TRA

Updated on 12 Oct 2022

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skills assessment service provider specializing in assessments for people with trade skills gained overseas or in Australia, for the purpose of migration and skills recognition in five Programs –

Job Ready Program
TSS Skills Assessment Program

Offshore Skills Assessment Program

Migration skills assessment program

Migration Points Advice

Job Ready Program

The Job Ready Program (JRP) is for international student graduates who hold an Australian qualification issued by a CRICOS registered training organization based on studies in Australia.

It is a three-step employment-based skills assessment program that provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate that your skills and job readiness are relevant to your nominated occupation, in an Australian workplace before you apply for migration in Australia.

The JRP comprises the following steps:

Job Ready Employment (JRE)

Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA)

Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA)

Step 1- JRE (Total Fee-$450)
The JRE is part of the Job Ready Program (JRP). This step is to let you get the experience needed in an Australian workplace to develop skills relevant to your occupation.

For a successful outcome you must be employed in your nominated occupation and provide –

Successful JRPRE

Completed EVR & SPR reports

Evidence of 863 hours & 6 months of paid employment

Eligibility & Process

To be eligible for JRE you must:

• have successfully completed the JRPRE (job ready program registration & eligibility)- hold a current passport, hold/have held a student visa & have been awarded qualification by the CRICOS registered RTO in Australia relevant to the nominated occupation – FEE $200
• have four months or less remaining on your student visa
• hold a visa or bridging visa that has full (unrestricted) work rights and provides sufficient time to complete the remaining requirements of the JRP (a minimum of 12 months)
• have secured eligible employment relevant to your nominated occupation 

Employment requirements

• be with your current employer when you register the employer online
• not already used to meet work requirements for a previous TRA skills assessment outcome (including a PSA)
• involve work at an appropriate skill level and include a range of tasks and duties relevant to your nominated occupation
• be paid in accordance with applicable industrial awards or agreements and Australian workplace relations laws
• be in an employer‐employee arrangement where:

work is assigned to you by your employer/supervisor, and you complete the work under their direction

you work the number of hours per day/shift as agreed by your employer

the employer provides you with pay slips

the employer makes superannuation contributions on your behalf

• you accrue annual leave and/or other leave entitlements, such as leave loading under a casual employment agreement
• be registered and approved by TRA following validation of your EVR.
• You must complete at least 1725 hours of paid employment in your nominated occupation over a minimum of 12 calendar months from your JRE Start Date. Periods of leave (including paid leave) cannot be included in the 1725 hours.
•  

Documents required

• an Employment Verification Report (EVR) for every employer registered, at least 863 paid work hours must be completed with the one employer. Up to three consecutive months of paid employment undertaken immediately prior to applying online for JRE can be claimed
• a copy of your current Visa Grant
• pay evidence covering your prior employment claim period, if applicable.

SPR – Skills Progress Report

A Skills Progress Report (SPR) is a self-assessment record of the skills and activities you have undertaken in your workplace.

The purpose of the SPR is to confirm you are developing your skills and experience in the workplace, using the appropriate tools and equipment, and doing the duties expected for your occupation in an Australian workplace.

You must provide a SPR under any of the following circumstances if you have not yet achieved a successful JRWA:

• you have worked with an employer for more than six months since your JRE Start Date
• you are ending your employment with an employer you had previously registered
• TRA requests a SPR.

TRA will email you when your SPR is due. Once your SPR and pay evidence are verified by TRA, your work hours will be updated in the Total Approved Hours table on your Home Page in the TRA Online Portal. 

Step 2- JRWA, Total Fee-$2540
The Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA) is the second step of the JRP. The purpose of the JRWA is to determine whether you are operating at the required skill level in an Australian workplace for your nominated occupation.

 Eligibility

To be eligible for a JRWA, the following is required:

• all of your employment arrangements have been approved by TRA
• acceptable pay evidence for at least 863 hours over a minimum of six months from your JRE Start Date
• acceptable SPRs, EVRs and any other relevant information confirming you are performing expected tasks and duties and developing the skills required for your nominated occupation.
• TRA will review your pay evidence and SPRs and advise you by email when you are eligible to apply for a JRWA.

Assignment of TRA‐approved assessor

When your JRWA application has been processed by TRA, the following will be provided to a TRA‐approved RTO:

• contact details for you and your employer/supervisor
• a copy of your SPRs, EVRs and any other relevant information
• details of your Australian qualification
• a copy of your passport identification page.

The TRA-approved RTO will allocate an assessor to conduct your workplace assessment. The assessor will:

• contact you and your employer/supervisor to organize a time and date that is suitable to conduct the assessment, and to confirm the location for the assessment
• discuss with you the work you have done and the tools and equipment that would be available for the assessment
• review the documentation provided by TRA

prepare an assessment plan detailing what you will be required to do during the assessment. The plan will be provided to you and your employer/supervisor before the scheduled date of the assessment.

JRWA process

During a JRWA the assessor will:

The assessment will be conducted using a range of methods, which may include a technical interview and observation of your practical skills.

Give you an outcome thereafter.

Step 3- Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA), Fee-$65
The Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA) is the third and final step of the JRP. When you have successfully completed Steps 1, 2 of the Job Ready Program you will be eligible to apply for a JRFA.

A successful JRFA provides you with a skills assessment outcome, required for an application to the Department of Home Affairs for a visa for independent skilled migration.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a JRFA you must have:

• all your employment arrangements approved by TRA
• achieved a successful JRWA outcome

• provided TRA with acceptable pay evidence:
• for at least 1725 hours of employment in your nominated occupation
• that demonstrates a minimum of 12 months of active employment from your JRE Start Date.  Extended periods of leave or periods of unemployment do not count towards this requirement.

Within 45 days of receipt of your eligible JRFA application, you will receive a letter by email confirming you have completed all steps of the Job Ready Program and have attained a successful skills assessment in your nominated occupation.

This letter is not a qualification, nor does it represent formal accreditation of your skills and experience. It can only be used to apply to Home Affairs for a permanent independent skilled migration visa.

TSS Skills Assessment
The TSS Skills Assessment Program is an assessment pathway for applicants applying for a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, who: 

• work in a nominated occupation and hold a passport from a nominated country or Special Administrative Region (SAR) as indicated in the table below.
• are required by the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) to have a skills assessment for temporary migration. 

A skills assessment determines if you have the skills and experience necessary to work in Australia at the trade level for your occupation.

There are two skills assessment pathways available under the TSS Skills Assessment Program:

Pathway 1 is for applicants that do not hold an Australian qualification in their trade. Skills assessments are conducted against the requirements of the relevant training package qualification for the nominated occupation. The Pathway 1 assessment process consists of four steps that must be completed sequentially.

Pathway 2 is for applicants who hold a:

• relevant Australian VET qualification; or 
• current identified Australian occupational license.

In addition to your qualification, you must be able to demonstrate work experience of at least three years full-time employment in a directly related occupation. This must include 12 months full-time paid employment in your nominated occupation in the three years prior to lodging your application. For applicants applying with a current identified Australian occupational license the 12 months full-time paid employment must be in Australia.

* a current, identified Australian occupational license is a registration certificate of other form of authorization required under law to perform work that has been issued by the appropriate Australian licensing authority and is relevant to the nominated occupation.

Offshore Skills Assessment
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is for applicants applying for a skilled migration visa (excluding 485 or TSS visas). This assessment is compulsory for applicants from the nominated countries, Special Administrative Regions (SARs) and occupations listed in the table below. It is also compulsory for applicants in the following licensed occupations regardless of their country of origin:

• Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic,
• Electrician (General),
• Electrician (Special Class),
• Plumber (General).

Applicants for the OSAP are required to travel to an assessment center in Australia or in a nominated country in the table listed below.

The OSAP is also available for applicants choosing to undertake a skills assessment in a non-licensed nominated occupation who can travel to Australia or a nominated country for a skills assessment.

There are two skills assessment pathways available under OSAP:

Pathway 1 is for applicants who do not hold an Australian qualification in their trade. Skills assessments are conducted against the requirements of the relevant training package qualification for the nominated occupation. The Pathway 1 assessment process consists of four steps that must be completed sequentially.

Pathway 2 is for applicants who hold a: 

• relevant Australian qualification; or
• current identified Australian occupational license.

In addition to your qualification, you must be able to demonstrate work experience of at least three years full-time employment in a directly related occupation. This must include 12 months full-time paid employment in your nominated occupation in the three years prior to lodging your application. For applicants applying with a current identified Australian occupational license, the 12 months full-time paid employment must be in Australia.

*a current, identified Australian occupational license is a registration certificate or other form of authorization required under law to perform work that has been issued by the appropriate Australian licensing authority and is relevant to the nominated occupation.

Fees - 1.5 Fees | Trades Recognition Australia

Migration Skills Assessment

The MPA program is for applicants with a successful Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) skills assessment outcome who want to apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a points-tested, independent skilled migration visa. It is a paper based skills assessment of your qualification/s and employment history to determine comparability with Australian standards for a skilled worker in your nominated occupation.

The MSA program is for migration purposes only.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the MSA program if your nominated occupation is: 

• To be eligible to apply for MSA, you must have a successful skills assessment outcome from TRA in your nominated occupation.
• listed on the on the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) website with TRA as the relevant skills assessing authority. 
• Relevant to your qualification and/or apprenticeship 
• Relevant to your employment.

Fees

• Migration Points Advice based on a TRA Migration Skills Assessment or a skills assessment from another TRA program $410
• Migration Points Advice Review $350

Guidelines :

Apply Online:

Contact Details:

Enquiry line times

Monday to Friday
10.00 am to 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Australian Eastern Standard Time, excluding public holidays (GMT +10 hours).

Phone (outside Australia): [phone]

Phone (in Australia): 1 300 360 992

Email: [e-mail]

Postal address

Trades Recognition Australia
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9880
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

Courier address

Trades Recognition Australia
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Via Loading Dock 50 Marcus Clarke Street
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

50 Marcus Clarke Street
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA