Biomedical Engineering Skill Assessment: Key Roles & Duties

Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that applies engineering, physics, mathematics, computing and materials science to healthcare and medical challenges. Biomedical engineers develop and improve medical devices (such as monitors, imaging tools and therapeutic equipment), work with doctors and nurses to integrate technology into patient care, and design systems to diagnose and treat disease. In Australia, this means harnessing knowledge of biomechanics, electronics and biology to prevent illness and enhance treatments. This guide explains the education, roles, and migration pathways for biomedical engineers, with a focus on the Engineers Australia skill assessment process and related occupations.

What is a Biomedical Engineer?

A Biomedical Engineer applies engineering principles to medicine and biology. According to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), a biomedical engineer “applies knowledge and methodology of physics, engineering, mathematics, computing, physical chemistry and materials science to problems in biology and the treatment and prevention of human disease”. In practice, biomedical engineers work on technologies ranging from prosthetic limbs and artificial organs to hospital imaging equipment and wearable health monitors. They often work in multidisciplinary teams alongside surgeons, physiotherapists and other specialists to develop and implement medical solutions.

In Australia, biomedical engineers can be found in hospitals, research labs, universities and medical technology companies. They might work in a hospital’s biomedical engineering department maintaining equipment, or in industry designing the next generation of medical devices. As one university career guide notes, “biomedical engineers work in health care and must have a good theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering, a sound understanding of medical sciences and the ability to combine the two”. Importantly, their work spans “the study of biological systems” and the development of technology to treat injuries and disease.

Education, Accreditation and Engineers Australia

To qualify as a biomedical engineer in Australia, the typical educational requirement is an Australian four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering (with a major or specialization in biomedical engineering) or an equivalent qualification. Engineers Australia – the professional body for engineers – requires that applicants have at least a 4-year engineering degree for the Professional Engineer category. If you studied overseas, your degree must be recognized under international accords (like the Washington Accord) or assessed by Engineers Australia. In summary, accredited engineering programs are highly valued for migration. Engineers Australia notes that a formal qualification “is the main factor in choosing the right assessment pathway”.

Engineers Australia categorizes engineering occupations into four occupational levels (Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, etc.). Biomedical engineers typically fall under the Professional Engineer category for migration, which demands a full four-year degree. For those without an accredited degree, Engineers Australia provides a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway. In a CDR, applicants document their engineering projects and experience to demonstrate they meet the standards for a biomedical engineering occupation. This pathway is used if, for example, your degree is not accredited or was obtained outside Australia. In all cases, an applicant “needs a migration skills assessment outcome letter… before [they] can apply for a visa to come to Australia”. This means overseas biomedical engineers must undergo the Engineers Australia skills assessment process in order to migrate.

ANZSCO Codes and Related Occupations

In Australia, every occupation has an ANZSCO code. The code for Biomedical Engineer is 233913. This code sits in the ANZSCO unit group 2339, “Other Engineering Professionals”. Group 2339 covers a variety of engineering specialisms not classified elsewhere, including both biomedical and several related fields. For example, ANZSCO code 233911 is for Aeronautical Engineers, who “perform and supervise engineering work concerned with the design, development, manufacture, maintenance and modification of aircraft for flight”. Aeronautical and biomedical engineers are grouped together in ANZSCO 2339 along with agricultural, environmental, and naval architects.

ANZSCO 233913 – Biomedical Engineer: Applies engineering and scientific methods to solve medical and biological problems. (Specializations include Bioengineer, Clinical Engineer, Medical Engineer.)
ANZSCO 233911 – Aeronautical Engineer: Designs and maintains aircraft and aerospace systems.
Other related codes: Agricultural Engineer (233912), Environmental Engineer (233915), etc..

All occupations in this 2339 group are skill level 1 (bachelor degree or higher). This means a biomedical engineer in Australia is expected to hold a university degree in engineering. Also, ANZSCO notes that registration or licensing may be required for these roles. For example, some biomedical engineers who work in medical device regulation or in clinical settings may need specific registration, depending on state laws and their exact job function.

Many Australian states maintain skilled occupation lists that mirror ANZSCO codes. For instance, Tasmania’s onshore skilled occupation list explicitly includes 233913 Biomedical Engineer. This means Tasmania may nominate biomedical engineers for visas like the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) if they meet other criteria. Similarly, the Australian Department of Home Affairs includes biomedical engineers (ANZSCO 233913) on its skilled occupation lists such as the Combined Skilled Occupations List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which are used for visa eligibility.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Biomedical engineers have diverse responsibilities across research, design, and clinical application. Some of the key tasks include:

Design and develop medical devices: Create new monitoring, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (e.g. imaging machines, heart monitors, drug delivery systems). Engineers often prototype and refine devices that clinicians will use.
Install, test and maintain equipment: Set up medical instruments in hospitals or labs and perform calibration and safety testing to ensure equipment works reliably. They must verify that devices meet regulatory and safety standards.
Specify and manage technology projects: Define requirements for devices, coordinate with manufacturers, and oversee production and quality assurance. This includes “testing the safety, efficiency and effectiveness” of equipment.
Develop assistive technologies: Design and implement devices to help people with disabilities (prosthetics, orthotics, rehabilitation systems). For example, engineering artificial limbs, braces, or cochlear implants to restore function.
Research in physiology and materials: Analyze biological systems and materials to innovate. This could involve studying biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system to improve healing devices, or developing new biocompatible materials for implants.
Measure and interpret physiological data: Develop instruments or software to monitor the body’s electrical and mechanical signals (such as EEG or ECG). Biomedical engineers may “diagnose and interpret bioelectrical data using signal processing techniques”, aiding in disease diagnosis.
Clinical collaboration: Work alongside doctors, nurses, and therapists to integrate technology into patient care. As one guide notes, biomedical engineers “usually work in multidisciplinary teams” with medical professionals. For example, they might train clinical staff on a new device or tailor equipment to specific patient needs.
Documentation and compliance: Although often unseen, a significant role is documenting designs, performing risk assessments, and ensuring devices comply with medical regulations and quality systems. This attention to detail is crucial in healthcare engineering.

Biomedical engineers often spend time in labs and hospitals, working on equipment like this monitoring device. They may test and calibrate devices to improve patient care. The image above (from a University of Queensland engineer) illustrates a typical laboratory setting where biomedical engineers develop or test medical technology. Such environments are common for roles in research and development of devices.

Specializations within biomedical engineering can vary. ANZSCO lists Bioengineer, Clinical Engineer and Medical Engineer as examples. In practice, a Clinical Engineer might specialize in hospital equipment management, while a Rehabilitation Engineer (a title not in ANZSCO but recognized in the profession) focuses on assistive devices for the disabled. The Australian Careers Online guide notes that biomedical engineering roles are found in hospital departments, medical equipment firms, research centers and government agencies. Indeed, “most biomedical engineers are employed in public hospital-based engineering departments, by medical equipment vendors or by third-party service organisations”. Some work in academia or consultancies, helping to transfer medical technologies into practical use.

Engineers Australia Migration Skills Assessment

For engineers seeking to migrate to Australia, the Engineers Australia skills assessment is a mandatory step. Engineers Australia is “authorised by the Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs to assess [applicants’] qualifications, skills and experience”. In other words, before you apply for any skilled visa, you must have a positive Migration Skills Assessment outcome letter from Engineers Australia. The assessment verifies that your education and experience meet Australian standards for your nominated engineering occupation (in this case, biomedical engineer).

The Engineers Australia website explains this clearly: “If you want to migrate to Australia as an engineer, you need to have your skills formally assessed” by them. The process has six main steps, starting with checking your qualification and choosing the right category (Professional Engineer for biomedical, etc.). Applicants with accredited engineering degrees often use the Australian/New Zealand or Accord pathways, while those with non-accredited or foreign degrees submit a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).

A CDR requires you to document your engineering projects and career to prove you have the needed competencies. Engineers Australia emphasises choosing the correct assessment pathway based on your qualifications. For example, “you should apply via the competency demonstration report (CDR) assessment pathway if you have an engineering qualification that is not accredited”. During assessment, you will select “Biomedical Engineer” as your occupation (ANZSCO 233913) and provide evidence (transcripts, experience records, etc.) to satisfy EA’s standards.

Once Engineers Australia is satisfied, you’ll get a migration skills assessment letter specifying your occupational category (e.g. Professional Engineer – Biomedical) and which ANZSCO code. This letter is a prerequisite for visa applications. Without it, you cannot proceed with skilled migration. In summary, a positive Engineers Australia Skill Assessment is essential for a biomedical engineer to qualify for Australia’s skilled visas.

Visa Pathways for Biomedical Engineers

Biomedical engineers qualify for various skilled migration visas, provided they meet criteria like age, points and state requirements. Key visa streams include:

Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189, points-tested): A permanent visa allowing you to live and work anywhere in Australia. Applicants must score at least 65 points (based on age, education, English, experience, etc.), though higher scores improve chances. You must have a positive Engineers Australia assessment for ANZSCO 233913 and list Biomedical Engineer on your Expression of Interest.
Skilled Nominated visa (Subclass 190): Permanent visa requiring state/territory nomination. Each state publishes its own occupation list; biomedical engineering is often included (e.g. Tasmania’s list). As a condition, nominated applicants must live/work in the nominating state. Subclass 190 provides PR from the start.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491): A 5-year provisional visa for skilled workers in regional Australia. It requires state nomination or a family sponsor. Applicants get 15 extra points if nominated by a state (Tasmania explicitly nominates biomedical engineers). After 3 years on 491, holders can apply for permanent residency via the new Subclass 191 visa. This visa “allows you to live and work in [a designated] regional area… for up to five years”. (Unlike the permanent 190 visa, the 491 is temporary but leads to PR.)
Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485): A temporary 18-month to 3-year visa (depending on qualification) for international students who recently finished an Australian degree. Biomedical engineering graduates from an Australian university can apply in the Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream. This visa lets you “live, work and study in Australia temporarily” after graduation, giving you time to find employment or sponsorship.
Employer-sponsored visas (e.g. Subclass 482/494): If an Australian employer sponsors you, you may be eligible for temporary or provisional skilled visas. For example, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visa caters to regional job offers. For any employer visa, a Labor Market Test or local skill shortage justification is often required.

Meeting the visa criteria also involves English proficiency (usually IELTS 6 or higher), health and character checks. The above visa types cover most migration routes. For instance, Subclass 189/190 applications explicitly require “positive skills assessment” by Engineers Australia, while the 491 visa requires nomination on a state list plus a skills assessment. The 485 Graduate visa requires a recent degree and registration on the relevant skilled occupation list (which for biomedical engineers it is).

Salary and Employment Outlook

Biomedical engineering is a specialized profession, and salaries can vary widely by role and experience. A 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics report indicated that the average biomedical engineer’s salary was about $101,490 for men and $121,339 for women per year. (The female average was reported higher in that dataset.) More recent surveys suggest median salaries in the range of AUD $60k–$90k for entry to mid-level positions. For example, PayScale (2025) cites an average salary of about $72,000 AUD for biomedical engineers, with the highest earners reaching around $97k.

In terms of job availability, demand can be competitive. Engineers Australia notes that positions are Skill Level 1, often requiring a high skill threshold. One analysis observed that openings for the ANZSCO 2339 group (which includes biomedical engineers) were “expected to be low”, meaning new job vacancies might not be abundant every year. However, biomedical engineers often find roles in niches like medical device companies, hospitals or research institutions.

Employment settings for biomedical engineers include:

Hospitals and healthcare facilities: Working in clinical engineering departments to maintain and calibrate medical equipment (e.g. MRI machines, ventilators).
Medical device industry: Designing, testing, and producing medical instruments and implants (e.g. prosthetics, diagnostic scanners).
Research and academia: Conducting biomedical research, developing cutting-edge health technologies, or lecturing in universities.
Government and consulting: Ensuring compliance with medical regulations, or advising healthcare projects.
Self-employment: Some engineers work as independent consultants or start-ups, especially in emerging biotech areas.

According to Australia’s Careers Online guide, “most biomedical engineers are employed in public hospital-based engineering departments, by medical equipment vendors or by third-party service organisations”, and others by device development firms or government. This matches industry reports that biomedical roles are often linked to hospitals, universities and companies producing medical products.

Specialisations: Within the field, engineers might specialize further. Sub-roles mentioned in Australian career resources include:

Bioengineer: Focuses on the engineering of biological systems.
Clinical Engineer: Specializes in hospital-based technology, managing medical equipment lifecycle.
Rehabilitation Engineer: Designs technology to aid people with disabilities (orthotic and prosthetic devices, mobility aids).
Electronics or Software Engineer (in med-tech): Some biomedical engineers work primarily on the electronic or computational aspects of devices, integrating sensors and data analysis.

Example Job Titles

Some job titles and roles that fall under biomedical engineering include:

Biomedical Engineer / Bioengineer
Clinical Engineer
Medical Device Design Engineer
Rehabilitation Engineer (sometimes within biomedical)
Medical Equipment Engineer
Biomedical Research Engineer
Regulatory Affairs Engineer (medical devices)

These roles all leverage engineering skills in a medical context. Employers may expect engineers to collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and to have strong communication skills to explain technical solutions to non-engineers.

Summary

Biomedical engineering in Australia offers a blend of engineering and healthcare. To work in this field – especially as a migrant – you need the right education and a positive Engineers Australia skill assessment. Prospective migrants should prepare a strong application (including a CDR if needed) and meet visa criteria. The job can be rewarding: engineers get to improve patient outcomes by developing life-saving technology. Key takeaways:

Education: An accredited 4-year engineering degree (major in biomedical engineering) is typically required.
Skill Assessment: Engineers Australia must approve your qualifications and experience as a biomedical engineer.
ANZSCO Code: Biomedical Engineers are ANZSCO 233913 (group 2339), alongside related occupations like Aeronautical Engineers.
Roles: Biomedical engineers design and maintain medical devices, work with healthcare teams, and research biological systems.
Visa Options: Skilled visas (189, 190, 491) and post-study visas (485) are available, often requiring state nomination or job offers.
Salary/Jobs: Salaries vary (around $70k–$120k), with jobs in hospitals, industry and research.

For more details on the Engineers Australia skill assessment process, visit Engineers Australia’s migration section. If you are an engineer seeking migration, ensure you meet the official requirements and prepare any needed CDR documentation in advance. With the right preparation, biomedical engineering can be a rewarding career path in Australia.