Skills Assessment in Australia: Process, Cost, PR Requirements & FAQs

What is a Skills Assessment?

A skills assessment is a formal evaluation by an authority designated by the Australian Government to verify whether your qualifications, work experience, and skills are comparable to Australian standards for your nominated occupation (ANZSCO code). It is a mandatory requirement for many Skilled Migration visas. It serves two primary purposes:

• Confirms you have the competency needed for the job you nominate under the Skilled Occupation List.
• Helps the Department of Home Affairs and State/Territory governments assess eligibility for visa subclasses (e.g., 189, 190, 491) under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) stream.
  

Who Needs It?

You will need a skills assessment if you are applying under:

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent)
• Subclass 190 (State Nominated)
• Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional)
• Subclass 186 under Direct Entry
  • Some other employer‑sponsored visas, depending on the specific subclass and occupation also requires skill assessment.
  • Skill assessment for employer sponsored visa under DAMA program is also required.
• Temporary Graduate visas (Subclass 485), for vocational stream, though the requirements may be less stringent than the other visas mentioned above.

Designated Assessing Authorities

Each occupation has a specific Skills Assessing Authority. Some of the main ones include:

There are 38 assessing authorities covering different professions.

Key Criteria / What They Look At

Skill Assessment criteria varies depending on the occupation and skill assessment authority. However, when you apply for skills assessment, most of the assessment authorities will assess:

• Academic qualifications – whether your degrees or diplomas meet the Australian standard for that occupation. Includes checking transcripts, subject details, institutions, etc.
• Work experience – the nature of your employment (full‑time, part‑time), period, duties, responsibilities mapped to the ANZSCO‐level description. Reference letters are very important.
• English language proficiency, where relevant (sometimes for certain assessing authorities you need to submit proof of English competence).
• Other requirements depending on occupation – e.g. licencing/registration (health, engineering, etc.), professional memberships, certification of specific skills.

Validity

• A positive skills assessment is generally valid for 2‑3 years for migration use. The validity span may depend on the assessing authority and your occupation. You are required to have valid skill assessment usually at the time of applying for the visa application.

Costs & Processing Time

• Cost varies a lot by occupation and authority. It usually ranges between AUD 500 to AUD 1,500 for most skill assessments.
• Example: ACS fees – General Skills Assessment is $1450, Post‑Australia Study pathway is $1100, etc.
• Processing Time varies. It could be 6‑8 weeks or more. Some authorities (for health, engineering, trades) may take several months depending on volume, whether extra evidence is needed, etc. Some assessment authorities offer priority/fast tracker processing at no cost or at a certain cost. You may also be required to meet additional criteria to request priority processing.

Recent Changes / Key Points in 2025

• Authorities have updated fee structures; for example, ACS has differentiated fees for different pathways (general, post‑study, etc.).
• There is more emphasis on having up‑to‑date documentation, well‑prepared evidence (detailed job descriptions, certified translations if not in English). Missing or imprecise documents can lead to delays.
• Some assessing bodies have introduced priority processing options or faster streams for certain occupations.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

• Choosing the correct ANZSCO code for your occupation is critical. Mismatches here can lead to failed assessment. Assessment authority usually does not choose occupation for the applicant, applicant is required to nominate the occupation in which he/she feels that his/her skills are aligned/meeting criteria.
• Work experience descriptions must clearly show that your duties align with the role definition. Generic statements may not satisfy the authority.
• If your qualification is from a less common or international institution, ensure that its recognition or comparability is established; you may need extra documents like course syllabus, institution accreditation.
• Be mindful of validity of documents (e.g. English test scores are valid for certain period).
• Submit all documents certified / translated as needed. Delays often come from missing or improperly certified documents.

How to Apply – Step by Step

Here is a general step‑by‑step flow:

• Check your occupation: Find the ANZSCO code, see which assessing authority applies.
• Gather documents: Academic certificates/transcripts, employment references, portfolios (if needed), English test results, identity documents.
• Check assessing authority requirements: Each authority’s website will list specific document checklists, formatting, evidence type, etc.
• Submit your application & pay fees. Some allow online submission.
• Respond to any requests for additional information if your assessment is given “incomplete” due to missing evidence.
• Receive the assessment outcome: If positive, it will state if you meet requirements for your occupation. If negative, you may be able to appeal or apply under a different pathway (if options exist).
• Use the outcome in migration steps: When you lodge your EOI, apply for visa, etc., include the skills assessment. Ensure it’s still valid.

Where Skills Assessment Fits in the PR Process

Putting this in the bigger picture, the PR process under General Skilled Migration (GSM) usually follows:

• Determine eligibility (age, English, qualifications, skills, etc.).
• Skills Assessment – get this done before lodging EOI for visa subclasses like 189, 190, 491.
• Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect.
• Receive an invitation to apply (ITA) based on points.
• Lodge visa application, including health checks, character checks, etc.

A successful skills assessment is a gatekeeper in this system – without it, you cannot move ahead in many pathways.

Final Thoughts

• Start early: skills assessment can be time‑consuming.
• Be thorough: better to spend more time preparing strong documentation than face delays
• Monitor fees and rules for your assessing authority – these change.
• If unsure, consult with a registered migration agent or official migration advice (keeping in mind agent cost vs risk of mistakes).