2.3 Technical Skills Assessment

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If you are found to be successful at the documentary evidence stage, you will be required to participate in a technical assessment of your skills and knowledge, conducted by a qualified assessor who will also be a qualified tradesperson in your nominated occupation.

The assessor will focus on collecting evidence to determine if you are capable of undertaking the full range of tasks expected of a tradesperson in Australia for your nominated occupation.

This will involve a technical interview of skills and gathering evidence from nominated employers or other referees, which may include documentary, oral, pictorial and/or video evidence.

The RTO will discuss the assessment requirements with you before conducting the assessment and you will need to agree that you can meet these requirements before you make a payment.

TRA advises that before you apply, you speak to your TRA-approved RTO about their technical assessment methods - including venue locations you may have to travel to. All technical assessments will be conducted in English without assistance.  Interpreters are not permitted.

Before you can start your technical assessment, you must make a payment for the technical assessment through the TRA Online Portal. Your RTO will issue you with a payment identification code that you can use to make the payment. You will be able to log into the TRA Online Portal using the username and password you created when making a payment for the documentary evidence assessment.

2.3.1  Pathway 1

For applicants who do not have a relevant Australian VET qualification

The assessor will focus on collecting evidence to determine if you meet the requirements of the relevant VET qualification in the Australian Training Package for your nominated occupation. This will involve a technical interview and may involve a practical demonstration of skills and gathering evidence from any nominated employers or other referees.

If you are applying for one of the licensed occupations of Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class) and Plumber (General), a practical demonstration of your skills is compulsory (referred to as a ‘practical assessment’).

2.3.2  Pathway 2

For applicants who have a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current, identified Australian occupational license (without restrictions)

The assessor will focus on collecting evidence to determine if you are capable of undertaking the full range of tasks expected of a tradesperson in Australia for your nominated occupation.

This will involve a technical interview of skills and gathering evidence from nominated employers or other referees.

2.3.3  Technical Skills Assessment Outcome

Once your technical assessment is complete, the RTO will forward either a successful or unsuccessful recommendation to TRA to make the final decision. Following TRA’s final decision on the RTO recommendation, the RTO will notify you of your outcome and issue you with the final documentation.

You will have met the standards set by TRA under OSAP if:

  • all evidence you have provided can be verified by the RTO as meeting the requirements for a successful skills assessment
  • you were successful in meeting the requirements of the technical assessment
  • TRA agrees with the RTO’s recommendation for a successful outcome.