Our overseas qualifications assessments can be used for general employment purposes only – if your job doesn’t require registration, licensing, professional membership or other industry requirements.
Benefits of having your overseas qualifications assessed includes:
- Assist employers and recruitment agents to understand the educational level of your overseas qualification comparable to the Australian Qualifications Framework.
- Provides evidence that your overseas qualification(s) meets job requirements
- Assists with determining training pathways, career planning and job progression
- May help to meet professional registration, licensing, membership requirements
- Can be used to determine your wage/award level.
To be eligible you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Live or work in South Australia, and;
- Be a citizen, permanent resident, or a temporary resident with work rights, and;
- Have completed a higher education or technical/vocational education qualification overseas, and;
- Completed an online application as per the terms and conditions(link to be provided) listed on this website.
Qualifications we are unable to assess:
- Qualifications less than 1 semester or 6 months of full-time study
- Trade qualifications
- School qualifications
- Incomplete qualifications
- Single subjects
- Work experience
- English language skills
- Australian qualifications.
1. Determine the reason why you need an assessment.
Assessments are for general employment purposes only. Remember that you do not need an Overseas Qualification Recognition in the following instances:
2. Study credit: The assessment will not compare qualifications by subject, study area or competency standards. If you require an assessment for study purposes the institution concerned will be able to determine the academic status of the qualification for admission to a course of study at an Australian tertiary institution.
3. Migration: Skills assessing authorities for migration are listed on the occupation page.
4. Occupation registration or licensing: Professional and occupational standing of a qualification is a matter for the appropriate Australian professional body, registration or licensing authority to determine.
5. Prepare all required documentation
Ensure you carefully review the list of required documents and prepare your supporting documents.
NOTE: All documents must be submitted as PDF or JPEG and uploaded through the online application form. Applications received without all the required documents (or not certified) will be deemed invalid and not assessed.
Once you have prepared all your documentation:
- Go to the Skilled & Business Migration portal and login to your account.
If you do not already have an account:
Register an account, and select registration type ‘Skilled Migrant’
- Select to apply for an Overseas Qualification Recognition (listed under Services)
- Complete all relevant details for you application
NOTE: If you require multiple qualifications to be assessed, you can select ‘Add’ at the bottom of the form prior to continuing. Ensure each qualification has been added to the grid at the bottom of the page.
- Make a declaration upon submitting the application.
You can track the progress of your application at any time by logging into the Skilled & Business Migration portal.
Checking ‘Processing times’ will provide you with an indicative timeframe on how long your application will take to be processed.
Factors impacting processing times are related to application volumes, peaks, complex assessments, the need for further documentation and applications which are referral to National Office Qualifications Recognition Policy for further assessment.
Urgent Requests
All requests to fast track applications must be made in writing and evidenced by one of the following:
- Letter from a South Australian employer requesting the education level comparison of your overseas gained qualification
- A written job offer from the employer on the employer’s letterhead
- Written evidence from a professional association or body requiring an assessment of an overseas gained qualification
- Written evidence from an organisation requiring an assessment of an overseas gained qualification for position selection or recruitment.
About the Assessment Advice
An 'Overseas Qualification Recognition assessment advice' is an official document issued by the South Australian Government confirming the education level comparison of an overseas gained qualification to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). All assessment advice(s) are issued based on the Country Education Profiles (CEP’s) developed by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).
Recognition of Overseas Qualifications Document Checklist
All Recognition of Overseas Qualification applications must include the documents required as listed below. Applications that do not include the required documents may be delayed or cancelled/withdrawn.
Please note: All documents submitted must
- Be scanned, in colour and of high quality
- Be submitted in PDF or JPEG file format
- Not exceed 4MB per page or 16MB per application
1. Proof of identity, provide one of the following:
- Current Passport (photo and signature page)
- Australian Driver’s licence
- Australian Birth Certificate
- Australian Citizenship Certificate
2. Proof of visa status, provide one of the following: (not required for Australian citizens)
- Immigration Grant Notification (issued by Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
- Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) printout
3. Proof of South Australian residency, provide one of the following:
- A document including your name and South Australian residential address eg: phone bill, utility bill, bank statement or rental agreement.
4. Qualification documents - you must provide the following for each overseas qualification you are wanting assessed:
- Certified copy of Award certificate - Degree, Diploma or qualification certificate
- Certified copy of Academic transcripts/marksheets showing every year of study
- For post graduate qualification assessment applications (e.g. Masters or Graduate Diploma) you must provide undergraduate qualification documents
- For technical/vocational qualification assessment applications you must provide evidence of all studies before University study e.g. Pre-University, GCE A levels, Senior Secondary School, and Senior High School
Important: All documents from this section must be certified, submitted in English and accompanied by English translations. Translations must be undertaken in Australia by an independent National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) accredited translator. (See below for further information).
5. Proof of name change:
- If the name on your academic documents is different to your current legal name you must provide evidence eg. marriage certificate, deed poll certificate.
Translations undertaken in Australia must be by an accredited National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) translator. For a list of accredited translators visit the NAATI website.
Any documents translated outside of Australia must endorsed by the translator showing their full name, address, telephone number, details of the qualifications and experience in the language being translated.
You may be eligible to have your documents translated into English at no cost through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). Check your eligibility by visiting the AMEP website.