Australia has over 40 official skills assessment authorities, each responsible for evaluating qualifications and work experience for specific occupations under the skilled migration program. These authorities ensure that applicants meet Australian standards before being granted visas.
What Are Skills Assessment Authorities?
Skills assessment authorities are professional or regulatory bodies approved by the Department of Home Affairs to verify whether an applicant’s qualifications and work experience align with Australian standards. A positive skills assessment is often mandatory for skilled migration visas.
Major Australian Skills Assessment Authorities
Here is a list of some of the key authorities and the occupations they cover:
| Authority | Website | Occupation/Field |
|---|---|---|
| AACA – Architects Accreditation Council of Australia | https://www.aaca.org.au/ | Architects |
| AASW – Australian Association of Social Workers | https://www.aasw.asn.au/ | Social workers |
| ACECQA – Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority | https://www.acecqa.gov.au/ | Childcare and early childhood teachers |
| ACPSEM – Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine | https://www.acpsem.org.au | Medical physicists |
| ACS – Australian Computer Society | https://www.acs.org.au/ | ICT professionals (software engineers, data scientists, etc.) |
| AIQS – Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors | https://www.aiqs.com.au/ | Quantity surveyors |
| ANMAC – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council | https://www.anmac.org.au/ | Nurses and midwives |
| APC – Australian Physiotherapy Council | https://www.physiocouncil.com.au/ | Physiotherapists |
| ASMIRT – Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy | https://www.asmirt.org/ | Radiographers and radiation therapists |
| Engineers Australia | https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/ | Engineers across disciplines |
| CPA Australia / Chartered Accountants ANZ / IPA | https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/ | Accountants |
| TRA – Trades Recognition Australia | https://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/ | Skilled trades (electricians, carpenters, mechanics, etc.) |
| VETASSESS – Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services | https://www.vetassess.com.au/ | A wide range of general professional occupations |
| ISNSW – Institution of Surveyors New South Wales | https://www.surveyors.org.au/ | Surveyors (newly appointed authority) |
