A positive skills assessment is the first real gate to Australian PR.
Six different authorities, six different fee structures, six different document standards — and you don't get to choose which one assesses you. This guide compares them side by side, in plain language, verified against official authority sources. From Uniallies Immigration & Education Services.
Quick Snapshot
What is a skills assessment, in plain terms?
A skills assessment is a formal check by an Australian government-appointed authority. It confirms that your qualifications and work experience genuinely match your nominated occupation, to the standard Australia expects. You do not choose the authority — your occupation code decides it for you. A positive outcome is required before you can submit an Expression of Interest for most points-tested skilled visas, including Subclass 189, 190, and 491.
It protects the applicant too
A positive assessment means your occupation claim will hold up later in the visa process — reducing the risk of a refusal built on a mismatch nobody caught early.
It's occupation-specific, not general
The same person can get different outcomes for different nominated occupations. Matching your actual job duties to the right ANZSCO code matters more than your job title.
It's a real bottleneck, not a formality
Incomplete files, vague reference letters, and occupation mismatches are the leading causes of delay or a negative outcome — all preventable with the right preparation.
Which authority assesses your occupation?
All figures below are indicative ranges for budgeting purposes. Every authority reprices periodically — always confirm the exact current fee on the authority's own site before you pay anything.
| Authority | Covers | Fee (Indicative, AUD) | Processing Time | Typical Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VETASSESS | 350+ professional, managerial & general occupations, plus some trades | ~$1,050–$1,100 | 6–12 weeks (priority ~10 business days) | 3 years |
| ACS | All ICT occupations — software engineers, analysts, developers, network professionals | ~$530–$600 | 6–12 weeks | 2 years |
| Engineers Australia | All engineering disciplines, via CDR or streamlined pathway | ~$1,000–$1,200 | 8–16 weeks | Long-term (reconfirm per visa) |
| CPA Australia / CA ANZ | Accountant, Auditor, Management Accountant, Taxation Accountant | ~$500–$600 | 8–12 weeks | ~3 years |
| TRA | Trade occupations — electricians, chefs, mechanics, and more | ~$900–$3,410 | ~120 days; Job Ready Program 12–18 months | ~3 years |
| ANMAC | Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse, Midwife | Varies | Longest pathway — includes exams & supervised practice | Case-by-case |
Figures compiled from multiple recent industry sources and cross-checked where possible against official authority pages. Treat every number here as a planning estimate, not a quote.
Processing time & cost, visualised
Two questions decide most of your planning: how long will this take, and what should I budget?
TRA's Job Ready Program runs far longer still — 12 to 18 months — and is a different process from a document-based assessment.
Onshore applicants generally pay an extra 10% GST on top of these figures; most offshore applicants are exempt.
Illustrative breakdown based on commonly reported rejection patterns across authorities — not an official statistic from any single authority.
The three most common authorities, explained
Australian Computer Society (ACS)
ACS is the only body that assesses ICT occupations — software engineers, developers, analysts, database administrators, and network professionals.
- Your ICT-major qualification generally needs at least 65% ICT content for a major, or 50% for a minor.
- ACS deducts a set number of years from your experience depending on how closely your qualification matches your nominated occupation.
- An RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) pathway exists for applicants without a formal ICT qualification but strong work experience.
Engineers Australia
Assesses all engineering disciplines. Applicants from Washington Accord signatory countries often get a streamlined path; others must submit a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).
- A CDR includes three Career Episodes and a Summary Statement mapping your work to Engineers Australia's competency standards.
- Write in first person about your own contributions — assessors need to see what you personally did, not your team.
- Plagiarism detection software is used; a copied CDR results in rejection and a ban on reapplying for a period.
VETASSESS
Assesses the widest range of occupations of any authority — over 350, spanning HR, marketing, social work, hospitality, education, and many more.
- Compares your qualification against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and separately assesses your employment evidence.
- Priority processing is available for a significant extra fee — only worth it if your timeline genuinely requires it.
- Matching your actual job duties to the exact ANZSCO description matters more than your job title.
How Uniallies prepares your application
Initial eligibility review
We review your qualifications, occupation, and professional background to identify the correct assessing authority for your profile.
Detailed documentation review
Academic transcripts, employment references, payslips, contracts, job descriptions, your CV, and identity documents are all reviewed together for consistency.
Strategy discussion with you
We walk through your profile's strengths and gaps honestly, and agree on the most appropriate submission strategy before anything is lodged.
Application preparation & submission
Once your documents are finalised, we prepare and submit a structured application to the correct authority.
Follow-up support
We help you respond to any request for further information the authority raises during processing.
A document-level checklist assessors actually apply
Most negative outcomes trace back to a small, fixable gap — not a fundamental ineligibility. This checklist closes the common ones.
Match duties to the exact ANZSCO description
A job title alone proves nothing. Reference letters need to describe duties that clearly map onto the specific occupation code you're nominating.
Put every reference on letterhead, signed
"John worked here from 2018–2024" is not enough. Letters need dates, hours, duties, and a named, contactable signatory on official letterhead.
Lodge a complete file the first time
Several authorities won't accept extra documents once assessment has started, and the processing clock often only starts once your file is confirmed complete.
Have a backup plan for missing employer references
If a past employer has closed or gone silent, prepare alternative evidence early: tax records, payslips, or a statutory declaration explaining the gap.
Never copy CDR or written content
Engineers Australia and other authorities actively run plagiarism checks. Write your own account, in your own words, of what you personally did.
Budget the GST correctly if you're onshore
Most authorities add 10% GST for applicants already in Australia. Confirm your final cost based on your actual location before you commit.
A negative outcome is not the end of the road
Most authorities offer an internal review, followed by an independent appeal, typically within a 28 to 90 day window depending on the authority.
Internal review
A re-examination of your original file by the same authority — generally the fastest and least expensive option, where available.
Independent appeal
An external body reviews the decision. Fees are higher than a standard review and outcomes take longer, but it's a genuine second opinion.
Alternative routes
Nominating a related occupation, completing a bridging course, gaining more experience, or exploring an employer-sponsored pathway can all be valid next steps.
Your skills assessment roadmap
The realistic sequence from identifying your occupation code to holding a positive outcome ready for your Expression of Interest.
Identify your correct ANZSCO code
Match your actual day-to-day duties — not your job title — to the closest official occupation description before choosing anything else.
Confirm your assessing authority
Your occupation code determines this automatically. Check the authority's own occupation list to be certain before you pay any fee.
Gather qualification & employment evidence
Certified transcripts, detailed reference letters on letterhead, payslips, and contracts — collected before you start the application, not during it.
Submit a complete application
Pay the required fee and lodge every document together where possible, since incomplete files are the most common cause of delay.
Respond quickly to any request for more information
Authorities often set a firm deadline for additional evidence — missing it can mean starting over.
Receive your outcome and check its validity window
Note the exact validity period on your outcome letter, since it varies by authority and occupation.
Use your positive assessment in your Expression of Interest
A positive outcome supports your points claim and unlocks EOI submission for 189, 190, 491, or an employer-sponsored pathway.
Recent authority & policy updates
ANMAC fees rise ~15%
Nursing and midwifery assessment fees increased and have since held steady.
VETASSESS rolls out a new fee structure
Standard and priority processing fees were restructured — confirm the current schedule directly on the VETASSESS website before budgeting.
TRA pauses OSAP & TSS registrations
Trades Recognition Australia temporarily paused new Offshore Skills Assessment Program and Temporary Skill Shortage registrations — check TRA's site for the current status before planning a trade pathway around it.
CPA Australia discontinues two services
The "skills assessment update and skilled employment assessment" service and related appeals were discontinued; the combined qualification-and-employment assessment remains available.
Skills assessment FAQs
It depends on your ANZSCO occupation code, not your choice. ACS handles all ICT occupations, Engineers Australia handles engineering, VETASSESS handles most other professional and general occupations plus some trades, TRA handles most trades, ANMAC handles nursing and midwifery, and CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants ANZ handle accounting.
Roughly AUD $500 to over $2,000 depending on the authority and pathway. ACS and CPA Australia tend to be the least expensive; VETASSESS and Engineers Australia sit in the middle; trade pathways through TRA, especially the Job Ready Program, cost the most.
Most professional assessments take 6 to 12 weeks. Engineers Australia's CDR pathway can take 8 to 16 weeks. Trade assessments through TRA can take around 120 days, or 12 to 18 months for the full Job Ready Program.
Typically 2 to 3 years, but this varies by authority and occupation. VETASSESS outcomes are generally valid for 3 years and ACS outcomes for 2 years — always check the specific date on your own outcome letter.
Get your documents reviewed before you pay any assessment fee
Uniallies Immigration & Education Services checks your qualifications, employment evidence, and occupation match against what assessors actually look for — before submission, not after a negative outcome.