National

The Australian Government Department of Education advice states the reason for the need for the overseas qualification to be assessed determines which organisation needs to be contacted:

• To migrate to Australia - contact the Department of Home Affairs
• For specific occupations - contact the authorities responsible for these occupations
• For general purposes - Australian citizens or permanent residents looking for a job with no specific requirements as above, contact an Australian state of territory government Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) for assessment.
• For those referred by a state/territory OQU, residents of NSW and where there are no registration, licensing, professional membership or industry requirements for their occupation, the department offers a qualification assessment service. The assessment is a guide to the level of an overseas postsecondary qualification in terms of a qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework. The assessments attract a fee and can take up to three months.

For information about studying in Australia on campus, on campus in Australia with an online start, studying in the home country online, or on campus in the home country – see the Study Australia website.

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skills assessment service provider specialising in assessments for people with trade skills gained overseas or in Australia, for the purpose of migration and skills recognition.

VETASSESS is migrant skills recognition service authorised by the Australian government that assesses 32 trade occupations and more than 350 professional occupations from various industries.

New South Wales 

New South Wales does not have an Overseas Qualifications Unit. Residents of New South Wales can access assessments are that are for general purposes only from the Australian Government Department of Education. The qualification assessment is a guide to the level of an overseas postsecondary qualification in terms of a qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework. Recognition of trade skills for people who have trade skills and experience but have never completed an apprenticeship or obtained formal qualifications in Australia can be obtained by applying to the Commissioner for Vocational Training for a Certificate of Proficiency after undertaking gap training with a training provider.

Victoria 

The Victorian government Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) offers free and confidential assessment services to have qualifications recognised in Australia for people living permanently in Victoria. The overseas qualifications assessments can be used for general employment purposes only – if the job doesn’t require registration, licensing, professional membership or other industry requirements. The Unit also helps employers, educational institutions and other organisations interpret overseas education and qualifications for their potential employees and students.

Queensland 

The Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Skills Overseas Qualification Unit provides a free general academic assessment that gives an indication of the general educational comparability in Australian terms. The assessment can assist people with higher level vocational qualifications and university qualifications. The Queensland government's overseas skills recognition page provides further information on trade skills recognition, recognition of prior learning, and licencing.

South Australia 

Recognition of Qualifications assessments for general employment purposes only – if the job doesn’t require registration, licensing, professional membership or other industry requirements - can be obtained from Skilled & Business Migration. The Skilled Migrant Trade Recognition Pathway Program, designed to support electricians, plumbers or a refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic issued an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) gain the compulsory Australian skills gap training required to get a full workers licence, is also offered by Skilled & Business Migration.

Western Australia 

The Government of Western Australia Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) assesses eligible qualifications gained overseas to determine their comparability with Australian standards. The OQU can assess post-secondary qualifications including formal technical and vocational qualifications (certificate IV and above); and formal higher education qualifications (bachelor degree and above). This free service is only available to Western Australian residents.

Tasmania 

The Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) assess the equivalent level in respect to Australian standards against the Australian Qualifications Framework. TASC cannot assess subject equivalency. There is no cost for this service. However, the applicant must be a resident in Tasmania and hold Australian citizenship or a visa with work rights. TASC cannot assess trade qualifications, membership of, or registration with, a professional body or industry association, industry or professional licences, tickets or cards, qualifications where professional licensing or registration requirements require assessment of overseas qualifications by an industry specific body, or qualifications for the purpose of university entry.

Northern Territory 

The Darwin-based Skills Recognition Centre hosts the Northern Territory’s Overseas Qualification Unit (OQU). The Unit offers free and confidential overseas qualification assessments for Northern Territory residents. The assessments provide a guide to the level of an overseas qualification in comparison to a qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework. Overseas qualification assessments can only be used for general employment purposes – if your job does not require licensing, registration, professional membership or other industry requirements.

Australian Capital Territory 

The Office for Multicultural Affairs provides free online assessments of overseas higher education qualifications for an Australian citizen, permanent resident or asylum seeker living in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The assessment compares an overseas qualification to an Australian qualification, using the Australian Qualifications Framework and is only for higher education qualifications that are listed in the Australian Government's Department of Education Profiles. ACT residents can access Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), a skills assessment service provider specialising in assessments for people with trade skills gained overseas or in Australia, for the purpose of migration and skills recognition.