Australia PR · Skills assessment guide
Planning to migrate to Australia as an accounting or finance professional? If your occupation falls under CPA Australia'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 accounting professionals understand the CPA Australia 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 CPA Australia and do not issue skills assessment outcomes — we help you prepare a strong, compliant application.
Section 01
CPA Australia is one of the world's largest professional accounting bodies, and is designated by the Australian Government as a skills assessing authority for accounting and finance occupations applying for skilled migration.
The assessment exists to verify that a migrant’s accounting qualifications and, where claimed, work experience are comparable to the standard expected of an Australian-trained accounting professional in the same occupation.
CPA Australia assesses accounting and finance professionals — including general accountants, management and taxation accountants, external auditors, finance managers and corporate treasurers — for skilled migration purposes.
A positive skills assessment is a mandatory eligibility requirement for most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses. Without it, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect cannot be validly submitted for most accounting occupations.
The relevant assessing authority for accounting occupations — CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) — is determined by the applicant’s nominated ANZSCO occupation and choice of body. Each authority sets its own criteria, document requirements, and processing standards, within the framework defined by the Department of Home Affairs.
Assessment criteria, occupation lists and requirements are set by CPA Australia and the Australian Government and are subject to change without notice. Always verify current requirements on the official website before applying.
Section 02
CPA Australia assesses six core accounting and finance occupations. Always confirm your specific ANZSCO code and current eligibility before applying.
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Suitable qualification | Typical applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant (General) | 221111 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | General practice and financial accountants |
| Management Accountant | 221112 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | Cost, budgeting and management accounting professionals |
| Taxation Accountant | 221113 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | Tax compliance and advisory professionals |
| External Auditor | 221213 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | Statutory and external audit professionals |
| Finance Manager | 132211 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | Finance leads and financial controllers |
| Corporate Treasurer | 221212 | Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with relevant accounting subjects | Treasury and corporate finance professionals |
Indicative only. Your eligibility depends on your specific qualification, role and years of experience matched against the current ANZSCO occupation description.
Section 03
CPA Australia's assessment has two distinct components — eligibility depends on which one(s) you need.
English Language: Verified English proficiency (IELTS, PTE or equivalent test) is a mandatory part of the CPA Australia qualification assessment itself, not just a separate visa requirement — though limited passport-based exemptions apply for certain countries.
Overseas Qualifications: Degrees from recognised institutions outside Australia are accepted but must be assessed as equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor’s degree and relevant to your chosen occupation.
Recent Graduates: Recent graduates can apply for a qualification assessment based on their degree, and add a skilled employment assessment once they have relevant paid experience.
Experienced Professionals: Can apply for a combined qualification and skilled employment assessment where both the degree and paid work experience are assessed together.
Additional ANZSCO Codes: Applicants can apply for a qualification assessment against an additional ANZSCO occupation code using their existing CPA Australia account, for a separate fee.
Section 04
Document requirements vary by occupation and individual profile. A personalised checklist is prepared after a professional profile review.
Section 05
How a CPA Australia application moves from profile review to outcome.
Your qualifications, employment history, and career trajectory are reviewed to identify potential occupation matches.
The most suitable ANZSCO code is identified based on how your subjects studied and actual job duties map to its mandatory competencies.
Transcripts, employer testimonials, and supporting evidence are compiled and reviewed for consistency and completeness.
The assessment application is lodged with CPA Australia online, along with the applicable fee.
CPA Australia reviews your qualification (and, if applicable, your skilled employment) against its assessment guidelines for the nominated occupation.
CPA Australia may request clarifications or further evidence; timely and accurate responses are critical.
A suitable or not-suitable outcome is issued for the qualification and, where applicable, skilled employment assessment.
With a positive assessment, you proceed to points calculation, Expression of Interest (EOI) submission via SkillSelect, and visa subclass planning (189/190/491).
Section 06
CPA Australia's processing times are published on its website and are indicative only — they may vary depending on application volumes and exclude weekends, public holidays and CPA Australia's end-of-year office closure. Applications missing supporting details will take longer to process. Fast-track processing is available for the qualification assessment at an additional fee.
We recommend checking CPA Australia's current processing time estimates directly and building buffer time into your visa planning rather than relying on fixed timelines.
Section 07
Published CPA Australia rates, as at July 2026. Figures exclude visa charges and MovesEdu professional service fees.
| Item | Within Australia (incl. GST) | Outside Australia (excl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification assessment | $565 | $514 |
| Fast Track — Qualification assessment | $675 | $614 |
| Combined — Qualification + skilled employment | $620 | $564 |
| Qualification assessment — Additional ANZSCO | $260 | $236 |
| Fast Track — Additional ANZSCO | $310 | $282 |
| Skilled employment assessment | $260 | $236 |
| Combined — Additional ANZSCO | $350 | $318 |
| Qualification assessment — Update | $185 | $168 |
| Skilled employment assessment — Update | $185 | $168 |
| Review | $185 | $168 |
| Administration fee | $85 | $77 |
Fees are subject to change without notice — always confirm current fees on www.cpaaustralia.com.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 accounting 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 subjects studied and actual duties
Document Review & Preparation Support — structured checklists and testimonial guidance
Employment Evidence Assistance — help organising and presenting your work history clearly
Skills Assessment Application Support — guidance through the CPA Australia 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 CPA Australia, the Department of Home Affairs, or any Australian government body, and we do not determine or influence assessment outcomes.
Section 10 · Frequently asked questions
CPA Australia is a professional accounting body designated as a skills assessing authority by the Australian Government, evaluating qualifications and experience for accounting and finance occupations for skilled migration.
Yes, for accounting occupations assigned to CPA Australia, a positive skills assessment is required before you can validly claim points and submit an Expression of Interest for most GSM visas.
Processing times are published on CPA Australia's website and vary with application volumes; fast-track processing is available for an additional fee for the qualification assessment.
No — English language proficiency verification is a mandatory part of the CPA Australia qualification assessment itself, not just a separate visa requirement, except for limited passport-based exemptions.
Yes, CPA Australia can assess skilled employment both in Australia and overseas, provided it is well-documented, paid, and closely related to your nominated occupation.
Yes, you may lodge a review application if you disagree with your outcome, for a fee published on CPA Australia's fees page.
Subclasses 189, 190, and 491 typically require a positive skills assessment for eligible accounting occupations, along with select employer-sponsored pathways.
There is no fixed minimum for the qualification assessment itself, but if you want skilled employment recognised for points, it must be paid, closely related to your nominated occupation, and clearly documented — volunteer work and the Accounting Professional Year Program are not recognised as skilled employment.
Yes, recent graduates can apply for a qualification assessment based on their degree; a combined qualification and skilled employment assessment is available once you have relevant paid experience.
Accounting-related occupations may also be assessed by CA ANZ or the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA); other occupations are assigned to authorities such as VETASSESS or ACS. We help you identify the correct authority.
Yes, for a skilled employment assessment you need a detailed testimonial in the employer's own words describing your duties, or a statutory declaration if a testimonial cannot be obtained.
A qualification assessment evaluates your educational qualifications and English language requirement; a skilled employment assessment (which requires a suitable qualification outcome first) evaluates your paid work experience for points purposes.
Yes, CPA Australia assesses qualifications from institutions worldwide, following Australian Government guidelines on overseas qualification comparability.
Yes, CPA Australia assesses Accountant (General), Management Accountant, Taxation Accountant, External Auditor, Finance Manager, and Corporate Treasurer occupations.
Detailed employer testimonials describing actual duties (not just job titles), consistent payslips across the employment period, and verifiable English test score reports are the most frequently underprepared items.
A refund of the assessment fee is not issued once preliminary work has commenced; if you withdraw before any work begins, only an administration fee applies.
No ethical consultancy can guarantee an assessment outcome, as this is determined solely by CPA Australia based on your qualifications, English test results, and evidence. We focus on helping you present the strongest possible application.
It is based on matching your actual duties and responsibilities to the closest official ANZSCO occupation description and its mandatory competencies, not your job title alone.
CPA Australia accepts documents uploaded through its online portal; non-English documents must be provided alongside an official translation.
A positive qualification assessment outcome is generally valid for a set period from issue — check CPA Australia's current assessment validity guidance, as an expired assessment requires a new paid application.
We assist with profile review, ANZSCO occupation matching, document preparation guidance, and application support — while CPA Australia remains the sole assessing authority.
Keep exploring
Your assessing body is determined by your nominated ANZSCO occupation.
A CPA Australia 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.