Skilled Visa Assessing Authorities

A skills assessment verifies that an applicant’s qualifications and work experience align with the standards of their nominated occupation. It is a mandatory step for many Australian skilled visa applications, ensuring that applicants possess the skills necessary to contribute to Australia’s workforce.

Which Visas Require a Skills Assessment?

  • Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): Required for eligibility under points-tested and employer-sponsored streams.
  • Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): Necessary for all applicants under the points-tested stream.
  • Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Mandatory for state-nominated applicants.
  • Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485): Required under the Graduate Work Stream.
Assessing authorities
Item This expression … is short for …
1 AACA Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
2 AASW Australian Association of Social Workers Limited
2A ACECQA Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority
3 ACPSEM Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
4 ACS Australian Computer Society Incorporated
5 ACWA Australian Community Workers Association Inc
6 ADC Australian Dental Council Limited
8 AIMS Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists
9 AIQS The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
10 AITSL Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited
11 AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority
12 ANMAC Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council Limited
14 ANZSNM Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine
15 AOAC Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council Limited
16 AOPA The Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association Limited
17 APC Australian Physiotherapy Council Limited
18 APharmC Australian Pharmacy Council Ltd
19 APS The Australian Psychological Society Limited
20 ASMIRT Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
21 AVBC Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Incorporated
22 CAANZ Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
23 CASA Civil Aviation Safety Authority
24 CCEA Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia Limited
25 CPAA CPA Australia Ltd
26 DAA Dietitians Association of Australia
27 Engineers Australia The Institution of Engineers Australia
27A IML Institute of Managers and Leaders Limited
28 IPA Institute of Public Accountants Ltd
29 MedBA Medical Board of Australia
30 NAATI National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd
31 OCANZ Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand Limited
32 OTC Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
32A PodBA Podiatry Board of Australia
33 SPA The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited
34 SSSI Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute Limited
35 TRA Trades Recognition Australia
36 VETASSESS Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services