Ptlabs Consulting

Overview of Engineering Skilled Migration

Australian skilled visas - The first step: Skills Assessments
Applicants for an Australian skilled permanent visa generally will need to show evidence that a suitable skills assessment has been obtained. For some applicants like overseas students studying in Australia, different rules may apply, but by and large most independent applicants must have gone through a relevant skills assessment before applying for a skilled visa.

For engineering professionals, a skills assessment should be lodged with Engineers Australia (also known as the Institution of Engineers Australia, IEAust).

Ptlabs Consulting has extensive experience and expertise in assisting and advising clients who are applying for a skills assessment with Engineers Australia.


Engineers Australia skills assessments
There are two pathways towards an Engineers Australia skills assessment:
• Applicants with an accredited qualification: Australian, Washington Accord or Sydney Accord qualifications.
• Applicants with a non-accredited qualification: Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).

Accredited Qualifications
Engineers Australia recognises the following bachelor's level engineering degrees:
• Australian Bachelor of Engineering degrees awarded by an Australian university.
• Washington Accord for Professional Engineering degrees.
• Sydney Accord for Engineering Technologist degrees.

Washington Accord Pathway
The Washington Accord is an international agreement which allows signatories to recognise professional engineering degrees accredited by each signatory member. The signatory countries are:
• Australia
• Canada
• Chinese Taipei (from 2007)
• Hong Kong SAR (from 1995)
• Ireland
• Japan (from 2005)
• Korea (from 2007)
• Malaysia (from 2009)
• New Zealand
• Singapore (from 2006)
• South Africa (from 1999)
• United Kingdom
• United States

Sydney Accord Pathway
The Sydney Accord is an international agreement which allows signatories to recognise engineering technologist degrees accredited by each signatory member. The signatory countries are:
• Australia
• Canada
• Hong Kong SAR
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
• United States

If you hold a bachelor of engineering degree which is recognised under the Washington Accord or Sydney Accord, you will generally be eligible for a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia.

Competency Demonstration Report Pathway
If you hold a bachelor of engineering degree from a university outside of the Washington Accord or Sydney Accord, you will need to do a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) as part of your skills assessment application to Engineers Australia. Note that you will still be required to do a CDR even if you hold a master of engineering degree from a Washington/Sydney Accord country as long as your bachelor of engineering degree is from a non-Washington/Sydney Accord country.

Initial Assessment Service
If you would like to get an initial assessment on your eligibility for an Engineers Australia skills assessment, please use our Assessment tool.