Architect Pathway to Australia

Exclusive Australian Immigration News, Updates & Opportunities

Skills Assessment – Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)

Architect – ANZSCO 232111

Description

Architects plan and design buildings, provide concepts, plans, specifications and detailed drawings, negotiate with builders and advises on the procurement of buildings. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level 1

Specialisations

Conservation or Heritage Architect

Skills Assessment Requirement

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Architect is Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

Three pathways for skills assessment by ACA:

Pathway A – If you hold an accredited architecture qualification from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore
- If one of your qualifications is on the list of accredited architecture qualifications, you can obtain a Skills Assessment letter through a simple verification process. View a summary of the process here.
- If your Australian qualification is not on the list of accredited architecture programs, you do not qualify for the verification process. You may be eligible for the Overseas Qualifications Assessment if you have completed an overseas qualification.
- Applicants with other qualifications from New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore (which are not on the list of accredited architecture qualifications) are required to undertake the Overseas Qualifications Assessment or the Experienced Practitioner Assessment to obtain a Skills Assessment letter.
Pathway B – If you hold overseas qualifications
- Applicants who completed academic qualifications in architecture awarded by institutions outside of Australia are required to undertake the Overseas Qualifications Assessment or the Experienced Practitioner Assessment to obtain a Skills Assessment letter.
Pathway C – If you hold both Australian and overseas qualifications
- Only one of your qualifications needs to be on the list of accredited architecture qualifications for you to obtain a Skills Assessment letter through the simple verification process
To be eligible for the overseas qualifications assessment you must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must have completed a 5 year full-time equivalent architectural qualification awarded by an institution outside of Australia and may reside in Australia or overseas
- Professional experience is not assessed. Evidence of work experience will not be taken into account.
To be eligible for the experienced practitioner assessment you must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum five-year professional qualification/s in architecture – applicants must hold an Australian accredited professional qualification in architecture.
- Seven-years relevant professional postgraduate experience with a minimum of three years providing architectural services on complex projects practising at Executive Level (principal decision-maker)
- 12 months relevant professional experience in Australia within the last three years
- Resident in Australia

Did you know?

You only need to complete stage 1 of the overseas qualification assessment to meet the requirement of a Skills Assessment for immigration purposes. However, if you wish to go on to register as an architect in Australia you must also complete stage 2.

Stage 2 involves additional eligibility requirements, a portfolio submission and an interview.

Group: 2321 Architects and Landscape Architects

Description: design commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and recreational buildings and landscapes.

Tasks

obtaining advice from clients and management to determine type, style and size of planned buildings and alterations to existing buildings
providing information regarding designs, materials and estimated building times
preparing project documentation, including sketches and scale drawings, and integrating structural, mechanical and aesthetic elements in final designs
writing specifications and contract documents for use by builders and calling tenders on behalf of clients
consulting with Professionals and clients about external area designs, costs and construction
compiling and analysing site and community data about geographical and ecological features, landforms, soils, vegetation, site hydrology, visual characteristics and human-made structures, to formulate land use and development recommendations, and for preparing environmental impact statements
preparing reports, site plans, working drawings, specifications and cost estimates for land development, showing location and details of proposals, including ground modelling, structures, vegetation and access
inspecting construction work in progress to ensure compliance with plans, specifications and quality standards

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

232111 Architect
232112 Landscape Architect

Potential PR Pathway

Nearly all of the engineering occupation is on the medium and long-term strategic skills list. This means there are more potential PR visas that you can apply for.

Skilled visas:

Points will be given to you based on the following:

Age
Educational Qualifications
Points for Professional Year
Points for NAATI- Credentialled Community Language
Points for 2 Year Study
Points for English
Points for Regional Study
Points for Work Experience
Points for Specialist Educational Qualifications (STEM)
Points for Partner

How to Apply for your Skills Assessment

• You may obtain further information on how to apply for your ‘Skills Assessment’ via simply clicking on the blue links located on ‘page 8 and 9’ of the APPLICATION GUIDE’ (located in Step 4).

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. It is a points tested visa. The minimum score to apply is 65 points. However, based on the previous round of invitation, you would need to achieve a score of at least 90 points to increase your chance of obtaining an invitation.

Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa

Similar to the Subclass 189 visa, this visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently too. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. For the subclass 190 visa, you must have a state who is willing to nominate you. States have their own occupation list. If registered nurse is on the state occupation list and you meet all the state’s eligibility criteria, you can apply to the state to nominate you.

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

Although this visa is not permanent. It can lead to a permanent visa (Subclass 191 – Skilled Regional Visa). The Subclass 491 visa allows you to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. Another criterion of this visa is that you are nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible relative. To be nominated by the state, you must check the state’s occupation list and meet all the state’s requirements. To be sponsored by your eligible relative, your relative must be a usual resident in a designated regional area of Australia.

Employer Sponsored Visas:

Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional Visa)

You can apply for subclass 494 if you have a regional employer who is willing to sponsor you. To be eligible for this visa, you must have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and have a relevant skills assessment. With this visa, there is a requirement that you must work for the employer who is sponsoring you.

Subclass 191 -Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa

This visa will come into effect on 16 November 2022. It is for people who holds a Subclass 491 visa or Subclass 494 visa who have lived, worked or studied in the designated regional area for at least 3 years with a taxable income at or above $53,900. This visa will allow you to live work and study in Australia permanently.

Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

If you have an employer who is willing to sponsor you, you may be eligible for a Subclass 186 visa. This visa is permanent and will allow you to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. To be eligible for this visa, you need to have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and a positive skills assessment. Alternatively, if you are a holder of a Subclass 457 or TSS visa, you can apply for Subclass 186 after working for your employer for at least 3 years.