying for most skilled visas — including SC189, SC190, SC491, SC482, and SC186. There are 14 approved assessing authorities in Australia, each covering a specific group of occupations.

Trades Recognition Australia
TRA
Government (DEWR) · Trade occupations
Occupations
93+
Standard
12–16 weeks
Priority
8–12 weeks
Fee range
AUD 500–1,000
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, cooks, mechanics and most trade occupations
View TRA guide →
Engineers Australia
EA
Professional body · Engineering
Occupations
200+
Standard
16 weeks
Priority
8 weeks
Fee range
AUD 770–905
Civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, structural, and software engineers
View Engineers Australia guide →
VETASSESS
VETASSESS
Private body · Professional & trades (broad)
Occupations
350+
Standard
12 weeks
Priority
6 weeks
Fee range
AUD 550–850
Largest authority by occupation count — covers professions not assessed by specialist bodies
View VETASSESS guide →
AHPRA
AHPRA
National statutory body · Health professions
Occupations
50+
Standard
8–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–1,200
Medicine, physiotherapy, dentistry, optometry, psychology, occupational therapy and 9 other health professions
View AHPRA guide →
ANMAC
ANMAC
Statutory body · Nursing & midwifery
Occupations
10+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 850–1,000
Registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and midwives seeking migration to Australia
View ANMAC guide →
Australian Computer Society
ACS
Professional body · ICT
Occupations
50+
Standard
4–8 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 540
Software engineers, IT managers, analysts, developers, systems administrators
View ACS guide →
CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA
CPAA
Professional bodies · Accounting (3 bodies)
Occupations
15+
Standard
4–8 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–800
Accountants choose one of three bodies based on qualifications — CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA
View accounting authorities guide →
AITSL
AITSL
Statutory body (Commonwealth) · Teaching
Occupations
10+
Standard
12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 350
Primary teachers, secondary teachers, special education teachers, early childhood educators
View AITSL guide →
Australian Pharmacy Council
APC
Statutory body · Pharmacy
Occupations
5+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–800
Pharmacists seeking migration — assessment precedes AHPRA registration
View APC guide →
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute
SSSI
Professional body · Surveying & spatial
Occupations
10+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–700
Land surveyors, cartographers, spatial science technicians, remote sensing officers
View SSSI guide →
Australian Community Workers Association
ACWA
Non-government body · Community services
Occupations
5+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 450–600
Community workers, social welfare workers, welfare support workers
View ACWA guide →
ASCA (formerly AISL)
ASCA
Non-government body · Sport & exercise science
Occupations
5+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Sports trainers, exercise physiologists, strength and conditioning coaches
View ASCA guide →
TEQSA
TEQSA
Statutory regulatory body · Higher education
Occupations
5+
Standard
Varies
Priority
N/A
Fee range
Varies
Primarily a higher education regulator — assesses qualifications in limited migration contexts
View TEQSA guide →
ANZPAC / HBIA
ANZPAC
Industry body · Beauty & hairdressing
Occupations
10+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Beauty therapists, hairdressers — verify current assessing body with DHA as this has been rebranded
View ANZPAC guide →
Institute of Managers and Leaders
IML
Professional membership body · Management
Occupations
12+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–700
Sales & Marketing Managers, HR Managers, Supply Chain Managers, CEOs
View IML guide →
Australian Psychological Society
APS
Professional membership body · Psychology
Occupations
8+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–650
Clinical, Educational, Organisational and other psychologist specialisations
View APS guide →
Australian Society of Medical Imaging & RT
ASMIRT
Professional body · Medical imaging
Occupations
6+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 450–600
Radiographers, Radiation Therapists, Sonographers
View ASMIRT guide →
Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
AIMS
Professional membership body · Medical science
Occupations
4+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 450–600
Medical Laboratory Scientists, Technicians, Pathology Collectors
View AIMS guide →
Legal Services Admissions Board
LSAB
State/Territory government bodies · Legal
Occupations
4+
Standard
Varies
Priority
N/A
Fee range
Varies
Barristers and Solicitors — assessed by state/territory board
View LSAB guide →
Australian Dental Council
ADC
Statutory assessment body · Dental
Occupations
4+
Standard
16–24 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–1,200
Dentists and Dental Specialists — gateway to AHPRA dental registration
View ADC guide →
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
CASA
Government statutory authority · Aviation
Occupations
4+
Standard
Varies
Priority
N/A
Fee range
Varies
Aeroplane Pilots and Helicopter Pilots
View CASA guide →
ACECQA
ACECQA
Government statutory authority · Early childhood
Occupations
3+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 300–500
Child Care Centre Managers, Early Childhood Teachers
View ACECQA guide →
Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
CMBA
National Board (AHPRA) · Chinese medicine
Occupations
3+
Standard
8–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–1,000
Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners
View CMBA guide →
NAATI
NAATI
Government statutory authority · Translation
Occupations
3+
Standard
12–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–800
Interpreters and Translators
View NAATI guide →
Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
AACA
Non-government statutory body · Architecture
Occupations
2+
Standard
12–24 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–900
Architects — Architectural Practice Examination (APE) pathway
View AACA guide →
Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
AIQS
Professional membership body · Construction
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Quantity Surveyors
View AIQS guide →
Australian Veterinary Boards Council
AVBC
Government registration body · Veterinary
Occupations
2+
Standard
Varies
Priority
N/A
Fee range
Varies
Veterinarians — state board assessment coordinated nationally
View AVBC guide →
ANZSNM
ANZSNM
Professional membership body · Nuclear medicine
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
View ANZSNM guide →
Optometry Council of Australia & NZ
OCANZ
Statutory assessment body · Optometry
Occupations
2+
Standard
12–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–900
Optometrists — gateway to AHPRA Optometry Board registration
View OCANZ guide →
Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association
AOPA
Professional membership body · Allied health
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Orthotists and Prosthetists
View AOPA guide →
Occupational Therapy Council
OTC
Professional assessment body · Allied health
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–700
Occupational Therapists — gateway to AHPRA OT Board registration
View OTC guide →
Podiatry Board of Australia
PodBA
National Board (AHPRA) · Podiatry
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 600–1,000
Podiatrists
View PodBA guide →
Speech Pathology Australia
SPA
Professional membership body · Allied health
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–700
Speech Pathologists / Speech Language Therapists
View SPA guide →
Australian Association of Social Workers
AASW
Professional membership body · Social work
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Social Workers
View AASW guide →
Dietitians Australia
DAA
Professional membership body · Dietetics
Occupations
2+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Dietitians
View DAA guide →
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
AMSA
Government statutory authority · Maritime
Occupations
2+
Standard
Varies
Priority
N/A
Fee range
Varies
Ship's Masters and Ship's Engineers
View AMSA guide →
Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
CCEA
Accreditation body · Chiropractic
Occupations
1+
Standard
8–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–800
Chiropractors — prerequisite for AHPRA Chiropractic Board registration
View CCEA guide →
Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council
AOAC
Accreditation body · Osteopathy
Occupations
1+
Standard
8–16 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 500–800
Osteopaths — prerequisite for AHPRA Osteopathy Board registration
View AOAC guide →
Australian Library and Information Association
ALIA
Professional membership body · Library & info
Occupations
1+
Standard
8–12 weeks
Priority
N/A
Fee range
AUD 400–600
Librarians
View ALIA guide →

Not sure which assessing authority applies to your occupation?

Book a free 30-minute assessment with our MARA registered migration agent. We will confirm your assessing authority and walk you through the process.

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