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Points Test Advice

The Points Test Advice is an opinion of:

  • the comparative educational level of your qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
  • your employment in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation in the last 10 years (please note that this does not apply to Points Test Advice applications for non-VETASSESS occupations).

The Points Test Advice will be taken into consideration by DIBP when assessing your eligibility for points. The Points Test Advice provided by VETASSESS is not binding on DIBP and DIBP may undertake further investigations to verify the qualifications and employment claims made in your application. Determination of the points remains at the discretion of the delegated officers of DIBP. A successful skills assessment from VETASSESS is not a guarantee that you will meet the Points Test requirements.

Trade applicants should apply to Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) to receive Points Test Advice.

Who can apply?

Please note that as of 1 January 2015, all VETASSESS applicants are provided with an integrated skills assessment outcome letter with Points Test Advice included. 

This section applies to clients who require one of the following:

  • you have received a Skills Assessment from a different assessing authority and have been referred to us by your skills assessing authority and/or DIBP for Points Test Advice on the educational level comparability of your overseas qualification only; or
  • you have already received a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS for your nominated occupation and wish to include additional qualifications and employment for points test purposes. Please note that if your skills assessment is expired (original issue date is outside of the last three years), please go to 'Renewal - Expired Skills Asssessment' section of our website.

How to apply

You may lodge your application online (non-VETASSESS occupations only) or by mail. Before applying, make sure you have read these important sections:

Once you are familiar with the application process, proceed to the lodgement of your application by following the link below.

FAQs

We will assess the highest qualification held (regardless of the area of study), up to postgraduate doctoral degree level. The assessment for overseas qualifications determines the definitive educational level in Australian terms. Please note that according to DIBP, points for qualifications at Master degree level can only be awarded where applicants have also completed a Bachelor degree that is assessed by the relevant skills assessing authority as being comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree level.

Applicants with non-VETASSESS occupations will be provided with a Qualifications-only assessment and are advised to contact their relevant assessing authority for Points Test Advice on their employment claims.

When assessing employment for the Points Test Advice, we require the following for a positive outcome:

  • Employment must be highly relevant to the nominated occupation, or in a closely related occupation and at an appropriate skill level for your nominated occupation
  • Employment must be full time (at least 20 hours per week)
  • Employment must be genuine and verifiable
  • Employment must be undertaken within the last ten years.

We define highly relevant employment to the nominated occupation as paid employment of at least 20 hours per week in which the major everyday tasks closely match the major tasks undertaken in the nominated occupation in Australia and are performed at an appropriate skill level for the nominated occupation in Australia.

For Points Test purposes, we apply DIBP's definition of "closely related employment" to the nominated occupation. DIBP defines closely related employment as paid employment of at least 20 hours per week in an occupation in the same Unit Group of ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) as the nominated occupation. This implies that the employment should be at the same skill level as the nominated occupation and should draw on a similar skill set and subject matter. Usually closely related employment is in the same industry. The employment must also match the lead statement in ANZSCO for the nominated occupation. VETASSESS will only count skilled employment post the Date Deemed Skilled as eligible for points test purpose.

For more information on ANZSCO skill level and unit groups please refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website.

In order to consider employment undertaken whilst completing a PhD for Points Test purposes, the employment would need to be paid, at least 20 hours per week and the tasks performed should be at the required skill level and highly relevant/closely related to the nominated occupation. PhD research tasks which are unpaid cannot be assessed for employment under the Points Test Assessment.

The documents for Points Test Advice are the same as for a Skills Assessment although employment evidence for Points Test purposes may cover positions held in the last ten years. Please see Required Documents for more information. You will need to ensure that you submit sufficient evidence for the assessor to make an assessment of your employment claims. Employment documents and claims which cannot be verified as genuine and authentic cannot be given a positive outcome.


The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has further information on their website regarding the Points Test for GSM visas.


If you are applying online you will be guided through a list of documents that will need to be attached to your application. If you are applying by mail see the list of required documents.