Engineers Australia skills assessment: requirements and how to apply

Key facts

Assessment types: Four accredited pathways (Australian qualification, Washington Accord, Sydney Accord, Dublin Accord) and the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway. The CDR pathway is for non-accredited or provisionally accredited qualifications, for assessment in an occupation different from the qualification title, and for Engineering Manager applicants.
Qualification: Minimum: a formal engineering qualification at AQF Level 6 (Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree). Accord recognition requires a fully accredited program completed in or after the year the country became a full signatory. From 1 September 2024, only Advanced Diplomas and Associate Degrees accredited by Engineers Australia can use the Australian qualification pathway.
Experience: Relevant skilled employment assessment is an optional extra service, and is mandatory for Engineering Manager. Employment means at least 20 hours a week of paid, regular work. Work before completing the qualification, PhD/MPhil research and lecturing or tutoring are not counted.
English: Required unless exempt. IELTS (General or Academic): at least 6 in each band. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan and CELPIP General are also accepted (scores in the guide). Test within 3 years before lodging. Exempt: certain Australian study (92+ weeks, AQF 6+, CRICOS) and UK, US, Canadian, NZ and Irish passport holders.
Main documents: Passport bio-data page, photo, detailed CV, English test evidence (unless exempt), degree certificate and transcripts (with translations if needed). The CDR pathway also needs three career episodes, a summary statement and a CPD statement.
Fee: As listed for 2026-27 (page updated 2 July 2026), incl. GST: Australian accredited qualification AUD 346.50; International Accords AUD 555.50; CDR AUD 1,034. Employment review, PhD assessment, fast track (AUD 396), review (AUD 368.50) and appeal (AUD 704) cost extra.
Processing time: Standard applications generally take 15 weeks to be assigned to an assessor. This is not the time to an outcome. Fast track applications are assigned to an assessor within 20 business days.
Validity: The outcome letter is valid for an indefinite period with Engineers Australia. Home Affairs sets how long it is valid for visa applications. An updated outcome letter service is typically available if the outcome was issued more than three years ago.
How to apply: Create an account in the Engineers Australia portal, log in, select migration skills assessment, choose an assessment pathway, upload documents and submit. An email confirms submission.

What Engineers Australia assesses

The Institution of Engineers Australia (Engineers Australia) is authorised by the Department of Home Affairs to assess the qualifications, skills and experience of engineers who want to migrate to Australia. Its migration skills assessment page says an outcome letter from Engineers Australia is needed before applying for a visa. A successful outcome names an occupational category (Professional engineer, Engineering technologist, Engineering associate or Engineering manager) and an engineering occupation. Engineers Australia does not award migration points. Home Affairs does that.

Assessment pathways

Australian qualification: a program accredited by Engineers Australia, started during or after the year accreditation began (source).
Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords: a fully accredited qualification from a full signatory country, completed in or after the year that country joined. French CTI degrees can use the Washington Accord (source).
Competency Demonstration Report (CDR): for non-accredited or provisionally accredited qualifications, a different occupation from the degree title, or Engineering Manager applicants. The CDR dropdown currently lists 31 engineering occupations (source).

Requirements

Qualification: the minimum is AQF Level 6 (Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree) (guide).
English: IELTS minimum 6 in each band, or another accepted test, taken within three years before lodging, unless an exemption applies (guide).
Employment: a relevant skilled employment assessment can be added. It is mandatory for Engineering Manager and needs a reference letter plus government-issued secondary evidence (guide).
Ethics: plagiarism, fake documents or misleading information can lead to rejection and a 12, 24 or 36-month ban (guide).

How to apply

Check the qualification and choose a pathway. The International Engineering Alliance qualification checker shows Accord accreditation.
Read the Prepare your migration skills assessment application guide and gather the documents.
Create an account in the Engineers Australia portal.
Log in, select migration skills assessment, choose the pathway, upload documents and submit.
Engineers Australia emails the outcome. Status can be checked in the portal.

Common reasons for delays or unsuitable outcomes

Engineers Australia says processing time depends on the quality of documents and whether it needs more information (source). If gaps are found, there is one 30-day opportunity to address them. Incomplete or misleading information results in an unsuccessful outcome (guide).

Common questions

What does Engineers Australia assess?

Engineers Australia assesses the qualifications, skills and experience of engineers for skilled migration. It is authorised by the Department of Home Affairs to do this. Outcomes fall into one of four occupational categories: Professional engineer, Engineering technologist, Engineering associate or Engineering manager.

How long does an Engineers Australia skills assessment take?

Engineers Australia says standard applications generally take 15 weeks to be assigned to an assessor. This is not the time to an outcome. With the paid fast track service, applications are assigned within 20 business days.

How much does an Engineers Australia skills assessment cost?

The 2026-27 fees on the Engineers Australia site, incl. GST, are AUD 346.50 for an Australian accredited qualification, AUD 555.50 for an International Accords qualification and AUD 1,034 for a CDR assessment. Employment and PhD assessments are extra. See the fees page:

How long is an Engineers Australia skills assessment valid?

Engineers Australia says its outcome letter is valid for an indefinite period with Engineers Australia. The Department of Home Affairs decides how long it is valid for visa applications.

What is a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)?

A CDR is the Engineers Australia pathway for people whose qualification is not accredited or is only provisionally accredited, who want an occupation different from their degree title, or who are applying as an Engineering Manager. It includes three career episodes, a summary statement and a CPD statement.

What English test score does Engineers Australia need?

For IELTS, Engineers Australia lists a minimum of 6 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking. It also accepts TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan English Test and CELPIP General. Test within 3 years before lodging. Some applicants are exempt.

Engineers Australia skills assessment