When applying for migration to Australia under one of the Skilled Migration categories, you must select your occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). This is known as 'nominating' your occupation. Applicants with an occupation not listed on the SOL are unable to migrate with that occupation. You must have your qualifications assessed by the relevant authority, for that particular occupation.

Assessing you against your nominated occupation:

If you nominate as an Electrical Engineer, for example, the assessing authority is the Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEA). In Australia, Engineering is a professional occupation that requires tertiary qualification (i.e. a university degree). Your university qualifications and course content must be supplied to the IEA for assessment. Where universities in your country are not standardised in educational levels, then the IEA will rate the standard of your particular campus against the curriculum of Australian universities for the same profession. They will compare the curriculum of your campus against those offered by Australian universities for the same profession to allow a comparison of education levels.

Applicants are not normally assessed for migration on work experience. There are some however exceptions.
• If your professional training requires work experience, (e.g. nursing training) then you will be required to have that experience. This is different to the work experience required by DIMIA as part of the basic requirements of the visa. This is work experience required by the training college, as part of your qualification.

• There are some jobs where work experience is accepted instead of formal qualifications. Information Technology is one area where you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). An RPL assessment, requires you to have 6 years work experience and evidence that your knowledge has developed to professional level. Your application is not a listing of employers for the past 6 years but evidence that you have studied to bring your knowledge level up to university levels and have then used those skills for your employers.

Overseas applicants and graduate students in Australia applying for a skilled visa are assessed in most cases by the professional association for their skill. Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) and Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS) are the exceptions.

Applicants may apply to the ACS for assessment if they have a university degree with either a major or a minor in IT, graduate diploma in IT, advanced diploma in IT or graduate certificate in IT. Applicants not holding a recognised qualification in IT but with other qualifications and work experience in IT may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Physiotherapy is a registered profession in Australia with four years' university training Most overseas-qualified physiotherapists are required to take the ACOPRA examinations to meet Australian registration requirements. There is also a work experience requirement of the assessing authority.

The AIM only assesses CEOs, managers at the top level of business and regional managers who have responsibility for a staff of departmental managers. Applicants who are functional managers, as listed in the ASCO section of Skilled Occupation List (SOL), should not apply to the AIM. Currently, there is no authority assessing functional managers (e.g. 'Marketing Manager').

Overseas applicants qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer, Radiation Therapist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist or Sonographer should submit qualifications to AIR for assessment. Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Industrial Radiographers will be referred on to other assessing bodies but the AIR operates as the initial point of contact for initial for these applications.

PO Box 42
Flinders lane Post Office
Melbourne
Victoria 8009
Australia

Welfare workers from overseas have their qualifications assessed by AIWCW, who require at least a two year diploma course, and at least 3 years of professional work experience within the last 10 years.

PO Box 873
Dickson
ACT 2601
Australia

Nurses will be required to possess and demonstrate the National Nursing Competency Standards before they are granted registration in Australia. They must also demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If an overseas nurse cannot fulfil the competency standards, it will be necessary for him/her to complete a Bridging Program in Australia. This will be decided at assessment.

PO Box 269
Civic Square
ACT 2608
Australia

Applicants with a pharmacy degree from the UK, Ireland or New Zealand and having professional registration in those countries can apply for skills recognition to the APEC. These qualifications are immediately acceptable to the assessing authority and applicants are not required to sit an examination.

Applicants not in the above category need to apply for skills assessment by the APEC and sit the examination. Eligibility to take the exam is a three year degree course, and registration as a pharmacist in the country of qualification. Applicants cannot sit the examination unless they meet the eligible criteria.

As part of the Stage 1 Examination applicants' English Language ability is assessed and they are required to sit a written examination. Successful applicants may apply for migration.

On arrival in Australia, applicants are interviewed and counseled, followed by supervised practice in a pharmacy. A Stage 2 Examination, conducted in Australia only, will complete the APEC requirements and applicants may then apply for registration in Australia.

Level 11,
470 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Applicants qualified and registered as veterinarians after 5 years university study in the UK or New Zealand can apply immediately to the preferred State or Territory for registration.

Applicants not holding the above qualifications must apply to AVBC to sit the National Veterinary Examination (NVE). Eligibility to sit for the exam requires the applicants to hold a degree or diploma after completing four years of training in a recognised overseas University or college, or you must hold registration in your overseas country as a veterinarian of good standing.

To obtain a positive assessment and permission to register for practice as a veterinarian in Australia, applicants must pass the NVE.

Applicants not eligible to sit the AVE may apply to a university in Australia to complete their training.

PO Box 2005
Canberra
ACT 2601
Australia

Applicants for an Australian pilot's license must have overseas training equivalent to an Australian Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or an Australian Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). Assessment of overseas licenses is performed by CASA.

Qualifications Assessment Unit
CPA Australia
GPO Box 2820AA
Melbourne
Victoria 3001
Australia

There are two professional accounting authorities in Australia, the CPAA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA). Applicants are advised to check both websites for the required qualifications and assessment criteria, and then select the body for submission most suited to their skills.

Education Services Section
GPO Box 3921
Sydney
NSW 2001
Australia

Applicants should also visit the CPA website, as they and the ICAA form the two organisations able to assess accounting qualifications.

Engineering House
11 National Circuit
Barton
ACT 2600
Australia

The IEAust have a comprehensive kit for qualifications assessment on their website, listed above.

27-29 Napier Close
Deakin
ACT 2600
Australia

PO Box 40
Hawker
ACT 2614
Australia

GPO 1407
Canberra
ACT 2601
Australia

NOOSR have general information leaflets on skills assessment. Go to the publications page on their website .

PO Box 185
Carlton
South Victoria 3053
Australia

To qualify for assessment as an optometrist, you will require a bachelor degree. For migration assessment, contact the OCANZ for details about your eligibility.

Registrar Chiropractic and Osteopaths Registration Board of the ACT
PO Box 976
Civic Square
ACT 2608

Each state and territory has a separate assessing authority for Chiropractors and Osteopaths. Please contact the ACT Board and ask for a full list, if you know where you plan to practice in Australia.

2nd Floor,
11-19 Bank Place
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Australian Capital Territory The Secretary Legal Practitioners Admission Board
GPO Box 1548
Canberra City
ACT 2601

Each state and territory has a separate assessing authority for barristers and solicitors. Please contact the ACT Board and ask for a full list, if you know where you plan to practice in Australia.

PO Box 9879
Canberra ACT 2601

Information about trade skills and application forms for trade skills assessments for migration are available by contacting the website listed above. There is a fee to TRA to pay for assessment.

Qualifications Assessment Unit
Level 4
478 Albert Street,
East Melbourne,
Victoria 3002

Australia