🎓 Working in One Field, Qualified in Another? Here's What You Need to Know About Skills Assessment & Qualification Accreditation in Australia

It’s a common scenario: You have an academic qualification in one field, but your work experience is in another. You apply for a skills assessment based on your work experience, and it comes back positive—but from a different assessing authority (like VETASSESS instead of Engineers Australia).

And then the question hits: 👉 “My qualification is in Engineering, but my skills assessment is in a different occupation. Do I still need to get my degree accredited by Engineers Australia?”

Let’s break this down. 👇

💡 Understanding the Basics:

Australia’s Skilled Migration Program is based on your nominated occupation, not necessarily your academic qualification.

Your skills assessment must: ✔ Match your nominated ANZSCO occupation, and ✔ Be issued by the relevant assessing authority for that occupation.

✅ Example: Engineering Qualification, Experience in a Different Field

One of our clients holds a Bachelor's in Engineering, but has worked extensively in Project Management and had no recent engineering experience.

🔹 Assessment outcome: They received a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS as a Program or Project Administrator (ANZSCO 511112), based on their work experience, not their degree.

Their next question: 👉 "Should I also get my Engineering degree accredited by Engineers Australia?"

🚫 Short Answer: No — Not Unless You're Applying as an Engineer

If your nominated occupation is NOT in the engineering group, then you don’t need to get your degree assessed by Engineers Australia.

🛠️ Engineers Australia only assesses qualifications for engineering-related ANZSCO codes like Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Engineering Technologist, etc.

If your assessment is with VETASSESS, ACS, TRA, or another body, they are only concerned with whether your experience and (where relevant) your qualification match the nominated occupation.

🧾 What Happens to Your Engineering Degree?

Your Engineering degree:

• May not be "formally recognized" in the skills assessment if it's not relevant to the nominated occupation.
• Can still be used to claim educational qualification points in your EOI, as long as it's recognized as equivalent to an AQF level qualification (like a Bachelor's degree).

✅ When Should You Consider EA Accreditation?

You should pursue Engineers Australia assessment only if:

• You plan to nominate an engineering occupation
• You want to explore state sponsorships or employer roles that require an EA-accredited qualification
• You want to obtain NER or Chartered status as part of professional recognition

📌 Final Takeaway

🎯 Your nominated occupation drives your assessment, not your degree title. If you’ve been assessed successfully by the relevant authority based on your experience, and your occupation is not engineering-related, there’s no need to go through Engineers Australia for accreditation.

Still unsure about your pathway or what assessment body suits your background? 📩 Reach out for tailored advice—we’ll help you find the right direction for your PR journey.

Ashi Gupta

Senior Skills Assessment & Migration Advisor

📞 Call/WhatsApp: +61 480 091 240

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