Demystifying 'not elsewhere classified' occupations

We understand that applying under the ‘nec’ category can feel daunting for some applicants. It is, therefore, better to understand the category before submitting your application.

Here are our top six tips for applying for an ‘nec’ occupation:

• If nominating an ‘nec’ category, you must ensure that your qualifications and employment are highly relevant to one of the occupation titles listed in the ANZSCO description for the particular occupation.
• Other unique and specific occupation titles that cannot be found listed elsewhere in ANZSCO are also considered on a case-by-case basis as long as they are specialised and related to its ANZSCO Unit Group description.
• Your employment in these nominated occupations should not better match another ANZSCO code - whether or not it is assessed by VETASSESS.
• When considering whether to nominate an ‘nec’ occupation, you should review the ANZSCO Sub-Major Group description and determine whether your skills best fit this category.
• You need to provide a cover letter that justifies the rationale for choosing an ‘nec’ category.
• You should also provide details of any relevant training or professional development courses undertaken in your specialised field. You can provide this information in your Curriculum Vitae/Resume.

When assessing ‘nec’ applications we conduct a case-by-case assessment to determine whether the employment can be considered highly relevant to the classification.

To understand the application of the ‘nec’ category, consider the following example. If your role is focused on the procurement function of an organisation and largely aligns with the skill level expectations as well as the ANZSCO Minor Group description of 224 Information and Organisation Professionals, you may be able to apply as a Procurement Specialist, which is a specialisation listed under the occupation of 224999 Information and Organisation Professionals nec.

However, bear in mind that Procurement Specialist should not be confused with Procurement Manager, Supply and Distribution Managers, and the various Supply and Logistics Clerks such as Production Clerk, Purchasing Officer, Stock Clerk, Warehouse Administrator and Order Clerk. These occupations are listed separately in ANZSCO and differ in skill level and overall scope of responsibilities.

If your employment is highly relevant to another ANZSCO occupation, that period of employment cannot be assessed suitably against an ‘nec’ classification, regardless of whether or not the occupation is available for migration purposes.

That’s why it is important to be sure that selecting the ‘nec’ category is right for you.

Skills Assessment Support Services

Finally, if you are unsure about any aspect of the skills assessment process, we can discuss your individual circumstances through our Skills Assessment Support Services.

This service provides tailored information via a 30-minute phone consultation about the VETASSESS Skills Assessment criteria for professional occupational classifications. It can support you to understand the documentation requirements and the assessment criteria that apply to an occupation. You can find out more about this service here.

By Divya Bahukhandi

Divya Bahukhandi is the Team Leader for Business and Finance industry group of VETASSESS. She has extensive experience in business management, product development and skills assessment.