Provisional Skills Assessment From Trades Recognition Australia

Suman Dua MARN 1800859Sep 15, 20235 min read

Updated: Sep 22, 2023

The Provisional Skills assessment is part of the Job Ready program for international students who study a trade course in Australia.

The Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) is for recent international graduates planning to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). It is also a pre-requisite for the Job Ready Program (JRP). TRA does the assessment- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skill-assessing authority within the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the Department) for nominated occupations under Migration Regulations 1994.

Applicants must have completed a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) qualification to be eligible. The study must have been in Australia, and the RTO must be registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to deliver the training.

PSA applicants must nominate an occupation for which TRA is the relevant assessing authority. The Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) provides information on occupations and the relevant skills assessing authority on their website.

The objective of the PSA is to ensure an applicant has an Australian qualification:

• At the required level

• that is closely relevant to their nominated occupation and

• meets the pre-requisite requirements to participate in the Job Ready Program (JRP).

You must register through the TRA Online Portal via the TRA website to apply for the PSA. You will be asked to create a username and password. You must upload your documents and pay AUD 130 to submit your application.

To be eligible for the PSA, you must:

• Nominate an occupation on the skilled occupation list, and TRA is the relevant skills assessing authority

• have completed a qualification relevant to your nominated occupation

• A CRICOS registered RTO must award your qualification and

• was completed through study in Australia

Let's look at some of the frequently asked Questions regarding recent changes with PSA.

1. What are the main changes to the PSA from 1 July 2023?

All changes come into effect on 1 July 2023.

The most significant changes are:

• Clarifying requirements for 'decision ready' applications and qualifications containing Credit Transfers.

• Removing reference to a student visa from the eligibility requirements (being an international student graduate remains a key requirement).

• Removal of the requirement for applicants to submit evidence of 360 hours employment' exposure' or vocational placement.

• Introduction of an expiry limitation for a PSA as a pre-requisite for the JRP (3 years from the date of PSA issue).

2. I have applied for the Job Ready Program Registration and Eligibility (JRPRE) step. Do I need to reapply for the PSA?

No. Your JRPRE application will continue to be assessed, and on completion, you will receive a PSA assessment outcome letter. Your JRPRE outcome also meets the requirement of a PSA outcome as a pre-requisite for your JRE application.

3. I have a JRPRE outcome email, and I require a PSA outcome letter to apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)

If you received a JRPRE outcome between 01 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 and need a PSA outcome to apply to the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), you must meet the following criteria before TRA will consider your request:

• Have a successful JRPRE outcome,

• not be participating in the Job Ready Program (JRP) and

• Provide confirmation of your Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application (including lodgement date) or your 'Request Checklist' from the Department of Home Affairs indicating a skills assessment is required.

Please upload all evidence via the TRA online portal.

Once you have uploaded your evidence, please email [email protected] to request consideration for a PSA outcome. Please include your full name and TRA reference number in your email.

4. I have a successful JRPRE outcome email. Do I need to apply now for a PSA?

If you have a successful JRPRE outcome email, you are not required to submit a new PSA application.

If you have applied for PSA while holding a successful JRPRE outcome email, please contact [email protected] and provide your new TRA reference number. TRA will contact you to provide further advice for your circumstances.

5. I have a successful JRPRE outcome email. Can I also get a PSA Outcome letter?

PSA Outcome letters will only be issued to applicants with a successful JRPRE outcome email in specific situations. To be eligible for a PSA outcome, you must:

• Have a successful JRPRE outcome,

• not be participating in the Job Ready Program (JRP) and

• Provide confirmation of your Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application (including lodgement date) or your 'Request Checklist' from the Department of Home Affairs indicating a skills assessment is required.

Please upload all evidence via the TRA online portal.

Once you have uploaded your evidence, please email [email protected] to request consideration for a PSA outcome. Please include your full name and TRA reference number in your email.

6. What do I do if I want a skills assessment for a 485 visa?

You can apply for a PSA, and if successful, the outcome letter can be used to apply to Home Affairs for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). Please read the Provisional Skills Assessment Applicant Guidelines on the TRA website for more information about the PSA. Please ensure TRA is the correct assessing authority for your nominated occupation.

7. Can I participate in the PSA before I complete my studies?

No. Your application will be deemed ineligible and assessed as unsuccessful if your course completion date is after your PSA application date. TRA will not refund fees where an applicant does not meet program eligibility requirements (see Section 3.2 of the TRA Fees Payment and Refund Policy).

9. What evidence do I need to provide with my PSA application?

PSA applicants must provide evidence of identity (e.g., passport) and qualifications (e.g., certificate, completion letter, and transcripts). All documents supplied must be a full-color scan of the original document. Please refer to Section 2.2 of the Provisional Skills Assessment Applicant Guidelines for full details. Please note that all applications must be complete and 'decision ready' on the date of your submission, or the application may be unsuccessful.

13. My qualification is based on or contains Credit Transfers. Is this acceptable?

TRA may request additional evidence if your qualification cannot be verified, was completed under a different passport, or included units awarded through credit transfer.

TRA does not accept a qualification where units of study were awarded on the basis of Credit Transfer (CT) and that CT was based on RPL. Where necessary, TRA will follow up with you, or you may consider uploading additional evidence with your PSA application, such as:

• Transcripts for any prior study that may have been used for credit transfer.

• A copy of your USI (Unique Student Identifier) report containing evidence of all your Australian study that may have been used for credit transfer.

15. How long is my successful PSA outcome valid for?

Your PSA (or JRPRE) outcome is valid for three years from the issue date. If your PSA has expired and you would like to apply for the JRP, you will need to submit a new PSA application. TRA adds three years of currency to the PSA outcome for two purposes. Firstly, it ensures the validity and currency of your qualifications and skills, putting you in the best position to achieve a successful JRFA outcome. Secondly, it aligns with the requirements in the Migration Instruments, which mandate a 3-year validity for the skills assessment outcome.

16. My PSA outcome was unsuccessful or has expired, what do I do now?

If your PSA outcome has been assessed as unsuccessful, you can request a review or reapply. If your PSA outcome has expired as it is more than 3 years from the date of issue, you will need to reapply for the PSA.

These were some of the updates regarding the Provisional skills assessment. If you have questions regarding the Provisional Skills assessment or your Job Ready program, please book a consultation with us.

Disclaimer:

The information shared by Nationwide Migration and Education on social media and blogs is for general informational purposes only. (The information is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change.) It is not legal or immigration advice and should not be relied upon as such.

If you need immigration advice specific to your circumstances, please book a consultation with our Registered Migration Agent.