Application process for a professional or general skills application

A VETASSESS full skills assessment involves assessing your qualifications and employment against the suitability of your nominated occupation.

We assess your qualification/s against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and to determine the relevance of your qualifications for your nominated occupation. Employment assessment involves determining whether your work experience - whether in Australia or overseas - is at an appropriate skill level to your nominated occupation.

You need a positive assessment of both your qualifications and your employment for your skills assessment to be successful.

What is a highly relevant area of study? 

A highly relevant field of study is the 'major' field of your qualification that matches your nominated occupation for skills assessment purposes. It is the discipline (study area) which is assessed as suitable preparation for employment in your nominated occupation in Australia.

In order to determine whether a qualification is in a highly relevant field of study to the nominated occupation, VETASSESS considers a number of factors including (but not limited to):

• whether you hold a specialised qualification or whether your qualification has a major or whether your qualification has a major field of study which VETASSESS has identified as being suitable for the occupation in Australia
• the depth (progression) and breadth of study in the major
• the employment outcomes of the qualification in the country concerned
• course requirements - including whether any thesis work, major projects, internships/work placements were needed in order for the qualification to be achieved.

What is study at the required educational level? 

Your qualification to be assessed must be at the educational level required for your nominated occupation. Each occupation requires a specific educational level based on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Each occupation is also defined by an employment skill level. For example, the occupation of Actuary (ANZSCO Code 224111) requires an applicant to hold a formal academic qualification assessed at Australian Bachelor degree or a higher degree level.

In order to determine the educational level comparability of overseas qualifications against the AQF, the following is taken into consideration:

• the education system of the country where qualifications were obtained
• the accreditation status and recognition of the awarding institution and the program of study in the home country
• the level, structure, length and content of the program of study undertaken

Please note that we will not be assessing an Australian Graduate Diploma or comparable overseas postgraduate diploma, either alone or in combination with underpinning sub-degree qualifications, for comparability to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor degree. 

This is based on the different nature and learning outcomes of an Australian Bachelor degree compared to other qualifications on the AQF.  

Therefore, a qualification assessed at AQF Graduate Diploma level cannot be used to meet the requirements of occupations that require a minimum of an AQF Bachelor degree level.

The Postgraduate Diploma may, however, be considered for assessment against the requirements of occupations which require a qualification at AQF Diploma or Advanced Diploma/ Associate degree level.

What is highly relevant employment? 

Only full time (at least 20 hours per week) and paid employment can be considered for skills assessment purposes. The major tasks undertaken in your everyday work should closely match major tasks usually undertaken in that occupation in Australia. The employment to be assessed must also be performed at the required skill level of the nominated occupation.

Employment must be skilled

For employment to be considered 'skilled', it must meet two requirements:

• that it was undertaken after you met the entry level requirements for the nominated occupation
• that it involved your primary/ main duties being performed at the level of depth and complexity for the nominated occupation

Each ANZSCO Unit Group of occupations lists a range of tasks based on the nature of each occupation as well as the differing skill levels required. Occupation tasks may vary in terms of the scope of responsibilities, knowledge and skills required. Usually the salary will reflect the level of skill required.

Example:

The ANZSCO tasks listed for a Customer Service Manager (ANZSCO Code 149212, VETASSESS Group C Occupation classification) include supervision of staff providing customer services, developing and reviewing policies and procedures concerning customer relations, and liaising with other organisational units to enhance customer service standards.

In comparison, a Construction Project Manager (ANZSCO Code 133111, VETASSESS Group A Occupation classification) requires specialised knowledge of the construction industry and major tasks may include: interpreting architectural drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and plans; estimating costs and quantities of labour and materials; creating and implementing coordinated programs for site activities and work control systems, and ensuring adherence to building legislation and standards of building performance.

Employment must be paid

For skills assessment purposes, full time work is paid employment performed for a minimum of 20 hours per week. Irregular periods that average out to 20 hours per week over a year will not be considered. For example, if you have worked in your nominated occupation for 12 hours per week over a three-month period and then worked 40 hours per week over a seven-month period, only the seven-month period would be considered for skills assessment purposes.

Please note that unpaid / partially paid leave, volunteer services or work towards gaining professional skills and/ or qualifications will not be considered as paid employment at the required skill level of a nominated occupation for skills assessment purposes.

Leave periods

Only periods of leave on full pay may be counted as paid employment for assessment purposes.

What is pre- and post-qualification employment? 

The skill level for employment is considered to be post-qualification if the employment follows a qualification which is assessed at the required educational level for the nominated occupation. For Groups A and E, the employment must be post-qualification.

In some cases, applicants may have gained relevant employment experience prior to achieving the required qualification. If your selected occupation is classified under our authority in Groups B, C and D, pre-qualification employment may be considered for skills assessment purposes.

The criteria for pre-qualification employment include a period of “qualifying” employment preceding the required one year of highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level.

Pre-qualification employment requirements for groups B, C and D are as follows:

• Group B – five years of relevant employment required in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level in the last 5 years before applying
• Groups C and D – three years of relevant employment required in addition to at least one year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level in the last 5 years before applying.

What is Date Deemed Skilled? 

As part of the assessment process, VETASSESS will determine the date you met the skill level requirements for the nominated occupation. We will only count skilled employment post the Date Deemed Skilled as eligible for points test purposes.

The Date Deemed Skilled noted on the VETASSESS outcome letter is determined by assessing your qualifications and employment against the skills assessment criteria for your nominated occupation. For information on the criteria that applies to your selected occupation, please click here.

Once we have determined the Date that your qualifications and employment meet our criteria for the occupation, all highly relevant and/or closely related work experience after that Date and performed within the last 10 years before applying, is considered as skilled employment that is eligible for points test purposes.

Your outcome letter will state the work experience that was considered towards meeting the criteria (qualifying period) and the employment after this that can be considered towards calculation of points.

What is closely related employment? 

VETASSESS will only count skilled employment post the Date Deemed Skilled as eligible for points test purposes. In these circumstances, the claimed employment will need to be related to and at the skill level of your nominated occupation. This means that you must have undertaken closely related employment that is paid employment of at least 20 hours per week in an occupation in the same Unit Group of ANZSCO (the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) as the nominated occupation. Generally, all ANZSCO unit groups are at one skill level, which is defined as a function of the range and complexity of the set of tasks performed in a particular occupation. In addition to this, VETASSESS will also consider closely related employment that is consistent with a career advancement pathway relating to your nominated occupation. Career advancement would usually take the form of a promotion to a senior role or higher level that relates to your nominated occupation and incorporates greater responsibility.