Skills assessment

A skills assessment is an evaluation conducted by a designated government-approved assessing authority to determine whether an applicant's qualifications and work experience are at the level required to practise in a nominated occupation in Australia.

The assessment is occupation-specific. Each occupation on the skilled occupation lists has a designated assessing authority — for example, Engineers Australia for engineering occupations, VETASSESS for many trade and professional occupations, and the Australian Computer Society for ICT roles.

A skills assessment results in one of three outcomes:

• Positive: The applicant's qualifications and/or experience meet the required standard for the nominated occupation.
• Negative: The qualifications and/or experience do not meet the required standard.
• Further assessment required: Additional documentation or assessment is needed before a decision can be made.

Only a positive skills assessment satisfies the requirement in cl 189.211(e).

A positive skills assessment is required before an applicant can submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect for the Subclass 189, Subclass 190, or Subclass 491.

The skills assessment must be for the specific nominated occupation, not a related occupation. Under r 2.72, employment points are awarded for work in the nominated occupation or a closely related occupation — but the skills assessment criterion requires assessment for the nominated occupation specifically.

Skills assessments are conducted by the assessing authority, not by the Department of Home Affairs. The Department does not reassess skills — it accepts the assessing authority's outcome. A negative skills assessment cannot be remedied by submitting additional documents to the Department.