Australia PR · Skills assessment guide
Planning to migrate to Australia as a teacher? If your occupation falls under AITSL's assessing authority, a positive skills assessment is your first mandatory step toward a Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), or Skilled Work Regional (491) visa. MovesEdu Immigration helps Indian teachers understand the AITSL process, prepare accurate documentation, and avoid the common mistakes that lead to delays or refusals.
Please note: MovesEdu Immigration is an Australia & Canada PR specialist consultancy. We are not AITSL and do not issue skills assessment outcomes — we help you prepare a strong, compliant application.
Section 01
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is the official authority appointed to assess the qualifications and English proficiency of primary and secondary school teachers applying for skilled migration to Australia.
The assessment exists to verify that an internationally-trained teacher's qualifications and English proficiency are comparable to the standard expected of a teacher trained in Australia's initial teacher education system.
AITSL assesses primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and special education/special needs teachers. It does not assess early childhood (pre-primary) teachers, which moved to ACECQA in December 2024.
A positive skills assessment is a mandatory eligibility requirement for most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses in teaching occupations. Without it, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect cannot be validly submitted.
AITSL's assessment is a migration document, separate from state or territory teacher registration (needed to actually teach in a school). Both are typically required, within the framework defined by the Department of Home Affairs.
Assessment criteria, occupation lists and requirements are set by Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and the Australian Government and are subject to change without notice. Always verify current requirements on the official website before applying.
Section 02
AITSL assesses primary, secondary and special education teaching occupations. Always confirm your specific ANZSCO code and current eligibility before applying.
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Suitable qualification | Typical applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary School Teacher | 241213 | Initial teacher education qualification (min. 4 years) with supervised practice | Primary/elementary classroom teachers |
| Middle School Teacher | 241311 | Initial teacher education qualification (min. 4 years) with supervised practice | Middle-years classroom teachers |
| Secondary School Teacher | 241411 | Initial teacher education qualification (min. 4 years) with supervised practice | Subject-specialist secondary teachers |
| Special Needs Teacher | 241511 | Initial teacher education qualification with special education specialisation | Teachers of students with additional learning needs |
| Teacher of the Hearing Impaired | 241512 | Initial teacher education qualification with relevant specialisation | Specialist teachers for hearing-impaired students |
| Teacher of the Sight Impaired | 241513 | Initial teacher education qualification with relevant specialisation | Specialist teachers for vision-impaired students |
| Special Education Teachers (nec) | 241599 | Initial teacher education qualification with relevant specialisation | Other special education teaching specialisations |
Indicative only. Your eligibility depends on your specific qualification, role and years of experience matched against the current ANZSCO occupation description.
Section 03
AITSL's assessment rests on two core, non-negotiable pillars — qualification and English language.
Licensing/Registration: AITSL’s skills assessment is separate from state/territory teacher registration; you may hold full, provisional, or no registration yet at the time of your AITSL application.
Overseas Qualifications: Qualifications from institutions outside Australia are accepted, provided they include an integrated ITE program with supervised teaching practice and meet the minimum study duration.
Recent Graduates: Recent graduates of a recognised ITE qualification are not required to provide a final award certificate if their application meets AITSL’s specified conditions for pending graduates.
Experienced Professionals: A Skilled Employment Statement (SES) can be requested after a suitable Skills Assessment Certificate to formally document relevant skilled teaching employment for points purposes.
China-issued Qualifications: Applicants with qualifications from the People’s Republic of China must provide scanned colour versions of notarial certified booklets issued by a Notary Public Office in China.
Section 04
Document requirements vary by occupation and individual profile. A personalised checklist is prepared after a professional profile review.
Section 05
How a AITSL application moves from profile review to outcome.
Your teaching qualification, supervised practice evidence, and career trajectory are reviewed to identify potential occupation matches.
The most suitable ANZSCO code is identified — AITSL will not accept a request to change occupation after an assessment outcome has been completed.
Transcripts, university statements, and English test results are compiled and reviewed for consistency and completeness.
The assessment application is lodged through the AITSL Applicant Portal, along with the applicable fee.
AITSL reviews your qualification and English proficiency against its assessment guidelines for the nominated teaching occupation.
AITSL may request clarifications or further evidence; timely and accurate responses are critical.
A positive or negative outcome is issued as a Skills Assessment Certificate.
With a positive assessment, you may request an optional Skilled Employment Statement, then proceed to points calculation, Expression of Interest (EOI) submission via SkillSelect, and visa subclass planning (189/190/491).
Section 06
Most assessment-ready applications are completed within 4 weeks, and some may take up to 6 weeks. AITSL does not offer priority or fast-track processing, and does not respond to status update requests via phone or email. An incomplete application or incorrect documents will delay processing.
We recommend checking AITSL's current guidance directly and building buffer time into your visa planning rather than relying on fixed timelines.
Section 07
Published AITSL rates, as at July 2026. Figures exclude visa charges and MovesEdu professional service fees.
| Item | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Application for skills assessment | $1,154 |
| Appeal of assessment outcome | $904 |
| Skilled Employment Statement (SES) | $255 |
Fees are subject to change without notice — always confirm current fees on www.aitsl.edu.au before applying.
Section 08
A negative or partial result can significantly affect your points score and visa eligibility — which is why accurate preparation from the outset matters.
Section 09
MovesEdu Immigration is a Chandigarh-headquartered Australia and Canada PR specialist consultancy, supporting skilled Indian teaching professionals through every stage of their migration journey.
Dedicated Australia PR Specialists — focused expertise in GSM pathways, not a generalist agency
Detailed Profile Review — honest assessment of your occupation fit before you spend on formal applications
ANZSCO Guidance — careful occupation matching based on your qualification and teaching background
Document Review & Preparation Support — structured checklists and university statement guidance
Employment Evidence Assistance — help organising and presenting your teaching work history clearly
Skills Assessment Application Support — guidance through the AITSL submission process
Dedicated Case Manager — one point of contact throughout your case
Transparent Communication — clear timelines, honest expectations, no overpromising
Online Consultations — speak with us from anywhere in India or abroad
India-Based Support — offices in Chandigarh and Amritsar, with WhatsApp accessibility
MovesEdu Immigration is an independent migration consultancy. We are not Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, the Department of Home Affairs, or any Australian government body, and we do not determine or influence assessment outcomes.
Section 10 · Frequently asked questions
AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership) is the official authority appointed to assess the qualifications and English proficiency of primary and secondary school teachers for skilled migration to Australia.
Yes, for teaching occupations assessed by AITSL, a positive skills assessment is required before you can validly claim points and submit an Expression of Interest for most GSM visas.
Most assessment-ready applications are completed within 4 weeks, and some may take up to 6 weeks. Incomplete applications or incorrect documents will delay processing, and AITSL does not offer fast-track processing.
No — AITSL's English language requirement is met through a study option or a suitable Academic IELTS Test Report Form; other tests such as PTE, TOEFL or Cambridge are not accepted for the AITSL assessment itself.
Yes, AITSL assesses overseas initial teacher education qualifications, provided they include the required supervised teaching practice and meet the minimum four years of full-time equivalent study.
Yes, you can request an appeal of an assessment outcome for a published fee, within AITSL's specified process and timeframe.
Subclasses 189, 190, and 491 typically require a positive skills assessment for eligible teaching occupations, along with select employer-sponsored pathways.
AITSL's core requirement is a minimum four years full-time (or part-time equivalent) initial teacher education qualification with supervised teaching practice — work experience alone does not substitute for this qualification requirement.
Yes, recent graduates of a recognised initial teacher education qualification can apply, provided their program meets AITSL's qualification and supervised teaching practice requirements.
No — since December 2024, Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher and related child care occupations are assessed by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), not AITSL.
AITSL requires an official statement from the university awarding your initial teacher education qualification as evidence, along with transcripts and certified translations where documents are not in English.
AITSL requires a minimum of approximately 45 days of supervised teaching practice completed as part of your formal teacher education qualification, involving real classroom teaching under a qualified teacher — not simulations, observations, or later work experience.
Yes, AITSL assesses initial teacher education qualifications from institutions worldwide, subject to its standard evaluation criteria and English proficiency requirements.
Yes, AITSL assesses special education and special needs teaching occupations in addition to general primary and secondary teaching roles.
An official university statement confirming supervised teaching practice (days, age range, setting), complete transcripts with course descriptions, and a valid Academic IELTS Test Report Form are the most frequently underprepared documents.
AITSL can only issue a partial refund if the assessment has not yet commenced; no refund is issued once the application is under assessment.
No ethical consultancy can guarantee an assessment outcome, as this is determined solely by AITSL based on your qualifications, teaching practice evidence, and English test results. We focus on helping you present the strongest possible application.
It is based on matching your teaching qualification and classroom experience to the closest official ANZSCO teaching occupation description — AITSL will not accept requests to change occupation after an assessment outcome has been issued.
An SES is an optional summary of your relevant skilled teaching employment that you can use as part of the points test, available for a separate fee once you have received a suitable Skills Assessment Certificate.
Outcome validity periods are set by AITSL and should be confirmed on its official website, as they can change and affect your visa application timeline.
We assist with profile review, ANZSCO occupation matching, document preparation guidance, and application support — while AITSL remains the sole assessing authority.
Keep exploring
Your assessing body is determined by your nominated ANZSCO occupation.
A AITSL skills assessment is a critical foundation for your Australian PR application — and getting it right the first time saves you time, money and uncertainty.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.