Australian Immigration Daily News

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. There are currently three options available for migrants, to access detailed program information or to progress a TRA application.

1)    TSS Skills Assessment

The TSS Skills Assessment Program is an assessment pathway for applicants applying for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, who: 

• work in a nominated occupation and hold a passport from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR)
• are required by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) to have a skills assessment for temporary migration.

A skills assessment determines if an applicant has the skills and experience necessary to work in Australia at the trade level for the occupation. 

In addition, there are two skills assessment pathways available under the TSS Skills Assessment Program: 

Pathway 1 is for applicants that do not hold an Australian qualification in their trade. Skills assessments are conducted against the requirements of the relevant training package qualification for the nominated occupation. The Pathway 1 assessment process consists of four steps that must be completed sequentially. 

Pathway 2 is for applicants who hold a:

• relevant Australian VET qualification; or 

• current identified Australian occupational licence.

2)    Off-shore Skills Assessment 

The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is for applicants applying for a skilled migration visa (excluding 485 or TSS visas). This assessment is compulsory for applicants from the nominated countries, Special Administrative Regions (SARs) and occupations listed on TRA’s website. 

It is also compulsory for applicants in the following licensed occupations regardless of their country of origin: 

• Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
• Electrician (General),
• Electrician (Special Class),
• Plumber (General).

The OSAP is also available for applicants choosing to undertake a skills assessment in a non-licenced nominated occupation who can travel to Australia or a nominated country for a skills assessment. 

As with TSS Skills Assessment, OSAP has two pathways. 

Pathway 1 is for applicants who do not hold an Australian qualification in their trade. Skills assessments are conducted against the requirements of the relevant training package qualification for the nominated occupation. 

The Pathway 1 assessment process consists of four steps that must be completed sequentially. 

Pathway 2 is for applicants who hold a:

• relevant Australian qualification; or 

• current identified Australian occupational licence.

In addition to the qualification, the applicant must be able to demonstrate work experience of at least three years full-time employment in a directly related occupation. This must include 12 months full-time paid employment in the nominated occupation in the three years prior to lodging your application. For applicants applying with a current identified Australian occupational licence, the 12 months full-time paid employment must be in Australia. 

3)    Migration Skills Assessment 

The Migration Skills Assessment Program (MSA) is for applicants applying for a permanent skilled migration visa in occupations and countries not covered by Registered Training Organisations (RTO) approved by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). 

It is a paper based skills assessment of qualification/s and employment history to determine comparability with Australian standards for a skilled worker in the nominated occupation. 

The MSA program is for migration purposes only. A successful MSA outcome does not result in the awarding of an Australian qualification and cannot be used for employment, licensing or qualification recognition purposes. 

Important Changes to TRA Skills Assessment Programmes 

From 27 March 2018, TRA requires all applicants applying for a skills assessment in one of the following licensed occupations: 

• Airconditioning Refrigeration Mechanic
• Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class)
• Plumber (General)

The above occupations must be assessed by a TRA-approved RTO through the OSAP.

In addition to the standard requirements.  TRA may request photos and videos of the applicant performing the work in the nominated occupation.

For further information, refer to https://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/programs-migration-skills-assessment/guidelines