Trades Recognition Australia
Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA)
The Provisional Skills Assessment is the first step for recent international graduates applying for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Vocational Education Work Stream, and a compulsory prerequisite for the Job Ready Program. Trades Recognition Australia sits within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and assesses your Australian qualification against the nominated occupation. The fee is $130, processing takes about 12 weeks, and the outcome is valid for three years.
Fee
$130
Review also $130
Processing
About 12 weeks
After complete evidence
Who it is for
Subclass 485 graduates
And Job Ready Program entrants
Official Website
tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.auWho is eligible for a Provisional Skills Assessment?
You are eligible where you hold an Australian qualification in a trade occupation and are applying for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Vocational Education Work Stream, or are entering the Job Ready Program. The qualification itself must meet four conditions, and several common scenarios fall outside the program.
The qualification must meet four conditions
- It must be issued by a registered training organisation that is registered on CRICOS, the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.
- It must be completed in Australia.
- It must match the nominated occupation under the Australian Qualifications Framework and ANZSCO.
- It must predate the application; a qualification completed after lodgement does not count.
Who is excluded
A qualification is excluded where it includes units granted through recognition of prior learning. Recognition of prior learning is the award of units based on existing skills or experience rather than units taught and assessed within the course. Credit transfers based on recognition of prior learning are also not accepted.
A qualification from a provider that is not CRICOS-registered, or one not completed in Australia, also falls outside the program. Where the qualification does not match the nominated occupation, the application cannot proceed.
What does a Provisional Skills Assessment cost?
The Provisional Skills Assessment fee is $130, and a review of an unsuccessful outcome is a further $130. Fees are set by Trades Recognition Australia and are paid at lodgement.
| Item | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional Skills Assessment application | $130 | Single documentary assessment of your Australian qualification against the nominated occupation |
| Review of an unsuccessful outcome | $130 | Requested where you consider the assessment outcome was incorrect |
How the Provisional Skills Assessment works, step by step
1. Confirm the occupation and qualification
Confirm that your Australian qualification matches the nominated occupation under the Australian Qualifications Framework and ANZSCO, that it was issued by a CRICOS-registered registered training organisation, and that it was completed in Australia before you apply.
2. Check for recognition of prior learning
Check how each unit on your transcript was awarded. Units granted through recognition of prior learning, and credit transfers based on recognition of prior learning, are not accepted and lead to refusal, so this is verified before lodgement.
3. Create the online account
Create an online account with Trades Recognition Australia and start the Provisional Skills Assessment application for the nominated occupation. This account carries through to the Job Ready Program where you continue on that path.
4. Prepare and upload documents
Upload clear PDF scans, not file-sharing links, not password protected, under 90MB in total. Non-English documents need a NAATI-accredited translation in Australia, or a translation approved by the correct authority in the country of translation.
5. Pay the fee and lodge
Pay the $130 fee and lodge the application. Processing takes approximately 12 weeks from the point Trades Recognition Australia holds complete documentary evidence, so a complete file at lodgement protects the timeframe.
6. Use the outcome within three years
Use a successful outcome within its three-year validity for the subclass 485 visa or the Job Ready Program. An expired outcome requires a new account and a new application, and the Job Ready Program occupation must match the outcome.
What documents does a Provisional Skills Assessment require?
The Provisional Skills Assessment requires documentary evidence of your identity and your Australian qualification, uploaded to a strict file standard. A file that breaches the format or size rules delays the assessment, because Trades Recognition Australia cannot begin until the upload is readable and complete.
Core evidence
- Identity documents establishing your name and date of birth.
- The qualification testamur and a full academic transcript from the CRICOS-registered registered training organisation.
- Evidence that the qualification was completed in Australia and matches the nominated occupation.
- NAATI-accredited translations for any non-English document translated in Australia, or a translation approved by the correct authority in the country of translation.
File standard
- Clear PDF scans only.
- No file-sharing links.
- Not password protected.
- Under 90MB in total across the whole upload.
Common causes of a refused or delayed Provisional Skills Assessment
Recognition of prior learning in the qualification
The most common refusal ground is a qualification that includes units granted through recognition of prior learning. Credit transfers based on recognition of prior learning are equally not accepted. Each unit on the transcript should be confirmed as taught and assessed within the course before lodgement.
A non-CRICOS provider or offshore study
A qualification issued by a training organisation that is not CRICOS-registered, or one not completed in Australia, falls outside the program. The CRICOS registration of the provider and the Australian completion both have to be verifiable at lodgement.
An upload that breaks the file rules
An upload over 90MB, a password-protected document, a file-sharing link, or an unclear scan delays the assessment because it cannot be read. The whole document set should be checked against the 90MB limit and the PDF format rule before it is submitted.
An expired outcome or mismatched occupation
An outcome is valid for three years. An expired Provisional Skills Assessment requires a new account and a new application, with the fee paid again. Where you continue into the Job Ready Program, the program occupation must match the outcome, so the occupation must be correct from the first step.
After a successful Provisional Skills Assessment, recent graduates continue to the Job Ready Program on the path to a permanent skilled visa. The Provisional Skills Assessment supports the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and the broader skilled visa program. For all six Trades Recognition Australia programs, see the TRA skills assessment guide.
Get the Provisional Skills Assessment right the first time
An initial conversation confirms that your qualification matches the nominated occupation, that no units rest on recognition of prior learning, and that your documents meet the file standard before the $130 fee is paid. Visa Plan then builds the plan from the Provisional Skills Assessment through to the subclass 485 visa or the Job Ready Program.
Speak with a Migration LawyerCommon questions about the Provisional Skills Assessment
What is the Provisional Skills Assessment for?
How much does a Provisional Skills Assessment cost and how long does it take?
Why is a qualification with recognition of prior learning refused?
Does the qualification have to be from a CRICOS-registered provider?
How long is a Provisional Skills Assessment valid?
How should documents be submitted for a Provisional Skills Assessment?
Reviewed by Visa Plan Migration Lawyers. Last updated June 2026. Figures are drawn from the Trades Recognition Australia Program Guidelines, May 2026 editions. Fees and processing times are set by TRA and are subject to change. Verify the current figures with Trades Recognition Australia at tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au before applying. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.