Last updated: 30 March 2026

Skills Assessment Fees: Cost by Assessing Body

A positive skills assessment is a mandatory step before most permanent residency in Australia applications can proceed. Each occupation is assigned to a specific assessing body, and that body’s fees, processing timelines, and what the fee covers vary significantly. This page provides a consolidated fee comparison across all major assessing authorities, so you know what to budget and what you are paying for.

Why Skills Assessment Fees Vary

Skills assessment fees differ for several reasons:

• Complexity of the assessment: Some bodies conduct a detailed document review and competency analysis; others primarily verify qualifications against a framework
• Volume of applications: High-volume bodies (like ACS and TRA) benefit from streamlined processes; lower-volume bodies with highly specialised assessments may charge more
• What the fee includes: Some fees include document storage, outcome letters in specific formats, and re-assessment provisions; others charge separately for each component
• Priority processing: All major bodies offer faster processing for a premium, which roughly doubles the standard fee in most cases

The most important point: you do not choose your assessing body based on fee preference. The designated body for your ANZSCO occupation code is assigned by the Department of Home Affairs. You pay the fee for that body regardless of cost.

Master Fee Comparison Table

Fees are approximate and change periodically. Always confirm the current fee schedule on the assessing body’s official website before submitting your application.

ACS — Australian Computer Society

Occupations: All ICT professional occupations — software engineers, developers, cybersecurity analysts, network engineers, database administrators, ICT project managers, and others in ANZSCO Major Group 2 ICT roles.

Fee schedule:

What the ACS fee covers:

• Full review of qualifications and employment evidence against your nominated ANZSCO code
• Academic degree comparability assessment
• Formal outcome letter specifying the assessed ANZSCO code and skill level
• 3-year validity from outcome date

The ACS standard processing target is 4–8 weeks from receipt of a complete application. Priority processing targets 2 weeks. Applications that require Requests for Further Information pause the processing clock.

The RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) pathway allows applicants without formal ICT qualifications to have their work experience assessed against ACS competency standards. The RPL fee is the same as the standard assessment fee but requires a substantially more detailed written submission.

For a complete guide to the ACS process, see the ACS skill assessment guide.

Engineers Australia

Occupations: All engineering occupations under ANZSCO Major Group 233 — civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, chemical, environmental, geotechnical, mining engineering, and others.

Fee schedule:

What EA charges cover:

• Full competency evaluation against the EA competency standard
• Assessment of whether your engineering degree is from a Washington Accord-recognised institution (which affects the documentation pathway)
• Formal skills assessment letter for visa purposes
• 3-year validity

Engineers Australia requires applicants to submit a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) — a structured document with career episodes, a summary statement, and a continuing professional development record. The quality of the CDR significantly affects outcomes. Graduates from Washington Accord institutions (which include most major engineering universities in the UK, USA, India, Canada, and others) can apply via a simplified pathway without full career episodes.

Standard processing is 8–12 weeks for complete applications. Priority processing is available and targets 3–4 weeks.

VETASSESS

Occupations: A broad range of professional, technical, and trade occupations that are not assessed by specialist bodies. VETASSESS is one of the largest assessing bodies by volume of occupations covered.

Professional occupations assessed by VETASSESS include roles in management, marketing, education (some), health (non-clinical), science, and many others.

Fee schedule (professional occupations):

What VETASSESS covers:

• Review of qualifications against Australian qualification frameworks
• Employment evidence review (some occupations require a two-stage process: qualifications first, then employment)
• Formal outcome letter
• 3-year validity

Some VETASSESS professional occupations require a two-stage assessment. Stage 1 evaluates qualifications; Stage 2 evaluates employment history. Both stages carry fees. If you need both stages, total costs can reach $2,000+.

VETASSESS Trade Assessments:

For trade occupations, VETASSESS operates under the TRA framework. Fee structures differ from the professional assessment schedule. Check the VETASSESS website for the current fee schedule specific to your trade occupation.

Standard processing times for VETASSESS professional assessments range from 10 to 16 weeks for complete applications. Priority processing is not universally available across all occupation categories.

ANMAC — Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council

Occupations: Registered nurses, enrolled nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, and other nursing and midwifery occupations.

Fee schedule:

What ANMAC covers:

• Verification of nursing/midwifery qualifications
• Review of clinical registration in country of training
• Assessment of programme equivalence against Australian standards
• Formal outcome letter for visa and AHPRA registration purposes

ANMAC assessments are typically required in conjunction with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) provisional registration for nurses seeking to work in Australia. The ANMAC assessment fee is separate from the AHPRA registration fee.

ANMAC requires Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 in each band or PTE 65 in each component) — higher than the 6.0 minimum required by the visa itself. Budget for this English requirement alongside the assessment fee.

Processing for ANMAC is typically 4–6 weeks for a complete application.

TRA — Trades Recognition Australia

Occupations: Qualified tradespeople — automotive, construction, electrical, electrotechnology, food trades, fabrication, and others in ANZSCO Skill Level 3 trade occupations.

Fee schedule:

What TRA covers:

• Assessment of trade qualifications and work experience against Australian trade standards
• For some trades, practical skills assessment may be required (arranged separately through a TAFE or ASQA provider)
• Formal outcome letter for visa purposes

TRA assessments for visa purposes differ slightly from trade recognition assessments used for employment. For skilled migration, you need a skills assessment outcome letter. The TRA website specifies which pathway applies for each trade occupation.

Processing is typically 4–10 weeks depending on application completeness and whether a practical assessment is required.

CPA Australia

Occupations: Accounting occupations (ANZSCO 221111 — Accountant (General), and related codes) for applicants pursuing the CPA pathway.

Fee schedule:

What CPA covers:

• Assessment of accounting qualifications against CPA Australia’s competency framework
• Verification of relevant work experience in accounting
• Formal skills assessment letter for visa purposes
• Ongoing membership integration for those pursuing the CPA designation

Accounting occupations have three designated assessing bodies — CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ), and ICAA. You can choose to apply to any of the three, but you should choose based on which aligns with your qualifications and career pathway, not just fee comparison.

NAATI — National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters

Occupations: Translators (ANZSCO 272412) and interpreters (ANZSCO 272411).

NAATI fees vary significantly by language pair, level of accreditation, and test format. NAATI does not publish a simple flat-fee schedule. Contact NAATI directly or check the current fee schedule at naati.com.au for the specific certification pathway relevant to your language pair.

NAATI also provides translation and interpreting services that applicants in other occupation groups may need for document translations — these are separate from the skills assessment service.

What Is and Is Not Included in Assessment Fees

Understanding what a fee covers matters for budgeting.

Typically included:

• One full assessment review
• Outcome letter in standard format acceptable to the Department of Home Affairs
• Access to the assessing body’s online portal for document submission
• Basic correspondence during the assessment

Typically not included:

• Priority processing (charged separately)
• Reviews or appeals of the outcome
• Additional document verification requests triggered by your application
• NAATI translation costs (you arrange and pay for translations yourself)
• Re-assessments with updated information (charged as new applications in many cases)
• Practical skills assessments (for some trade occupations, arranged via a separate testing provider)

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my skills assessment comes back unsuccessful?

If your skills assessment outcome is unsuccessful (or assessed at a different ANZSCO code than you applied for), you have options: request a review of the outcome (typically $150–$400), submit a new application with additional evidence, or reassess whether a different occupation code may produce a better outcome. Review fees are separate from the original assessment fee. A new application requires a full new fee payment. Before paying for a review, consider whether you have additional evidence that was not included in the original application — a review without new evidence rarely changes an outcome.

Do I need a skills assessment if I am applying for the 186 TRT?

For most 186 TRT applicants, a separate skills assessment is not required — your prior 482 visa and employment history serve as the skills evidence. Some occupations listed in Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations may require an assessment, but for the majority of TRT applicants, particularly in professional and technical occupations that were already assessed when the 482 was granted, no new assessment is needed. Confirm with your migration agent or the Department’s guidance for your specific occupation.

Can I use the same skills assessment for multiple visa applications?

Yes. A positive skills assessment is valid for 3 years from the date of issue and can be used for any visa application within that period — including simultaneous EOIs for the 189 and 190, a 190 and a 491, or an employer-sponsored application. You do not need a separate assessment for each visa subclass. If you transition between visa applications and your assessment expires before the new application is lodged, you will need to apply for a new assessment.