Skill assessment for trade courses

If you just completed a certificate in any trade course such as Commercial cookery, Carpentry or Automotive you must know that a trade a Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Skills Assessment Program is an important part of the trade recognition process when migrating to Australia. It will determine if you have the skills and knowledge required to work in your occupation in Australia.

This process also allows potential migrants to explore various Australian visa options for permanent residency purposes as having your skills assessed is a requirement for skilled migration to Australia under points tested, employer-sponsored, graduate migrant and temporary graduate visas.

Assessment Process

Depending on whether you have a formal qualification in the occupation or not, you still might be eligible to apply for a Skill assessment for migration purposes. However, you must choose the best option based on your profile to avoid an unsuccessful outcome.

We have summarized the information from Vetassess which is the Australia’s largest skills assessment provider authorized by the Australian Government.

We have translated all that data into ridable content for humans (LOL) so you can clearly understand the whole process without confusion because let’s be honest, sometimes the information is all good and complete but you can get puzzled.

All skill assessment pathways have different stages and you will be moving forward if your documents and evidence is correct, depending on the occupation you could also be asked for a practical assessment to qualify your knowledge.

Pathway 1 – You don’t have an Australian qualification.

Stage 1: Documentary Evidence Assessment.

If you do not have an Australian Qualification or Occupational License and have worked in your nominated occupation for at least 12 months within the last three years, you need to provide evidence of your employment, skills and knowledge.

Your evidence must show you meet the minimum employment experience requirements for your nominated occupation:

• Licensed Trades – 6 years’ employment experience (with no formal training)
• Licensed Trades – 4 years’ employment experience (with relevant formal training)
• Non-licensed Trades – 5 years’ employment experience (with no formal training)
• Non-licensed Trades – 3 years’ employment experience (with relevant formal training)

An assessor will review the evidence such as employment certificate letters, pay slips and superannuation that you provide to check if you have sufficient employment experience required to work in your occupation in Australia.

When reviewing your evidence, the assessor will conduct checks including calling your referees to confirm your evidence is genuine.

Stage 2: Practical Assessment and/or Technical Interview

If you have successfully achieved stage 1 and you have provided sufficient evidence, you will be asked to pay the Stage 2 fee and complete a Practical Assessment and/or a Technical Interview. This fee is payable directly to Trades Recognition Australia.

All assessments are held in English and no interpreter is allowed.

During the Practical Assessment, you will complete a series of tasks while being watched by an assessor to evaluate your skills and knowledge.

In a Technical Interview, an assessor will ask you a range of questions about the skills and knowledge required to work in your occupation.

Pathway 2 – You do have an Australian qualification

Stage 1: Documentary Evidence Assessment

In case you have an Australian qualification and 3 years of full-time (or the equivalent part-time) working experience related to your occupation, you can be eligible to apply for a skill assessment pathway 2.

As part of the application process, you must provide:

• A copy of your Australian qualification (including a Statement of Results) OR your current Australian occupational license.
• Evidence you have worked in paid employment in your occupation for at least 3 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) at the skill level required.
• Evidence you have worked full-time in your occupation for 12 months in the last 3 years. For applicants in licensed trades who hold an Australian qualification, this employment must have been in Australia.

Same as pathway 1, an assessor will review the evidence such as employment certificate letters, pay slips and superannuation that you provide to check if you have sufficient employment experience required to work in your occupation in Australia.

Stage 2: Practical Assessment and/or Technical Interview

If you have provided sufficient, appropriate evidence, you will be asked to pay the Stage 2 fee and complete a Technical Interview. This fee is payable directly to Trades Recognition Australia.

In the Technical Interview, an assessor will ask you a range of questions about the skills and knowledge required to work in your occupation.

Extra tools and resources

• The Fact Sheet for your occupation provides information on the skills and knowledge you will need to demonstrate during your assessment, and we recommend reading this before starting any skill assessment process. You can find this guide here.
• The TSS Skills Assessment Program Applicant Guidelines contain detailed information about the program. You can find this guideline here.

We recommend you contact a migration expert (Just like us) to check your options and start as soon as possible with your application to avoid delays in future visas.

For instance, if you are studying a Certificate IV in commercial cookery + a diploma in hospitality management, you can start your provisional skill assessment process after the completion of your certificate IV, you don’t have to wait until you finish your diploma in hospitality to start this process as it can delay your postgraduate visa 485.

We recommend you contact a migration expert (Just like us) to check your options and start as soon as possible with your application to avoid delays in future visas.

For instance, if you are studying a Certificate IV in commercial cookery + a diploma in hospitality management, you can start your provisional skill assessment process after the completion of your certificate IV, you don’t have to wait until you finish your diploma in hospitality to start this process as it can delay your postgraduate visa 485.

Bill Mitroulas

Head of Migration at Questra Immigration. Managing and overseeing the growth and performance of Questra’s team of migration agents, while maintaining a client-centric and quality-driven approach. A registered migration agent since 2015 and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in international education and 11 years in Australian Migration law.