Optional Skills Assessment Service
Applicant Guidelines
January 2015
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Document particulars
TRIM ID
ED11/011108
File
Optional Skills
Assessment Service
Applicant
Guidelines.doc
Content last updated
April 2014
Document
status
FINAL
Due for review
July 2014
Point of contact
Trades Recognition Australia
Approval authority
Branch Manager, Trades Recognition Australia
Date of first approval
November 2013
Note: This is a controlled document in its electronic form only. Paper copies of this
document are not controlled and should be checked against the electronic version
before use.
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted
all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Australia (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/) licence.
The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative
Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for
the CC BY 3.0 AU licence
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode).
The document must be attributed as the Optional Skills Assessment Service
Applicant Guidelines.
Document change history
Version Date
Authors Summary of change
Authorised
by
1.0
15 November
2013
TRA
New document
Dr Melissa
McEwen,
General
Manager
TRA
1.1
4 April 2014
TRA
Addition of Ireland, South
Africa, Sri Lanka for
Airconditioning and
Refrigeration Mechanics
assessments. Replace TRA
and RTO Finder website links
with new website links.
Dr Melissa
McEwen,
General
Manager
TRA
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 2 of 23
Version Date
Authors Summary of change
Authorised
by
1.2
23 June 2014
TRA
Update privacy notice (section
1.10).
1.3
January 2015
TRA
Updated Department
information
Dr Melissa
McEwen,
General
Manager,
TRA
Dr Melissa
McEwen,
General
Manager,
TRA
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 3 of 23
Table of Contents
Section 1
Overview of the Optional Skills Assessment Service ................... 5
1.1
Purpose of the Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines 5
1.2
Optional Skills Assessment Service Summary ......................................... 5
1.3
Service objective ...................................................................................... 6
1.4
Relevant legislation .................................................................................. 6
1.5
Service delivery ........................................................................................ 6
1.6
Fees ......................................................................................................... 7
1.7
TRA roles and responsibilities .................................................................. 7
1.8
TRA-approved RTO roles and responsibilities .......................................... 7
1.9
Applicant roles and responsibilities ........................................................... 8
1.10 Privacy ..................................................................................................... 8
1.11 False or misleading Information.............................................................. 10
1.12 Certification of Documentation................................................................ 11
1.13 Employment Statements ........................................................................ 12
Section 2
Optional Skills Assessment Service process .............................. 13
2.1
Purpose of the Optional Skills Assessment Service ................................ 13
2.2
Eligibility for the Optional Skills Assessment Service .............................. 13
2.3
Optional Skills Assessment Service process .......................................... 14
2.4
Optional Skills Assessment Service Outcome ........................................ 15
2.5
Optional Skills Assessment Service reviews ........................................... 16
2.6
Optional Skills Assessment Service timeline .......................................... 16
Section 3
Gaining an occupational licence in Australia .............................. 17
3.1
Process for gaining an occupational licence ........................................... 17
Section 4
Contact details ............................................................................... 19
4.1
Locate a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) .................................. 19
4.2
Locate a Licensing Regulator ................................................................. 19
4.3
Contact an Industry Skills Council .......................................................... 19
4.4
General Enquiries about the Optional Skills Assessment Service ........... 19
Section 5
Glossary ......................................................................................... 21
Section 6
Acronyms ....................................................................................... 23
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 4 of 23
Section 1
Overview of the Optional Skills
Assessment Service
Terms explained in the Glossary are bolded when they first appear in this
document.
1.1 Purpose of the Optional Skills Assessment
Service Applicant Guidelines
These guidelines describe the Optional Skills Assessment Service (Optional
Service) and define the requirements for applicants seeking a skills assessment
for the purposes of gaining an occupational licence in Australia.
The Optional Service is managed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). TRA, a
business unit of the Australian Department of Education and Training is the
relevant assessing authority for nominated occupations under the Migration
Regulations 1994.
It is essential that prospective applicants understand the eligibility requirements for
the Optional Service before starting an application (see section 2.2).
While a successful skills assessment under the Optional Service can be used for
migration purposes, it is not necessarily linked to any migration requirement. These
guidelines do not provide specific information on visa or points requirements for
migration. All enquiries regarding migration must be directed to the Australian
Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) (www.immi.gov.au).
TRA reserves the right to amend these guidelines as needed. Information about
changes to the guidelines will be documented in the document change history table
on page 2.
1.2 Optional Skills Assessment Service Summary
The Optional Service is a skills assessment pathway for applicants trained in trades
overseas who are not required to have a skills assessment, as part of a migration
requirement, by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).
Applicants are generally seeking a skills assessment for the purpose of gaining an
occupational licence in a nominated airconditioning and refrigeration, electrical, or
plumbing occupation in Australia.
Successful skills assessments under the Optional Service may also be subsequently
used for migration purposes where required.
Applicants applying for an assessment under this service must be assessed by a
TRA- approved registered training organisation (TRA-approved RTO). Applicants
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 5 of 23
are required to choose an RTO from the RTO Finder website
(http://tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/Programs/Pages/RTO-Finder.aspx).
The Optional Service is currently available for the following nominated occupations
in Australia and the following countries:
Nominated Occupation
Countries
Airconditioning and Refrigeration
Mechanic [342111]:
Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom
Electrical Linesworker [342211]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Electrician (General) [341111]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Electrician (Special Class) [341112]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Plumber (General) [334111]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Technical Cable Jointer [342212]
Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom,
United States of America
1.3 Service objective
The objective of the Optional Service is to determine whether an applicant is able to
work in Australia at the required skill level in the nominated occupation for
occupational licensing purposes. It aims to ensure successful applicants can
contribute immediately to Australia’s skilled workforce.
1.4 Relevant legislation
TRA is the assessing authority for a range of trade and associate professional
occupations under the Migration Regulations 1994.
Regulation 2.26B(2) of the Migration Regulations 1994 provides that “the standards
against which the skills of a person are assessed by a relevant assessing authority
for a skilled occupation must be the standards set by the relevant assessing
authority for the skilled occupation”.
1.5 Service delivery
Skills assessments for the Optional Service are undertaken by TRA-approved RTOs.
Currently, Future Skills International, VETASSESS, and Victoria University are
TRA-approved RTOs that provide the Optional Service. Contact details for these
RTOs are listed on the RTO Finder website.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 6 of 23
1.6 Fees
Skills assessment fees are paid directly to the RTO selected by the applicant to
conduct the skills assessment.
TRA-approved RTOs set fees, and fees are listed on the RTO’s website.
Links to TRA-approved RTO websites are available from the RTO Finder website.
1.7 TRA roles and responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of TRA in relation to the Optional Service include (but
are not limited to):

providing up-to-date information about processes and procedures

contract management and monitoring of TRA-approved RTOs

responding to enquiries about the service

policy management

developing and maintaining an appropriate IT system to support the
service

liaising with key stakeholders

responding to complaints that cannot otherwise be dealt with by the
TRA-approved RTOs, as required

monitoring integrity of the service

managing evaluations of the service

undertaking compliance and investigative measures as required.
1.8 TRA-approved RTO roles and responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of TRA-approved RTOs to deliver the services include
(but are not limited to):

meeting their obligations under the VET Quality Framework

conducting an assessment of the evidence applicants provide in
accordance with the documented processes and procedures

notifying applicants of assessment outcomes, including issuing the
appropriate documentation

liaising directly with applicants:

in response to enquiries

acknowledgement of applications and fees paid

managing the review process

complaint handling.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 7 of 23
1.9 Applicant roles and responsibilities
Applicants must:

be an overseas trained tradesperson seeking a skills assessment for the
purpose of occupational licensing

accurately and honestly complete the required skills assessment
application and declaration forms issued by the RTO conducting the skills
assessment

provide valid, authentic, current evidence to the RTO to enable the
assessment to be conducted

ensure the documentary evidence submitted to the RTO is complete and
decision ready

participate in the assessment as advised by the RTO

pay all assessment fees to the RTO
1.10 Privacy
All personal information collected by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is protected
by the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act contains the
Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which prescribe the rules for handling personal
information.
The Privacy Act defines ‘personal information’ as:
‘information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is
reasonably identifiable:
(a)
Whether the information or opinion is true or not; and
(b)
Whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not’
Privacy information
Under the APPs, the Department of Education and Training (Department) is required
to have a clearly expressed and up to date policy about the way the Department
manages personal information. This policy contains information about how you may
access the personal information the Department holds about you, and how you may
correct any inaccuracies in that information. We will correct your personal
information if it is inaccurate (subject to restrictions on such access/alteration of
records under the applicable provisions of any law of the Commonwealth).
It also includes information as to how you may make a complaint about a breach of
the APPs, and how the Department will respond to such a complaint.
A copy of the Department’s privacy policy is available on the Department’s website
at: https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 8 of 23
More information about the Privacy Act, including a copy of the full text of the APPs,
can be obtained from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s
website at: www.oaic.gov.au.
Collection
TRA collects personal information from applicants for the purposes of:

processing applications, verifying evidence provided with applications, and
assessing whether an applicant has suitable skills in a nominated
occupation/s;

confirming authorisation by an applicant of his or her representative or
migration agent, and to provide contact details for that representative or
migration agent;

allowing you to make a payment of fees to TRA so you can lodge an
application;

allowing TRA to confirm payment and process refunds as applicable;

conducting investigations and ensuring compliance with relevant laws,
awards or standards, and

ensuring compliance with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines
(2011).
Personal information collected by the Department will only be used for the purposes
outlined above. If TRA is not able to collect your personal information, your
application will not be able to proceed.
In the course of assessing your application, TRA may receive unsolicited personal
information about you from a third party. If TRA would normally have been able to
collect that information or it forms a part of a Commonwealth record, it will be treated
in accordance with the APPs. If not, TRA will destroy or de-identify that information.
Disclosure
TRA may give some or all of the information it collects from applicants or third parties
to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the Migration Review
Tribunal, the Australian Federal Police, your employer/s, your supervisor/s, your
nominated agent or representative, the organisations that issued your qualifications,
TRA approved registered training organisations, agencies providing advice to TRA
on qualifications such as UK NARIC, organisations or individuals providing in-country
verification services, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the Reserve Bank of
Australia, your banking institution, contractors, the Fair Work Ombudsman and other
Australian and state/territory government agencies.
TRA may disclose your personal information to these entities for the reasons that are
listed above in the collection section.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 9 of 23
As part of the application process, TRA may be required to disclose your personal
information to an overseas recipient to verify information in your employment and
training claims. Typically, this personal information will be your name and date of
birth. These overseas recipients are likely to be located in the country or countries
from which you are making your employment or training claims.
Complaints
Please note, applicants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and validity of all
information provided to TRA.
Complaints about breaches of privacy should be referred to:
Privacy Contact Officer
Legal Branch
Corporate Division
Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Email: privacy@industry.gov.au
1.11 False or misleading Information
TRA-approved RTOs will take reasonable steps to verify the validity of information
supplied throughout the assessment process.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and validity of all information
provided to the RTO they choose to conduct the assessment.
If a TRA-approved RTO determines that information supplied is false, misleading,
non-factual or incorrect and that, by relying on that information, an applicant has
been incorrectly assessed as successful, the applicant may be contacted to advise
that the assessment is no longer successful.
TRA may refer matters to the appropriate authorities for investigation where
information that has been provided to support an application is known or believed to
be false.
NOTE: Penalties apply under the Crimes Act 1914 and the Criminal Code Act 1995
may apply for false or misleading statements and providing false or misleading
information or documents.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 10 of 23
1.12 Certification of Documentation
TRA-approved RTOs must be able to verify the content of all documents that are
provided by an applicant. The following instructions must be followed:

Original documents must not be sent to a TRA-approved RTO. All
documentation in support of an application must be certified copies of the
original documents.

A certified copy is a true copy of an original document that has been
sighted and certified by an acceptable person and annotated with:
I certify that I have sighted the original document and this is a true
copy.

The certifier’s name, title, registration number (where applicable) and their
signature and date must be included. Copies of signatures are not
acceptable.

If a document has multiple pages, the first page must include the
signature of the certifier, the date and the total number of pages of the
document. The certifier must initial and date every page in the document.

Documents certified within Australia must be certified by a registered
migration agent or by people who are listed in the Statutory Declarations
Regulations 1993 as persons before whom a statutory declaration can be
made. This list is available through the Australian Government’s
Attorney-General’s Department website
(http://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Pages/Statutorydeclarations.aspx).

For documents certified outside Australia, certified copies are copies
authorised, or stamped as being true copies of originals, by a person or
agency recognised by the law of the country in which the applicant
currently reside or by an Australian registered migration agent.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 11 of 23
1.13 Employment Statements
All statements provided to a TRA-approved RTO that relate to an applicant’s
employment or work experience must be signed by an employer or an employee of
the employer who is authorised and capable of making the statements, such as a
direct supervisor.
Each employment statement provided to a TRA-approved RTO must include:

start and end dates of employment

address where the applicant worked

normal hours of work

the nature of employment (full time, part time)

applicant’s job title (occupation)

a detailed description of the tasks undertaken, along with the machines,
tools or equipment used

the name of the person authorised to make the statement and their
contact details

all employer statements must be on a letterhead used by the employer’s
business.
The person signing the statement must clearly indicate their name, position, contact
details and length of time they have been the applicant’s supervisor.
TRA-approved RTOs may contact an employer to verify information provided in an
employer statement. A contact telephone number is required for every person who
supplies an employment statement. A mobile telephone number is not sufficient as a
primary contact number unless the TRA-approved RTO can independently verify that
the mobile telephone number is linked to the organisation where the applicant was
employed.
All employment statements must be certified copies in accordance with section 1.12
above.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 12 of 23
Section 2
Optional Skills Assessment
Service process
2.1 Purpose of the Optional Skills Assessment
Service
A skills assessment through the Optional Skills Assessment Service (Optional
Service) is undertaken for the purpose of gaining an occupational licence for one of
the following occupations:

Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic

Electrical linesworker

Electrician (general)

Electrician (special class)

Plumber (general)

Technical cable jointer
Prospective applicants are advised to check with state and territory licensing
regulators before submitting an application to TRA to ensure the appropriate
pathway for your circumstances. Contact details for licensing authorities are
available on the Licence Recognition website http://www.licencerecognition.gov.au/
2.2 Eligibility for the Optional Skills Assessment
Service
To apply for a skills assessment under the Optional Service an applicant must
provide documentation that identifies experience in the nominated occupation.
Applicants must be able to travel to the location where the chosen TRA-approved
RTO can conduct the assessment.
The Optional Service is currently available for the nominated occupations in
Australia and the following countries:
Nominated Occupation
Countries
Airconditioning and Refrigeration
Mechanic [342111]
Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom
Electrical Linesworker [342211]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Electrician (General) [341111]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Electrician (Special Class) [341112]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 13 of 23
Plumber (General) [334111]
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States of America
Technical Cable Jointer [342212]
Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom,
United States of America
2.3 Optional Skills Assessment Service process
Applicants must adhere to the following process to meet the standards set by TRA
under the Optional Service.

Step 1: Self-evaluation
Complete a self-evaluation of your skills, knowledge and experience in your
nominated occupation using the self-evaluation tool TradeSET to determine if you
have the required skills for work in Australia. There are no costs associated with
TradeSET and it can be used more than one time.
TradeSET can be accessed via www.tradeset.com.au.

Step 2: Choose a TRA-approved RTO
Applicants are required to select an RTO to conduct their skills assessment through
the RTO Finder website with the following instructions:

select the nominated occupation from the list available

select preferred TRA-approved RTO
A TRA-approved RTO must be used for skills assessments to meet TRA
requirements for this program.

Step 3: Submit documentary evidence
Applicants must submit decision ready* documentary evidence of their identity, skills
and experience to a TRA-approved RTO for assessment. The RTO advise what
documentation must be provided.
Documentation may include:

recent photographs-passport-sized, certified and dated

relevant passport pages-certified copy (must show name, photo and date
of birth)

evidence of skills and experience, including but not limited to training
documents, evidence of employment and employment statements

certified English translation of any documents sent, if originally issued in a
language other than English, compiled by a registered translation service

the assessment fee.
If the evidence provided indicates that the applicant has the necessary skills and
experience relevant to the nominated occupation, the applicant will be invited to
participate in a technical assessment with an RTO assessor.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 14 of 23
If the documentary evidence does not sufficiently demonstrate the skills and
experience relevant to the nominated occupation, the RTO will advise the applicant
of the identified gaps.
* Decision ready means:
a)
all documents requested by the RTO are provided when the application is
lodged
b)
all documents are certified in accordance with section 1.12
c)
employment statements conform to the requirements set out in section 1.13.

Step 4: Technical Assessment
Applicants will be required to participate in an assessment of their skills and
knowledge. The assessor conducting the assessment will be an Australian qualified
tradesperson from the nominated trade and a qualified assessor.
The assessor will focus on collecting evidence to determine the relevant Australian
Training Package qualification requirements have been meet. This may involve a
technical interview, a practical demonstration of skills and/or gathering evidence from
nominated employers or other referees.
The RTO will discuss assessment requirements with an applicant prior to conducting
the assessment.
All technical interviews are conducted in English. Interpreters are not permitted.

Step 5: TRA-approved RTO assessment outcome
The TRA-approved RTO will issue documentation notifying you of the outcome of
your assessment.
Applicants found competent in all aspects of the relevant assessment standard for
the nominated occupation, except for the Australian specific knowledge and skills,
will be issued with an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR).
An applicant must still undertake Australian context training and a period of
supervised employment in the specific trade in order to be awarded the AQF
qualification for that occupation in Australia and gain a full occupational licence. See
Section 3 for information on the process for gaining an occupational licence in
Australia.
If unsuccessful, the RTO will advise of gaps identified in your skills and experience.
2.4 Optional Skills Assessment Service Outcome
Applicants will meet the standards set by TRA for an Optional Service if:

the process outlined in section 2.3 above is followed

all requirements of the TRA-approved RTOs that form part of any
technical process are met
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 15 of 23

all evidence provided can be verified to the satisfaction of the
TRA-approved RTO and meets the requirements of the TRA-approved
RTO for a successful skills assessment.
An applicant will be found not to have met the standards set by TRA under the
Optional Skills Assessment Service if:

the documentary evidence provided to the TRA-approved RTO is not
decision ready

the documentary evidence provided to the TRA-approved RTO is not
relevant to the nominated occupation

the documentary evidence provided contains insufficient detail to meet the
Optional Service requirements

the documentation is found to contain false or misleading information

the requirements of the TRA-approved RTO for the technical assessment
are not met.
2.5 Optional Skills Assessment Service reviews
If an applicant disagrees with an assessment outcome they may lodge an application
for assessment review with the TRA-approved RTO that conducted the assessment.
Refer to your assessing RTO website for details about how to apply for a review and
the costs involved.
The review fee will be refunded if the review overturns the original outcome based on
the documentation provided in the original application. If new documentation was
considered necessary to overturn the original assessment outcome, the review fee is
not refundable.
2.6 Optional Skills Assessment Service timeline
The RTO chosen to conduct your assessment will advise how long the assessment
process will take. Typically, an assessment can be completed within thirteen weeks
from date of submitting all required documentary evidence to the RTO.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 16 of 23
Section 3
Gaining an occupational licence in
Australia
3.1 Process for gaining an occupational licence
The following information outlines the process for obtaining an occupational licence
in Australia following a skills assessment through a TRA-approved registered training
organisation (RTO). Australia has strict safety standards and licensing requirements
for licensed occupations.

Step 1: Offshore Technical Skills Record
Applicants who complete a skills assessment through a TRA-approved RTO for one
of the following licensed occupations will be issued an Offshore Technical Skills
Record (OTSR).

Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic

Electrical linesworker

Electrician (general)

Electrician (special class)

Plumber (general)

Technical cable jointer
The OTSR documents an applicant’s technical skills by recording the technical
competencies the applicant has successfully demonstrated against the relevant
Australian qualification. The OTSR holder must still undertake Australian context
training and a period of supervised employment in the specific trade in order to be
awarded the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification for that
occupation in Australia.

Step 2: Provisional Licence
Overseas trained tradespeople who hold an OTSR are eligible to apply for a
provisional licence. A provisional licence allows the holder to perform work in the
licensed occupation under supervision while completing the Australian context
training. A provisional licence can be obtained on application from Australian state
and territory licensing regulators, subject to applicants meeting other non-skill
requirements.
Contact details for licensing authorities are available on the Licence Recognition
website.
Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics only
The Commonwealth refrigerant handling licence is an additional licensing
requirement across Australia for the refrigeration and air conditioning occupations,
and a restricted electrical licence may also be required depending on the licensing
arrangements in the particular state or territory.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 17 of 23
Information on the Commonwealth refrigerant licences is available on the
Australian Refrigeration Council website.

Step 3: Australian Context Training
While working under supervision, OTSR holders also undertake formal training to
obtain the Australian-specific knowledge related to their occupation. The process for
this context training differs between electrical and airconditioning and refrigeration
trades and for plumbing.
Minimum Australian Context Gap training for electrical occupations and
airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic has been developed by E-Oz Energy
Skills Australia, the Industry Skills Council responsible for the training packages in
these industries.
Further information on the minimum Australian context gap training for these
occupations, including availability and fee information is available on the
E-Oz Energy Skills Australia website.
The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council is responsible for
plumbing qualifications in Australia Further information and resources available for
migrant plumbers is available on the Construction and Property Services Industry
Skills Council website.

Step 4: Obtain AQF Certificate III
On successful completion of both the Australian context training and a period of
supervised employment (up to 12 months), the OTSR holder can apply for the
relevant AQF Certificate III qualification from the TRA-approved RTO that issued the
OTSR.
The AQF Certificate III can then be used to apply for a full tradesperson’s licence
with the relevant state or territory licensing authority, provided any other
requirements of the licensing authority have been met.

Step 5: Apply for full tradesperson’s licence
Generally the AQF Certificate III is a requisite for a tradesperson’s licence, which
may have a slightly different name and different conditions depending on the state or
territory you wish to work in.
Please note that a tradesperson’s licence does not automatically allow the holder to
become a contractor. Contractor’s licences generally require further training and
additional experience. Individuals should confirm these requirements, and the
conditions of the various licence categories with the licensing authority in the
relevant state or territory.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 18 of 23
Section 4
Contact details
4.1 Locate a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
To locate an RTO to conduct a skills assessment please utilise the RTO Finder
located on the TRA website following these instructions:

select the nominated occupation from the list available

select preferred TRA-approved RTO
4.2 Locate a Licensing Regulator
To locate state and territory licensing regulator for occupational licensing please visit
http://www.licencerecognition.gov.au/
For information about the Commonwealth refrigerant licences go to the Australian
Refrigeration Council website at http://www.arctick.org/index.php
4.3 Contact an Industry Skills Council
Industry Skills Councils can provide information on Australian context training and
RTOs that can deliver the training:
Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic: E-Oz – Energy Skills Australia
Electrical occupations:
E-Oz – Energy Skills Australia
Plumber (General):
CPSISC - Construction & Property
Services Industry Skills Council
4.4 General Enquiries about the Optional Skills
Assessment Service
Contact Trades Recognition Australia.
Phone:
Monday to Friday: 10.00 am – 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Australian Eastern Standard Time, excluding public holidays (GMT +10 hours)
Outside Australia: +61 2 6102 8970
Within Australia: 1300 360 992
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 19 of 23
Email
traenquiries@industry.gov.au
Fax
+61 2 6290 8780
Web
www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/
Post
Trades Recognition Australia
Department of Industry
GPO Box 3022
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 20 of 23
Section 5
Glossary
Term used in
Guidelines
Definition
Australian context
training
Australian context training, developed by Australian
Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) for the airconditioning
and refrigeration mechanic, plumbing and electrical
licensed trades, enables overseas-trained
tradespeople to gain the Australian specific
knowledge and experience as referred to in the
Offshore Technical Skills Record. This training can
only be undertaken by applicants when they are in
Australia, through RTOs approved to deliver the
course. ISCs bring together industry, educators and
governments to develop, implement and continuously
improve vocational education and training (VET)
training Packages.
Australian Training
Package
A set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications
developed by industry to ensure quality training outcomes
and to meet current and emerging vocational skill needs.
decision ready
Decision ready means:
a) all documents requested by the RTO are provided
when application lodged
b) all documents are certified in accordance with
section 1.12 above
c) employment statements conform to the
requirements set out in section 1.13 above
Department of
Immigration and
Border Protection
(DIBP)
DIBP’s key objectives are to:
manage the lawful and orderly entry and stay of people in
Australia, including through effective border security
promote a society which values Australian citizenship,
appreciates cultural diversity and enables migrants to
participate equitably.
DIBP has responsibility for administering the Migration Act
1958 and associated Regulations.
DIBP works in conjunction with the Department of Industry
to deliver skilled trades/technical people and professionals
to Australia through the skilled migration program.
Department of
Industry
The department will be responsible for national policies and
programmes that help Australians access quality early
childhood education, school education, higher education,
vocational education and training, international education
and research.
Occupational licence
Occupational licence is issued by an Australian licensing
authority and allows a person to carry out work in an
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 21 of 23
Term used in
Guidelines
Definition
airconditioning and refrigeration, electrical or plumbing
trade.
nominated
occupation
One of the occupations listed at section 1.2.
Offshore Technical
Skills Record (OTSR)
The document that is issued when an applicant has been
found competent in all aspects of the relevant assessment
standard for their nominated occupation except for the
Australian specific knowledge and skills that can only be
acquired through training and work experience in Australia.
Provisional Licence
A provisional licence allows the holder to work in their
licensed trade in Australia under supervision and is a
pathway to a full licence.
Qualification
A trade qualification awarded under the Australian
Qualifications Framework.
review
A request to re-examine an application when the applicant
does not agree with an assessment outcome.
skills assessment
The process of collecting evidence and making judgments
on whether an individual can perform to the standard
expected in an Australian workplace.
Trades Recognition
Australia (TRA)
TRA manages skills assessments for people with trade
skills who want to apply to DIBP for permanent and
temporary skilled migration to Australia. TRA also does
skills assessments for people seeking an Australian
Recognised Trade Certificate and for people who require a
skills assessment to facilitate access to occupational
licensing.
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 22 of 23
Section 6
Acronyms
Acronym
Meaning
ANZSCO
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of
Occupations
AQF
Australian Qualification Framework
CPSISC
Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council
DIBP
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E-Oz
Energy Skills Australia
ISC
Industry Skills Council
OTSR
Offshore Technical Skills Record
RTO
Registered Training Organisation
TRA
Trades Recognition Australia
VET
Vocational Education and Training
Department of Education and Training
Optional Skills Assessment Service Applicant Guidelines
Page 23 of 23