Skills Assessment Services
North Metropolitan TAFE (NMTAFE) delivers skills assessment services on behalf of Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) across two key programs.
Please review the information below to determine the most suitable pathway for your circumstances.
If neither pathway meets your needs, you can explore alternative options directly through Trades Recognition Australia.
Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) Pathway
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is designed for applicants who require a skills assessment as part of their skilled migration visa application with the Department of Home Affairs.
An OSAP assessment outcome verifies whether you have the skills, qualifications, and work experience required to perform at the appropriate level in your nominated occupation in Australia.
To apply for OSAP through NMTAFE, you must:
- Be applying for a skilled migration visa to Australia (excluding subclass 485* and Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visas), and
- Have the required amount of employment experience in your occupation. Refer to Eligibility & Application.
*485 Visa applicants are required to undertake a Provisional Skills Assessment refer to Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) | Trades Recognition Australia
Successful applicants will receive an Offshore Technical Skills Assessment Record (OTSR).
This can be provided to Building and Energy as part of the process to obtain a provisional licence, allowing you to work under supervision.
NMTAFE is contracted to provide services to applicants in the following Occupations:
- Electrician
- Plumber
Other occupations may be assessed by other TRA providers refer to RTO Finder | Trades Recognition Australia
Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Skills Assessment Program
The TSS Skills Assessment Program supports applicants applying for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, who need a skills assessment as part of their application to the Department of Home Affairs.
A TSS skills assessment confirms whether you have the qualifications, skills, and relevant work experience required to work in Australia at the appropriate level in your nominated occupation.
To apply for TSS through NMTAFE, you must:
- Require a need a skills assessment as part of their Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Be qualified in in an Electrical occupation
- Hold a passport from: Fiji, Hong Kong SAR, India, Macau SAR, Philippines, South Africa, or Vietnam
- Have the required amount of employment experience in your occupation. Refer to Eligibility & Application.
Successful applicants will receive an Offshore Technical Skills Assessment Record (OTSR).
This can be provided to Building and Energy as part of the process to obtain a provisional licence, allowing you to work under supervision.
NMTAFE is contracted to provide services to applicants in an Electrical Occupation.
Note: Electrician (General) is a licensed occupation in Australia. Applicants should review the licensing requirements for WA in the Licensing section of this website.
Please visit the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration and Citizenship) page for more information on the TSS visa application process.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate verifiable full-time paid employment in their nominated occupation, meeting the following criteria:
| Employment Experience |
1 year |
2 years |
3 years |
4 years |
5 years |
6 years |
| No formal training |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| With formal training* |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
* Formal training for is defined as an international qualification that was obtained as a result of study outside Australia and accepted as comparable to at least an AQF Certificate III level for a skilled occupation in Major Group III in ANZSCO.
In addition:
- Applicants must have completed at least 12 months of full-time paid employment in their nominated occupation within the three years prior to application.
- Part-time employment may be considered and will be calculated on a pro rata basis.
- Information regarding evidentiary requirements for self-employment are available in the Evidence guide. (418 KB) (PDF document)
Important Information for Skills Assessment Applications
You must confirm with the Department of Home Affairs that:
- A skills assessment is required for your visa pathway, and
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the correct assessing authority for your nominated occupation
All visa and migration enquiries must be directed to Home Affairs.
Review the Eligibility Requirements, Pre-Assessment Checklist, and Documentary Evidence Checklist (117 KB) (PDF document).
Ensure you have all required documents ready before applying incomplete applications may be declined and/or delay the assessment process.
To avoid delays or rejection, please ensure that all documents are:
- Complete, accurate, and submitted together
- Provided at the time of application (decision-ready)
Documents not in English must include:
- A copy in the original language, and
- A certified English translation
You must be able to meet all technical assessment conditions. Failure to do so may result in:
- Withdrawal of your application, and
- Loss of any fees paid
Assessment conditions include:
- You must be able to travel to the nominated assessment venue
The applicant is responsible for ensuring all information provided is Accurate, Valid & Truthful. NMT will take reasonable steps to verify all submitted information.
If any information is found to be false, or fraudulent your application will be:
- Marked unsuccessful, and
- Reported to TRA
Note: Penalties may apply under the Crimes Act 1914 and the Criminal Code Act 1995 for making false or misleading statements and providing false or misleading information or document.
Fees
Fees for the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) and Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) programs must be paid directly to Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) via their Online Portal. Payments can only be made using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
NMT will issue a payment code once each assessment stage has been approved.
After completing your payment:
- A printable receipt will be displayed on screen
- A copy of the receipt will be sent to your nominated email address
Please ensure you retain the emailed receipt as proof of payment.
Please refer to the TRA Applicant Payment User Guide for further information.
Assessment Service |
Fee (ex GST) $AUD |
| Step 1 - Documentary Evidence Assessment | $1,120 |
| Step 2 - Technical Interview | $2,000 |
| Step 3 - Practical Assessment | $2,200 |
| Reviews | |
| Step 1 - Documentary Evidence Assessment | $700 |
| Step 2 - Technical Interview | $700 |
| Step 3 - Practical Assessment | $700 |
| Reassessments | |
| Step 1 - Documentary Evidence Assessment | $450 |
| Step 2 - Technical Interview | $1,000 |
| Step 3 - Practical Assessment | $1,100 |
Assessment Outcomes
If your Trade Skills Assessment is successful, you’ll receive:
- a Suitable Assessment Result Letter confirming a Suitable outcome, and
- an Offshore Technical Skills Record.
If unsuccessful, you’ll receive a Skills Assessment Result Letter confirming an Unsuitable outcome.
From here, you have three options available to you:
- Accept the decision
- Apply for a partial reassessment
- Appeal to get a review of the assessment decision.
Assessment Review
If you disagree with your skills assessment outcome, you may request a review. You must submit your review application within 28 calendar days of receiving your outcome letter.
- Log in to the TRA Online Portal using your existing username and password.
- Pay the applicable review fee.
- Submit your review request, including any additional evidence you wish to provide.
- Your application will be assigned to an independent assessor who was not involved in your original assessment.
- The assessor will review:
- The evidence submitted with your original application, and
- Any additional evidence you provide.
- The assessor will then determine whether the original assessment outcome was correct
Refund eligible: If your outcome is overturned based solely on the original evidence submitted, the review fee will be refunded.
Refund not eligible: If your outcome is overturned due to new or additional evidence, the review fee will not be refunded.
Reassessment process
If your original skills assessment identified skills gaps and you have since completed additional training and/or gained further employment to address those gaps, you may apply for a reassessment.
You must lodge your reassessment application within 12 months of receiving your original assessment outcome letter.
After 12 months, you will need to submit a new application.
- Log in to the TRA Online Portal using your existing username and password.
- Pay the applicable reassessment fee.
Submit your reassessment application with new supporting evidence.
Ensuring that evidence meets the Evidence Guidelines. (418 KB) (PDF document)
You must provide updated evidence of:
- Additional training completed, and/or
- Relevant employment gained since your original assessment.
Applications will not be accepted without new evidence.
If you are applying for a reassessment of a technical interview or practical assessment:
- You will only be reassessed in the units of competency where you were previously assessed as NYC (Not Yet Competent).
- Before applying, you should improve your skills and knowledge in these units through:
- Formal training, and/or
- Practical work experience.
New Evidence must meet the Evidence Guidelines. (418 KB) (PDF document)
Refund Policy
The circumstances in which TRA will refund a payment are detailed in the TRA Payment and Refund Policy under Policy and Forms on the TRA website.
Refunds will not be provided if applicants:
- do not meet program eligibility requirements
- choose to withdraw your registration after assessment had started
- do not provide the required documents in the specified timeframe.
Complaints and Feedback
Complaints and feedback will be managed in accordance with our Complaints and Feedback processes.
NMTAFE will:
- Acknowledge receipt of TRA complaints within two (2) working days
- Keep complainants informed of progress throughout the process
- Provide a written outcome including reasons
Our complaints process does not remove your right to take further action. If you are not satisfied with our complaints handling process, you have the right to pursue other remedies through relevant channels such as:
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- The WA Ombudsman
- Other independent external bodies where applicable
Privacy and Use of Information
Collection of Personal Information
North Metropolitan TAFE collects your personal information for the purpose of delivering Trades Recognition Australia skills assessment services on behalf of, or in connection with, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Trades Recognition Australia.
Purpose of Collection
Your information will be used to assess your qualifications, skills and experience; verify information with employers, referees, education providers and other relevant entities; manage your application; support assessment integrity; and meet reporting and assurance obligations.
Entities Involved in Collection
Your information may be collected by NMTAFE and may be provided to, or used in connection with, TRA / DEEWR for program administration, oversight and assurance.
Consequences of Not Providing Information
If you do not provide required information, NMTAFE may be unable to assess your application, your application may be delayed, or your application may be determined on the basis of insufficient information.
Sensitive Information
Where sensitive information is required, it will only be collected with your consent unless a lawful exception applies. Failure to provide required sensitive information may affect the assessment of your application.
Use and Disclosure
Your information may be disclosed to TRA / DEEWR, the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Federal Police, employers, supervisors, referees, education providers, other providers, contractors, assessors, regulatory bodies and other Australian or State/Territory government agencies where relevant to the assessment, verification, fraud prevention, review, complaint or reporting process.
Access and Correction
You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information. Requests may be made verbally or in writing and will be handled within 30 calendar days.
Complaints
Privacy complaints or concerns may be raised with NMTAFE. TRA-related complaints may also need to be referred to TRA / DEEWR in accordance with program requirements.