Employment matching skills assessment
When employment must match an applicant’s skills assessment to meet minimum requirements or claim priority attributes, the role must fall within the same three-digit ANZSCO Group as the skills assessment they are using to meet the subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa requirements (the one they have nominated in their Skillselect EOI). Skills assessments for other visa pathways such as TSS, labour agreements or DAMAs cannot be used.
All skills assessments are currently based upon ANZSCO classifications, and these are used to assess relationships between skills assessment and employment or study.
For example:
A skills assessment for Analyst Programmer (261311) is relevant to any role listed as part of ANZSCO Group 261 Business and Systems Analysts, and Programmers, such as Web Developer (261212) or Cyber Security Engineer (261315).
For the Tasmanian Skilled Graduate pathway there should be at least a 40 per cent match between the duties of your role and the duties listed for an occupation in the three-digit ANZSCO group.
For all other pathways there should be at least a 70 per cent match between the duties of your role and the duties listed for an occupation in the three-digit ANZSCO group.
Study work placements are not recognised as employment for this requirement.
Employment gained before being awarded the relevant skills assessment or gaining qualifications can be counted in total experience.
Massage therapists
From 1 December 2026, massage therapy employment will only be recognised as matching a Massage Therapist skills assessment or related to a course of study if the work is being performed in a health, allied health or aged / disability care setting.
From this date, prior employment experience outside of these settings will be acknowledged if the applicant is working in a health, allied health or aged / disability care setting at the time they submit their ROI.
Motor mechanics / service technicians
Motor mechanics / service technicians
From 1 December 2026, employment as a motor mechanic will only be recognised as matching a Motor Mechanic skills assessment or related to a course of study if the employer's main business is the repairing of vehicles. This includes all skills assessments in ANZSCO Group 321 (Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Motorcycle Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic).
The experience will not be recognised if the employer, or an associated business, routinely buys and sells used vehicles, unless they are a currently authorised dealer for a recognised vehicle manufacturer and the applicant’s work primarily involves diagnosing and repairing that manufacturer's vehicles for customers.
Employment as an auto service technician will not be recognised as matching skills assessments in ANZSCO Group 321 (Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Motorcycle Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic) unless the employer is a currently authorised dealer for a recognised vehicle manufacturer and the role primarily involves servicing that manufacturer's vehicles for customers.
Roles in sales or new or used vehicle preparation will not be recognised.
Applicants may be asked to provide proof of the role they are performing, such as manufacturer accreditation or training certificates customer invoices / service records naming the applicant or diagnostic reports naming the applicant.
Where an employer, or an associated business, engages in the leasing of vehicles to customers, the applicant will by default be treated as a service technician, unless the applicant provides compelling evidence that their role primarily involves diagnosing and repairing vehicle faults rather than servicing or preparing leased vehicles.
This requirement will apply to all applications made on or after 1 December 2026 regardless of when the registration of interest was submitted.
From this date, prior auto-related employment experience outside of these settings may be acknowledged if the applicant was working in one of the recognised settings at the time they submitted their ROI.
Employment related to Tasmanian study
To claim Gold, Green and Orange-plus priority attributes, the course of study must be directly related to the employment role. This means that a substantial proportion of the individual units of study in a course must have a clear and meaningful connection to the role and be applied in practice as a significant proportion of the employee’s duties, rather than being used occasionally.
For other orange priority attributes there is more flexibility. Roles within the same industry area are accepted.
A relationship between area of study and employment can be shown by supplying a role description or relevant job advertisement demonstrating that the role requires the qualification you gained.
Employment gained before completing qualifications can be counted in total experience.
Examples:
- Certificate III/IV in Building in Construction would be related to a skilled roof or floor tiler role only if the course included individual units related to roof or floor tiling.
- A Bachelor of Social Work would be related to a role that was advertised as requiring that qualification.
- A Bachelor of Commerce would not be considered related to a role in retail sales.
- A Diploma of Community Services would not be directly related to aged or disability care unless aged or disability care specific units were completed as part of the course.
- A Master of Business Administration would not be related to store manager of a retail or fast-food outlet, unless there is clear evidence of substantial strategic-level responsibility, including financial oversight, human resource management, cost control, marketing strategy, and operational optimisation.
Massage therapists
From 1 December 2026, massage therapy employment will only be recognised as matching a Massage Therapist skills assessment or related to a course of study if the work is being performed in a health, allied health or aged / disability care setting.
From this date, prior employment experience outside of these settings will be acknowledged if the applicant is working in a health, allied health or aged / disability care setting at the time they submit their ROI.
Motor mechanics / service technicians
From 1 December 2026, employment as a motor mechanic will only be recognised as matching a Motor Mechanic skills assessment or related to a course of study if the employer's main business is the repairing of vehicles. This includes all skills assessments in ANZSCO Group 321 (Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Motorcycle Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic).
The experience will not be recognised if the employer routinely buys and sells used vehicles, unless they are a currently authorised dealer for a recognised vehicle manufacturer and the applicant’s work primarily involves diagnosing and repairing that manufacturer's vehicles for customers.
Employment as an auto service technician will only be recognised if the employer is a currently authorised dealer for a recognised vehicle manufacturer and the role primarily involves servicing that manufacturer's vehicles for customers. Roles in sales or new or used vehicle preparation will not be recognised.
From this date, prior auto-related employment experience outside of these settings may be acknowledged if the applicant is working in one of the recognised settings at the time they submit their ROI.
Service technician roles are not accepted as matching skills assessments in ANZSCO Group 321 (Motor Mechanic (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Motorcycle Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic).
Applicants may be asked to provide proof of the role such as manufacturer accreditation or training certificates customer invoices / service records naming he applicant, diagnostic reports naming the applicant.
Employment related to qualifications gained overseas
Qualifications gained outside of Australia that relate to current employment will be recognised if they were awarded by a nationally accredited institution in the country of origin.
Employment in same industry as skills assessment or Tasmanian study
Some priority attributes refer to employment being in the same industry as a skills assessment or area of study. This requires the applicant to demonstrate the type of work being undertaken is connected to the same field they were trained in, or have a skills assessment in, even if the role is lower-skilled or entry-level.
Applicants must submit a concise written explanation, with supporting documents, outlining their duties and tasks and showing how these correspond to the same general field as the assessed occupation or study.
Roles that occur in the same setting but do not require relevant training or skills will not be considered related.
Examples:
A skills assessment as an ICT Business Analyst, or completion of a Bachelor of Information Communication Technology, a role in the same industry could include:
- Helpdesk support officer
- Administrative assistant in a tech company
- Data entry clerk in an IT services firm
You have completed a Diploma of Tourism and Hospitality, a role in the same industry could include:
- Hotel front desk guest service agent
- Concierge or tour desk
- Reservations
Jobs such as Accounts Payable Clerk, Bank Clerk or Loans Assistant would be considered in the same industry to Accounting or Finance studies.
You have completed a Certificate III in Individual Support, however employment in the following roles do not relate to study:
- Maintenance Worker at an aged care facility
- Kitchenhand at a residential care home
- Cleaner at an aged care facility
Working outside your skills assessment area
When applying for Skilled Employment or Established Resident pathways, applicants working outside their skills assessment area must have the required qualifications or experience for the role as defined in OSCA.
Where OSCA does not list a qualification or experience for that occupation, the applicant must hold a minimum AQF Certificate III qualification in a related field, or at least one year of relevant Australian experience.
- Qualifications gained through online study or entirely on basis of Recognition of Prior Learning are not accepted for consideration.
- Where a priority attribute specifically refers to a qualification, experience cannot be used as a substitute.
Examples:
- An applicant with a skills assessment as an accountant, employed as a chef, will need to have a cooking related AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma, Diploma, or at least three years of relevant experience as a chef.
- A Retail Supervisor must have an AQF Certificate III or at least one year of relevant experience.
Job interviews related to skills assessment or Tasmanian study
To claim a priority attributes where job interviews need to be related to skills assessment or Tasmanian study, the applicant must:
- not currently be in a role that earns more than $57,000 per year or $28.85 per hour
- provide evidence of interviews with two well-established Tasmanian businesses that have been operating in Tasmania for at least 3 years.
Evidence may include email or other written correspondence from the employer or their representative which refers to an invitation to attend an individual interview giving the date and time of the interview.
It does not include an invitation to attend a group interview or activity, nor to complete an initial online assessment.