CPA Australia Skill Assessment

CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountant) is a skills assessing authority that assesses accountants and professionals with a Finance background who wish to migrate to Australia.

Australia Immigration requires a structured route through which applicants can apply for permanent residency by securing some basic requirements, such as Australia 65 points in the point assessment grid, a nominated occupation to be listed on the Australia Skilled Occupation List, an English Language Proficiency test score, and a positive skill assessment report.

A positive skill assessment report is crucial for securing Australian PR. Apart from CPA Australia, there are four other major skill assessing authorities required for Australian Immigration named as:

1.  VETASSESS

2.  Engineers Australia

3.  ACS

4.  TRA

 CPA Australia is one of the assessing authorities that secures PR for applicants, especially accountants. CPA Australia also has a structured route that helps in securing a positive report. It provides the following skill assessment services:

 ●    Qualification Assessment

It evaluates applications for only educational qualifications and English language test scores.

 ●    Skilled Employment Assessment

It evaluates applications on the basis of employment in terms of the occupation selected to be listed on the based on and work experience gained in the same field of the selected occupation.

 Assessment Criteria for CPA Australia

As CPA Australia provides two assessment services, both have their critics regarding skill assessment, which can be discussed as:

 Assessment criteria for Qualification Assessment

There are 3 main components under

1.  Degree Comparability

Assessed according to the guidelines of the Australian Government’s Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Education, CPA Australia assesses educational qualifications to be equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor’s degree.

 2.  Educational Knowledge

CPA Australia assesses education based on equivalency to an Australian bachelor’s degree, and in that case, they require the selected occupation to be listed on the Australian Skilled Occupation List. With these educational credentials, CPA Australia has the following list of mandatory competencies required for each occupation.

 3.  English Proficiency

CPA Australia accepts English Proficiency test scores in one of the following reports, which is valid for 3 years from the date of its issue.

★  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

 ★  PTE Academic

 ★  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT

 Assessment criteria for Skilled Employment Assessment

Work experience and employment claims are the two main components that are required for the Skilled employment assessment under CPA Australia. The vital aspect under this section is the selection of a nominated occupation to be listed under the Australia Skilled Occupation List with their valid ANZSCO code. It has the following criteria as CPA Australia will only assess employment that:

●    Is closely associated with an occupation with a valid ANZSCO code

●    Employment occurred 10 years before the application date

●    Completed a formal education equivalent to an Australian bachelor’s degree

●    Completed and paid employment services for a minimum of 20 hours a week

●    Have at least one year of accumulated employment. 

 Application Process for CPA Australia for Skill Assessment

 1.  Choose the correct assessment service

To begin with the skill assessment process, always select the correct assessment service. Decide whether either wanted the Qualification Assessment or the Skilled Employment Assessment service.

 2.  Gather essential documents

The most important step after choosing the assessment service is to gather all the necessary documents. The list of documents is as follows:

●    Personal identification documents such as a passport’s photo page or a national ID

●    English language proficiency test score report, such as IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL iBT

●    Academic credentials such as, degree, certificates or awards earned throughout

●    Skilled Employment document, such as employer testimonial (if applicable)

 3.  Online Application

Create an online CPA Australia application account. Enlist all the necessary documents along with the correct occupation selected with a valid ANZSCO code. Submit the application fee alongside the online form on the official CPA Australia portal.

 4.  Assessment Outcome

The last step for this process is the assessment outcome as it decides the fate of the application process. If the assessment report turns out to be positive, then the applicants will receive an official letter confirming the assessment.

CPA Australia Occupation List

CPA Australia lists in-demand occupations and their corresponding ANZSCO code in the Skilled Occupation List.

 Updated Fees for CPA Australia Skill Assessment 2025

 Processing Time for CPA Australia Skill Assessment

Processing time for the CPA Australia Skill assessment requires approximately 20 business days. CPA Australia also accepts priority applications, which are processed within approximately 8 business days.

 CPA Australia Skill Assessment Validity

A positive skill assessment report is valid for 3 years from the date of its issue.

 The CPA Australia skill assessment is a vital step for accountants and professionals with a Finance background who desire to migrate to Australia under a skilled visa. It evaluates academic qualifications and work experience against Australian standards, as directed by the Department of Home Affairs. Understanding the process, preparing accurate documentation, meeting eligibility criteria, and seeking professional help could bring Australia PR.

 Still have some questions regarding the CPA Australia skill assessment? Consult Province Immigration, and we will help you achieve a positive skill assessment report.