Frequently asked questions
About the trade skill assessment for migration
1. Who can apply for this assessment service?
2. What are the benefits of the new arrangements?
3. Can any Registered Training Organisation (RTO) assess my application for pre-migration purposes under the General Skilled Migration program?
4. What is a competency profile?
5. What is a competency group?
6. How do I find out about the requirements for my trade?
7. What is the purpose of the self-assessment tool?
Submitting an application
8. What information do I need to submit with my application form?
9. Why do I need to submit documentary evidence with my application?
10. What is the purpose of the competency profile?
12. Will VETASSESS accept my Australian AQF qualification?
13. What is a trade evidence form?
14. Do I need to submit original or certified documents as part of my evidence?
15. Why are original documents preferred for employment?
16. Where do I send my application?
17. How long will it take to process my application?
18. Will I have to pay all of the fees up front?
19. I am turning forty-five soon. Am I still able to apply?
Practical skills assessment
20. Will all applicants have to do a practical skill assessment?
21. Where will the practical skills assessments be conducted?
22. How often will practical skills assessments be scheduled?
23. Who will be conducting the practical skills assessment?
24. Will the assessment require English language skills?
25. Can I use an interpreter during the practical assessment or technical interview?
26. What do I need to do before the practical assessment?
27. What do I have to take to a practical assessment?
Assessment outcomes
28. What will I get at the end of a successful assessment?
29. What is an Offshore Technical Skills Record?
30. How can I find out about trade licences in particular Australian states and territories?
31. What will I receive if I am not successful in the assessment?
32. Where can I find more information on the requirements for migration visas?
About the trade skill assessment for migration
1. Who can apply for this assessment service?
See Assess my trade skills for eligibility.
What is meant by 'country of residence'?
Applicants will be required to nominate their country of residence when making an application for a skills assessment.
Country of residence generally refers to but not limited to:
- where that person eats, sleeps and has a settled home
- how long that person has lived in the country specified in his or her application
- that person's intention to make or not make a particular country his or her usual home.
What if I am on a temporary visa?
For applicants who are currently in Australia on a temporary visa please note that for immigration purposes, you are not considered a resident of Australia if you hold a tourist visa or working holiday visa (or any other visa that has allowed you to be in Australia for a period of time as either a tourist or short term worker). Therefore, if you are a resident of the UK, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka or the Philippines, and work in one of the trades listed, and are in Australia on a tourist visa or working holiday visa you are considered to be a resident of your country of origin. You are therefore required to seek a skills assessment from VETASSESS. Please note that you will be required to return to your country of origin (or one of the other listed countries) to undertake the practical component of your skills test.
Exception:
If you are normally a resident of the UK, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka or the Philippines, are lawfully in Australia on a 457, 475, 495 visa or student visa, and wish to obtain a skills assessment in your trade, you are required to obtain a skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia.
Immigration status:
You should direct any matters relating to your immigration status to the Department of Immigration & Citizenship on 131 881 or refer to the immigration website at: www.immi.gov.au VETASSESS and TRA do not provide immigration assistance or advice to potential applicants. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are making a valid application applicable to your individual circumstances.
Your country of residence will be determined by a case officer when you lodge your migration application. If you have obtained a skills assessment from the incorrect assessing authority, it may be invalid for immigration purposes and your migration application may be refused.
2. What are the benefits of the new arrangements?
Some of the benefits are:
- Successful applicants will have more certainty than they do now that they will be able to work in their nominated occupation upon arrival to Australia.
- Applicants in the licensed electrical and plumbing occupations will receive an outcome that will entitle them to a provisional licence which will allow them to work under supervision without having to undertake additional skills testing once they arrive in Australia.
- Applicants in non-licensed occupations will receive an Australian qualification that demonstrates they have the full range of skills of the trade.
- Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with a detailed assessment outcome. This will provide them with guidance on additional training and/or employment required to meet the standard.
3. Can any Registered Training Organisation (RTO) assess my application for pre-migration purposes under the General Skilled Migration program?
No, only VETASSESS, in association with certain Registered Training Organisations, has the authority to assess applications in the COAG specified countries and trades for pre-migration purposes under the General Skilled Migration program.
About the assessment process
4. What is a competency profile?
A competency profile provides a picture or description of a typical tradesperson for the relevant occupation. It is made up of key competency groups.
5. What is a competency group?
Australian qualifications are based on units of competency. A unit of competency describes particular aspects of work and knowledge required for the relevant industry. A competency group is a cluster of competencies that have been combined to represent a work activity or task that can be assessed.
6. How do I find out about the requirements for my trade?
Download a fact sheet, trade evidence form and the self-assessment tool for your trade. The fact sheet has information about the areas of your trade which you will need to demonstrate competence in to receive a positive outcome. The self-assessment tool can also be used to determine what training, employment and competencies are required to meet the Australian standards for your nominated trade.
Refer to preparing for assessment.
7. What is the purpose of the self-assessment tool?
The self-assessment tool provides an overview of the competency profile for each occupation and information about the key competency groups. By answering a series of questions the tool will help you to decide whether you have the required training, employment and competencies to meet the Australian standards for your nominated occupation.
Refer to preparing for assessment.
Submitting an application
8. What information do I need to submit with my application form?
Refer to applying for assessment.
9. Why do I need to submit documentary evidence with my application?
The evidence you submit should show that you have the required competencies (skills) to meet the Australian standards in your nominated occupation. It will be used to develop a competency profile for you.
Refer to required documents.
10. What is the purpose of the competency profile?
The competency profile will provide an overview of your skills and experience, and will be used by the assessors undertaking the practical skills assessment. If you do not have sufficient evidence it will provide you with an overview of any gaps you may have in meeting the Australian standards for your nominated occupation. You can use this information to help plan how to meet these standards.
12. Will VETASSESS accept my Australian AQF qualification?
VETASSESS will accept your Australian AQF qualification as evidence of completing training if it is in the same trade area as your nominated occupation.
Please note that a pre-migration assessment undertaken by VETASSESS is not based on training qualifications only. Evidence of employment and a practical demonstration of skills are also required.
All applicants must submit an application for a competency profile (paper based assessment) and if successful may proceed to a practical skills assessment. A practical skills assessment is a mandatory requirement for a successful outcome.
13. What is a trade evidence form?
There is a trade evidence form for each occupation. This will help you to match your evidence to the Australian standards required for your nominated occupation. Number each item of your evidence and match each item to a group of competencies on the form. The Trade Evidence form should be submitted with your application form.
Refer to required documents.
14. Do I need to submit original or certified documents as part of my evidence?
It is preferred that you submit original documents relating to your employment and certified copies of documents relating to your personal information, training and other documentation.
Please note that neither certified copies nor original documents will be returned.
Refer to required documents.
15. Why are original documents preferred for employment?
VETASSESS will be verifying your employment documents and prefers original documents to check the integrity of the evidence received.
16. Where do I send my application?
17. How long will it take to process my application?
Self-assessment
It is very important to complete the self-assessment checklist. It will help you to understand the Australian skill requirements for the trade area. After completing the self-assessment checklist you will need to make a decision about whether to proceed with an assessment.
You can send an application when you decide that you are ready to be assessed.
Competency profile - paper-based assessment
Send the application form, an evidence, documents required and the fee to VETASSESS.
This stage will take approximately 4 weeks from the date received. If you meet the requirements you will receive a letter explaining how to proceed to the practical assessment.
Practical assessment
The practical assessment will be conducted in various facilities and locations in each of the relevant countries.
You can schedule a date to be assessed using the calendar on the website or by returning the form with the fee.
18. Will I have to pay all of the fees up front?
No. You will need to pay AUD $600 for the competency profile (paper based assessment) when you submit your application. You will have to pay the fee for practical skills assessment when you receive notification from VETASSESS that you can proceed to this stage.
19. I am turning forty-five soon. Am I still able to apply?
Applicants turning a significant age that will mean they lose points as part of their General Skilled Migration application should leave at least six months to apply to VETASSESS for a skills assessment. VETASSESS is unable to accommodate requests for a practical assessment outside of the published schedule.
Practical skills assessment
20. Will all applicants have to do a practical skill assessment?
Applicants who successfully meet the requirements of the competency profile will be able to proceed to the practical skills assessment. A practical skills assessment that includes a technical interview is a mandatory requirement for a successful outcome.
21. Where will the practical skills assessments be conducted?
Appropriate assessment facilities will be used in each country for the practical skills assessment.
Applicants will be able to schedule practical skills assessments, using a calendar of events and venues via this website or by completing the relevant form, after receiving advice from VETASSESS.
22. How often will practical skills assessments be scheduled?
Practical assessment dates will be distributed regularly over the year for each country.
23. Who will be conducting the practical skills assessment?
The person conducting your practical assessment will be a qualified trade skill assessor from Australia. Assessors from VETASSESS or RTOs that are working in a consortium with VETASSESS will conduct the practical skills assessment.
24. Will the assessment require English language skills?
Yes. All elements of the assessment will be conducted in English. Applicants will be required to read English and respond to questions in English. For further information about English language requirements for migration, please refer to Form 966i on the Department of Immigration website.
25. Can I use an interpreter during the practical assessment or technical interview?
No. English language skills are a requirement for migration.
26. What do I need to do before the practical assessment?
You will need to read the candidate guide which includes the following information
- Where do I report to on the day?
- How do I get more information?
- What will happen on the day?
- What do the practical tasks involve?
- How can I prepare for my practical assessment?
- What do I need to bring?
27. What do I have to take to a practical assessment?
You will need to take:
- admissions voucher and
-
The following ID:
- Original and current passport
- Original birth certificate and drivers licence or another form of photo ID
The relevant tools and safety equipment to undertake the practical assessment (see candidate guide).
Assessment outcomes
28.What will I get at the end of a successful assessment?
If you are successful VETASSESS will issue an assessment outcome letter that states you have met the pre-migration skills assessment requirements. This letter can be submitted to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
You will also receive the following documents depending on your nominated occupation.
Trade area Document issued
Licensed trades
- Electrician (General)
- Plumber (General)
- Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
- Technical Cable Jointer
- Electrical Linesworker
Offshore Technical Skills Record
An applicant who receives an Offshore Technical Skills Record will be eligible to gain entry level provisional licensing in the relevant trade (subject to meeting other non-trade requirements).
It will also detail the bridging training the successful applicant will need to undertake when they get to Australia.
Non-licensed trades
- Bricklayer
- Carpenter
- Joiner
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Motor Mechanic
- Diesel Mechanic
- Motorcycle Mechanic
Australian Qualification (Certificate III)
An applicant who receives a Certificate III qualification will be recognised as a tradesperson within the relevant trade area.
* These trades are licensed in many States/Territories but not all – refer to the licence matrix for more information.
29. What is an Offshore Technical Skills Record?
An Offshore Technical Skills Record will entitle the holder to an entry level provisional licence in that trade (subject to meeting any non-skill requirements). It will also detail the gap training the successful applicant will need to undertake when they get to Australia.
30. How can I find out about trade licences in particular Australian states and territories?
For further information on licences, please visit Licence Recognition website.
The website also has information on who to contact to apply for a licence. This website also allows the user to look up a licence entitlement in another state or territory, based on the currently-held licence.
For further information, you can also download the electrical trades licence matrix or plumbing trades licence matrix.
31. What will I receive if I am not successful in the assessment?
Unsuccessful applicants will receive a record of assessment that details areas where you were successful & unsuccessful in meeting the Australian Standard.
32. Where can I find more information on the requirements for migration visas?
VETASSESS is not authorised to provide information relating to visas.
For information about visas and migration visit the Department of Immigration website
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