Find out how to apply
If you are eligible for a Pathway 2 Trade Skills Assessment, you can apply online.
Read the guides and fact sheet
The Fact Sheet for your occupation provides information on the skills and knowledge you will need to demonstrate during your assessment. The Stage 2 Assessment Guide for your occupation provides information on what will happen during your Technical Interview. For information on what evidence you need to include with your application, download the Evidence Guide. The Pathway 2 Candidate Guide explains more about the assessment process.
Apply, provide evidence and pay Stage 1 fee
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 licence. Refer to Frequently Asked Questions on this page to see what qualifications and licences are accepted - you must submit an accepted qualification/licence at the time of application.
- 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, and for Australian occupational licence holders – in Australia or New Zealand.
For more information regarding the employment experience requirements for a Pathway 2 application, please refer to the Pathway 2 Candidate Guide.
After you have uploaded all relevant and verifiable evidence, you will pay for the first stage of the assessment. You will be required to submit payment directly to Trades Recognition Australia.
Stage 1: Documentary Evidence Assessment
An assessor will review the evidence you provide to check you have sufficient employment experience and your Australian qualification or occupational licence meets the Pathway 2 requirements.
When reviewing your evidence, the assessor will conduct checks including calling your referees to confirm your evidence is genuine. Therefore you must make sure you provide us with current contact details.
Stage 2: 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.
All assessments are held in English and no interpreter is allowed.
Receive your assessment outcome
If your Pathway 2 Assessment is successful, you will receive:
- a Successful Assessment Outcome Letter.
If your Pathway 2 Assessment is unsuccessful, you will receive:
- an Unsuccessful Assessment Outcome Letter.
Explore FAQs
Please refer to the Offshore Technical Skills Record Information Sheet.
USI stands for Unique Student Identifier. It is your individual education number and gives you an online record of your training and assessment undertaken in Australia.
VETASSESS collects USI details as part of the enrolment process if;
- You are applying for Pathway 1 Offshore Skills Assessment Program or TSS Skills Assessment Program
- You are going to undertake your assessment in Australia
The USI records Units of Competency completed against a National Recognised Training qualification or Statement of Attainment.
It is important to note that an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) does not form part of National Recognised Training qualification documentation but rather provides a pathway to obtain a qualification. As such, we will only be able to record your OTSR results against your USI when issuing you a qualification.
Please refer to the Pathway 2 Candidate Guide for a list of accepted Australian qualifications for each occupation assessed by VETASSESS.
You must provide one of the accepted qualifications listed for your nominated occupation at the time of application. If you do not provide an accepted qualification (or if you provide a qualification listed for an occupation different to the occupation you are applying for) at the time of application, you will receive a negative outcome and no refund will apply.
If you are currently licensed or registered to work as an electrician, plumber or refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic in Australia, you may be eligible to apply to be assessed under Pathway 2.
For more information regarding the employment experience requirements for a Pathway 1 application, please refer to the Pathway 1 Employment Experience Guidelines.
Find more about our processing times here.
Find out more information on our refund policy here.