Subclass 189 Skills Assessment: Which Authority Assesses Your Occupation?

Before you can submit an Expression of Interest for the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa, you need a positive skills assessment from the designated authority for your nominated occupation. That authority is not the same for every applicant: Australia has over 40 designated assessing bodies, each responsible for a different occupational group. Choosing the wrong one, or applying under the wrong ANZSCO code, delays your assessment and pushes back your entire Subclass 189 timeline.

This guide maps the major assessing authorities to their corresponding occupation groups, outlines current fees and processing times as of April 2026, and flags the three most common mistakes that produce a negative outcome.

Last updated: April 2026

Why Your Subclass 189 Skills Assessment Depends on Your Occupation

The Subclass 189 visa is points-tested and requires no employer or state sponsor. That makes it one of the most accessible permanent residency pathways available through Australia’s skilled migration program, but it also means the full burden of proving your qualifications falls on you from the very start.

Every occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) is assigned to a designated assessing authority by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). That body evaluates whether your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated occupation. Without a positive outcome, your Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect cannot proceed, and you cannot receive an invitation to apply for the Subclass 189 visa.

Applying to the wrong authority is not a minor inconvenience. That body will reject or void your application, and you will need to restart with the correct authority, potentially losing months of processing time. Getting this right first is the most time-efficient move you can make.

Assessing Authorities by Occupation Group

The table below maps the primary assessing authorities to the main occupation groups eligible under the Subclass 189 visa, as recognised by DHA. For occupations not listed here, verify your occupation’s assigned body against the MLTSSL on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying.

Engineers: Engineers Australia (EA)

Engineers Australia assesses all engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers. The standard migration pathway requires a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR): three career episodes and a summary statement aligned to the relevant engineering competency standards. EA offers a Migration Skills Assessment specifically for visa purposes, distinct from its professional membership pathways. If you are applying for the Subclass 189 visa, you need the migration assessment, not the membership-based one.

ICT Professionals: Australian Computer Society (ACS)

ACS assesses all ICT occupations on the skilled occupation list by evaluating your educational qualifications and work experience together. A degree with a major in computing typically requires two years of relevant post-qualification experience. An unrelated degree extends that requirement to six years. This experience deduction framework is unique to ACS and catches many applicants off guard who assume their degree alone is sufficient.

Accountants: CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA

Accounting occupations have three recognised assessing authorities: CPA Australia, CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand), and the IPA (Institute of Public Accountants). All three assess the same ANZSCO codes, so your choice should be guided by your existing professional qualifications or membership. If you have completed a CPA-accredited program, apply through CPA Australia. The assessment outcome carries equal weight regardless of which approved body issues it.

Nurses and Midwives: ANMAC

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) assesses registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and midwives through its Skilled Migration Assessment (SMA) pathway. One point that trips up many Indonesian applicants: an ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration are entirely separate processes with separate document sets and separate timelines. You need a positive ANMAC assessment to apply for the Subclass 189 visa. AHPRA registration is what you need before you can practise in Australia after you arrive. Starting both early is the right move.

Trades Workers: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)

TRA assesses most trade and technical occupations, including chefs, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and automotive technicians. TRA offers two pathways: skills assessment for migration (used for the Subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas) and recognition of overseas qualifications for trade licensing. For migration, TRA evaluates your qualifications against Australian trade certificate standards and may require a trade test if your documentation alone is insufficient to establish equivalency.

Teachers: AITSL

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) assesses teachers across all levels, from early childhood to secondary education. AITSL evaluates whether your teaching qualification is comparable to Australian standards. Your ANZSCO code, not your own classification of your role, determines which assessment type applies, so confirm your code before you lodge an application.

General Professionals: VETASSESS

VETASSESS is the largest assessing authority by occupation count, covering over 340 professional and managerial roles not assigned to a specialist body. This includes marketing specialists and public relations professionals, human resource advisers, management consultants, social workers, and hospitality managers. VETASSESS classifies occupations into groups A through F, each with different qualification thresholds. One thing worth knowing: VETASSESS assesses by ANZSCO code, not by your job title. Your employer may call you a Digital Marketing Manager, but if your ANZSCO code maps to Marketing Specialist (225113), that is the occupation VETASSESS evaluates you against.

Medical and Allied Health

Medical practitioners are assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). Allied health occupations each have their own designated body: dental professionals through the Australian Dental Council (ADC), pharmacists through the Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Program linked to the Pharmacy Board of Australia, physiotherapists through the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC), and occupational therapists through the Occupational Therapy Council (OTC) of Australia and New Zealand.

Ready to confirm your assessing authority before you invest time and money in your application? Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia to get clarity from a MARA-registered migration agent before you lodge.

What to Expect: Fees and Processing Times

Fees and processing times vary significantly across assessing authorities. The table below summarises current indicative ranges as of April 2026. Verify current fees directly with each authority before applying, as these figures are subject to change without notice.

One critical planning detail: DHA invitation rounds for the Subclass 189 visa can open and close within days. Your positive skills assessment must be in hand before you lodge your EOI through SkillSelect. Given that some assessments take up to 20 weeks, start your assessment at least six months before you intend to submit your EOI. The points test for skilled migration and your English language requirements also need to be in order by that time, so the earlier you start the assessment, the more flexibility you have.

Three Mistakes That Lead to a Negative Assessment

Mistake 1: Nominating the wrong ANZSCO code. Your skills assessment is tied to a specific ANZSCO code, and that code must match the occupation you nominate for your Subclass 189 visa. If you nominate ANZSCO 261313 (Software Engineer) but your actual work history is in technical support, ACS will assess you against an occupation your experience does not demonstrate. Confirm your correct ANZSCO code against the MLTSSL before applying for your assessment, not after.

Mistake 2: Applying to the wrong authority for multi-authority occupations. Accounting occupations can be assessed by CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA, and each has different documentation requirements and qualification thresholds. Applying to a body whose standards your credentials do not meet produces a negative outcome, even if you would have passed with a different authority. Match the authority to your existing qualifications and professional background before you lodge anything.

Mistake 3: Starting too late. Skills assessments for TRA and Engineers Australia can take 12 to 20 weeks under standard processing. If you begin your assessment only after deciding to apply for the Subclass 189 visa, you may wait months before your EOI is ready, and miss invitation rounds in the process. Start early. Your skills assessment is one of the only steps in the entire Subclass 189 process that is fully within your control.

How RACC Indonesia Can Help You

Identifying your assessing authority and ANZSCO code sounds straightforward, but a small error at this stage has significant consequences for your Subclass 189 visa application. RACC Indonesia’s consultants are MARA-registered migration agents who have guided hundreds of professionals through skills assessment preparation and the full Subclass 189 application process. We can confirm your correct ANZSCO code, identify the right assessing body for your background, review your documents before submission, and manage your EOI strategy once your positive assessment is in hand.

The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice. Your individual circumstances may differ. Consult a registered migration agent (MARA) for advice specific to your situation.

Book a consultation with RACC Indonesia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a skills assessment before submitting my EOI for the Subclass 189?

Yes. A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is a prerequisite for lodging an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect for the Subclass 189 visa. DHA will verify your assessment outcome before issuing an invitation to apply. You cannot submit your EOI without a completed assessment.

What happens if my occupation has more than one assessing authority?

Some occupations, including accounting roles, have multiple recognised authorities. You can apply through any of the approved bodies for your ANZSCO code, but choose the one whose standards align with your existing qualifications and professional membership. The outcome carries the same weight regardless of which approved body issued it.

How long does a skills assessment take in Australia?

Processing times vary by authority. ACS and ANMAC typically take 8 to 12 weeks. Engineers Australia ranges from 8 to 16 weeks. TRA can take 12 to 20 weeks for standard applications. Priority processing is available from some authorities at an additional fee. Budget at least six months from start to EOI submission.

Can I apply for the Subclass 189 visa with a negative skills assessment outcome?

No. A negative assessment disqualifies you from lodging an EOI for the Subclass 189 visa under that occupation. You can request an internal review through the assessing authority, or explore whether a different ANZSCO code you do qualify for appears on the MLTSSL. Addressing the root cause of the negative outcome is faster than attempting re-assessment without changes.

What is the difference between a skills assessment and AHPRA registration?

A skills assessment is a migration requirement confirming your qualifications meet Australian standards for visa purposes. AHPRA registration is a professional licensing requirement that allows you to practise your occupation in Australia after arrival. For nursing, you need both: ANMAC handles the skills assessment, and AHPRA handles registration. They are separate processes with separate bodies.

When should I start my skills assessment relative to my EOI submission?

Start your skills assessment at least six months before you plan to submit your EOI through SkillSelect. Some authorities take up to 20 weeks to process standard applications. If an invitation round opens before your assessment is complete, you will not be able to act on it. Your assessment is the one step in this process you can control the timing of.