Engineers Australia Employment Assessment

A Full Guide to the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment If you’re an engineer aiming to migrate to Australia, you’ve likely heard of the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment. This process evaluates whether your engineering work experience meets Australian standards for the occupation you’ve nominated. In other words, it checks if your professional experience is both skilled and relevant to your engineering role in Australia. Passing this assessment not only validates your experience but can also earn you valuable points in Australia’s points-tested visa system, boosting your chances in the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment is, who needs it, the requirements and steps to apply, and how to avoid common pitfalls. We’ll also provide tips for success, a sample reference letter template, and a quick comparison with the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) process. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to tackle the employment assessment and strengthen your Australian migration application. Let’s dive in!

What is the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment?

The Engineers Australia Employment Assessment – officially called the Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment (RSEA) – is a review of your engineering work history by Engineers Australia. Essentially, Engineers Australia (EA) examines your past job roles and duties to determine if they align with Australian engineering standards and with the ANZSCO code of your nominated occupation. If your experience is deemed “relevant skilled employment”, EA will endorse those years of work in your skills assessment outcome letter. This assessment is optional for most engineering occupations but highly beneficial for migration purposes. A positive employment assessment formally confirms that your engineering experience is valid and relevant, which can earn you points in the migration points test. In fact, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs awards extra points for overseas skilled work experience: 5 points for at least 3 years, 10 points for 5 years, and 15 points for 8 or more years (for work in the last 10 years). By getting your work experience vetted by EA, you ensure those years count toward your visa points. This process goes by a few names you might encounter, all referring to the same thing: Skilled Employment Assessment, Work Experience Assessment, Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment – they all mean Engineers Australia’s verification of your engineering employment. For example, you might see references to an “Engineers Australia work experience assessment” or “relevant skilled employment check”. It’s all part of EA’s Migration Skills Assessment services. Why do it? A successful employment assessment gives you an edge in migration and can also be useful for recognition in Australia’s job market. It’s often taken by those pursuing:

General Skilled Migration visas (Subclass 189 Skilled Independent, 190 State Nominated, or 491 Regional Skilled Work visas) to claim work experience points.
Employer-sponsored visas, where proving your skilled work history may be required by the employer or visa criteria.
Professional registration or licensing, in some cases – having verified experience can support applications for chartered status or state engineering registrations (though the main purpose is migration).

Is it mandatory? For most engineering occupations, the employment assessment is optional. However, if you are applying under the “Engineering Manager” occupation, it is mandatory to undergo a work experience assessment as part of your skills assessment. Engineering Manager is a high-level role, and EA requires evidence of substantial management experience for this category. For all other engineers (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.), it’s up to you to decide if you need it – usually determined by whether you want those migration points or need to prove experience for a sponsor.

Who Needs a Skilled Employment Assessment?

Not every visa applicant will need to bother with an employment assessment – it depends on your situation and goals. Here are the common scenarios where you should consider getting your skilled employment assessed by Engineers Australia:

You want to claim migration points for overseas work experience: If you have at least 3 years of engineering experience (outside Australia) and are applying for a points-tested visa (189, 190, 491), an EA employment assessment is necessary to claim those points. The Department of Home Affairs will only award the points if your assessing authority (EA) recognizes your work as relevant skilled experience. Without EA’s endorsement, you could miss out on up to 15 points that might be crucial for your visa invite.
You have substantial engineering work history and want it recognized: Perhaps you’ve worked 10+ years in your field abroad. Even if you meet the minimum visa points without claiming experience, getting your Engineers Australia work experience assessment can strengthen your profile. It formally validates your professional level, which can be reassuring to state nominators or employers. It’s an extra credential showing you didn’t just get a degree – you applied it in practice.
Your visa or employer requires proof of experience: Some employer-sponsored visas or job roles might ask for an official verification of your claims. For instance, if an Australian employer is sponsoring you, they may prefer that EA has vetted your credentials and experience. While the primary purpose of RSEA is migration points, nothing stops you from using the outcome letter as evidence of your experience’s legitimacy and relevance to Australian standards.
You worked as an engineer overseas and want to ensure it’s considered “skilled”: Engineering roles and titles can vary worldwide. By undergoing the assessment, you ensure that your job duties and responsibilities are considered equivalent to the Australian definition of your occupation. This can be especially useful if your job title was unusual or your company not well-known – EA will look at what you actually did. If you’re unsure whether your foreign experience “counts” in Australia, the assessment will give a definitive answer.

On the other hand, you might not need an employment assessment if you have little to no work experience yet (e.g., recent graduates) or if you don’t intend to claim any work points for migration. In such cases, you can focus solely on the qualification assessment or Degree Assessment stage of the migration skills assessment. (For details on how Engineers Australia evaluates your degree qualifications, check out our Degree Assessment guide.) Bottom line: If you’re an engineer with relevant experience seeking Australian migration, the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment is highly recommended. It’s essentially a quality check of your career to date, translating your professional history into Australian terms.

Employment Assessment vs. Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)

It’s easy to get confused between the various assessments Engineers Australia offers. Two key ones are the qualification (competency) assessment and the employment assessment – and they serve different purposes. Let’s clarify:

Competency Demonstration Report (CDR): This is a substantial technical report you prepare to demonstrate your engineering skills and knowledge. A CDR is part of the qualification assessment process for Engineers Australia. You only need to submit a CDR if your engineering degree is not accredited or recognized under the international accords (Washington, Sydney, Dublin Accords). The CDR includes your career episodes, summary statement, and Continuing Professional Development write-up. Engineers Australia uses it to assess whether your engineering competencies meet the Australian standard for your occupation category. In short, the CDR (or an accredited degree) is about proving your education and core competencies.
Skilled Employment Assessment (RSEA): This, as we’ve been discussing, is separate from proving your qualifications. The employment assessment assumes you already have a recognized qualification (either via an accredited degree or a positive CDR outcome). It then focuses on verifying your work experience: the roles you’ve held, the projects you’ve worked on, and the duties you performed. The goal is to confirm that you have actually worked as an engineer at the appropriate skill level, and for how long.

How they fit together: Typically, an engineer migrating to Australia will first need a skills assessment of their qualifications. If you have an accredited degree, EA will assess your degree directly; if not, you’ll go the CDR route. Once you achieve a positive skills assessment outcome for your qualifications (degree/CDR), you can then obtain the employment assessment to validate your experience. In fact, Engineers Australia requires that you already have a successful qualification assessment outcome (or submit them jointly) before doing the work assessment. You can apply for both at the same time – for example, many applicants submit a CDR for their degree and include the RSEA documents for their work in one application. EA will assess the qualification first and then the employment part. To put it simply: CDR = proving you’re a qualified engineer. Employment Assessment = proving you’ve worked as a qualified engineer. Both are important for a well-rounded migration application. The CDR (or degree verification) is mandatory for your skills assessment; the employment assessment is optional but needed for claiming experience points or meeting certain visa criteria. Internal Tip: If you need guidance on preparing a strong CDR, refer to our Competency Assessment Guide – it’s a detailed resource on how to craft your competency demonstration report effectively. And remember, a good CDR outcome is the foundation upon which you can then build with a positive employment assessment.

Types of Engineers Australia Employment Assessments (Pathways and Scenarios)

When we talk about “types” of employment assessments, it’s not that Engineers Australia has different exams for different engineering disciplines – the process is fundamentally the same whether you’re a civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, or other engineer. However, there are a few different contexts and combinations in which you might undergo the assessment:

Migration Skills Assessment + Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment: This is the most common scenario for those seeking skilled migration. Here, you combine your qualification assessment (either via an accredited degree or CDR) with the skilled employment assessment in one application. EA will issue an outcome letter that states two things: (1) your qualifications are suitable for your nominated occupation, and (2) which periods of your employment are recognized as relevant skilled experience. You would choose this combined service if you want the whole package for General Skilled Migration. (Engineers Australia offers a bundled fee for combined degree+employment assessment; for example, a CDR assessment plus employment assessment costs around AUD $1,452 including GST as of 2025.)
Separate Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment: If you have already obtained a qualifications-only assessment outcome earlier (say you got your degree assessed and didn’t opt for the work assessment at that time), you can later apply separately for an employment assessment. This might happen if, for instance, you initially weren’t claiming experience points but later decided to (such as after gaining more years of work). EA allows a standalone employment check for a fee of about AUD $517 (incl. GST). They will then issue an updated outcome letter reflecting your recognized work experience. Keep in mind, you must have a prior positive skills assessment in the same occupation to use this separate service.
Discipline-Specific Considerations: While the procedure is the same for all fields, you should ensure your experience aligns with your nominated discipline. For example, if you apply as a Civil Engineer, EA expects to see civil engineering tasks in your job duties (design of roads, structures, site engineering, etc., not unrelated admin work). If you are a Mechanical Engineer, your experience should involve mechanical systems, machinery, thermal/fluids work, and so on. There isn’t a separate “Civil Engineer assessment” versus “Mechanical Engineer assessment” – but you should present your experience in the context of your specific field. We’ll discuss how to do that in the documentation and tips sections.
Engineers Australia Experience Assessment for Company Sponsorship or Others: In some cases, engineers seeking a company-sponsored visa or a state nomination might use the employment assessment to strengthen their case. For instance, a state government might require evidence of ongoing skilled employment in your field. EA’s validation can serve that purpose. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, Engineering Manager applicants have a unique requirement where their work experience must be assessed as part of the process – effectively, their “CDR assessment” inherently includes the employment check. So, if you’re aiming for Engineering Manager, be prepared to submit the extra documents (detailed work references, etc.) upfront.
Relevant Skilled vs. Irrelevant Experience: One aspect the assessment will judge is whether each period of your work was in your field and at the proper skill level. Only paid, professional engineering work counts. Part-time work is generally not counted (EA considers “full-time” as 20+ hours per week of continuous employment). Additionally, work done before you attained your qualifying engineering degree will not be counted – you must have completed your degree for your employment to be recognized as skilled. Work that is overly junior, not related to engineering tasks, or outside your ANZSCO occupation might be deemed not relevant. If so, EA may exclude that period from your total recognized experience.

In summary, whichever engineering discipline or visa pathway you’re on, the employment assessment’s core is the same: proving the relevance, skill level, and authenticity of your work experience.

Requirements for the Engineers Australia Employment Assessment

To prepare a successful application, you’ll need to gather quite a bit of documentation. Essentially, you must prove your identity, qualifications, and employment history. Engineers Australia will be looking for evidence that verifies each claim you make about your work. Below is a full checklist of requirements:

1. Personal Identity Documents:

Passport: A scan of the bio-data page of your current passport (the page with your photo and details). This confirms your identity and nationality. Ensure it’s clear and legible.
Photograph: A recent passport-sized photograph of yourself.
Name change proof (if applicable): If your documents show different names (due to marriage or any legal change), include official evidence like a marriage certificate or deed poll. (Note: EA will not accept a mere affidavit or statutory declaration for name changes – you need official registered documents.)

2. English Language Proficiency: Engineers Australia requires applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds to demonstrate English ability for the skills assessment. This typically means providing a valid IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic test result. The common requirement is IELTS overall 6.0 (with no band below 6.0) or equivalent, which is the “Competent English” level. If you’re from a country like the USA, UK, etc., or hold a degree taught in English, this may be waived. Check EA’s current policy on English test exemptions. If you do need it, have your test report ready (must be within its 2-year validity period).

3. Engineering Qualification Documents:

Degree Certificate(s): Your graduation certificate for your engineering degree (Bachelor, Masters, PhD as applicable). If you have multiple relevant degrees, include them all.
Academic Transcript(s): The official record of subjects and grades for your degree. EA needs to verify the completion of an appropriate engineering education.
Accreditation evidence (if applicable): If your degree is from a university under the Washington/Sydney/Dublin Accord, it helps to note that. While not a separate document, knowing your degree is recognized can simplify the process (you’d apply via the accord pathway). If your degree is not accredited, you likely went through the CDR route – in which case, ensure your CDR documents (Three Career Episodes, Summary Statement, CPD list) are ready to submit for the qualification assessment part.

Important: All non-English documents (e.g., transcripts in another language) must be translated into English by a certified translator. You’ll upload both the original and the translated version. The translator should certify that it’s an accurate translation and include their credentials. Providing certified translations is mandatory for any document not originally in English.

4. Employment Evidence (Work Experience Documents): This is the crux of the employment assessment. Engineers Australia expects thorough documentation for each period of work you want assessed. The guidelines break these into primary and secondary documents:

Primary Documents (from your employer/client): These are official documents that directly come from your employers and detail your job. The most critical primary document is the Employer Reference Letter (also known as an experience letter or employment certificate). We discuss how to craft this in detail below, but in summary it should be on company letterhead, signed by a supervisor or HR, and include your role, dates of employment, whether full-time, and a description of your duties. Other primary documents can include employment contracts, promotion or offer letters (especially if they detail your position and duties), or performance appraisals that list your responsibilities. If you were self-employed, a letter from a major client or a completion certificate for a project can serve as primary evidence.
Secondary Documents (independent proof): These are third-party pieces of evidence that support your employment claim, ideally from sources independent of your employer. The idea is to show you really worked in that role and were paid for it. Common secondary documents include:
- Payslips or Salary Statements: Showing your name, employer, date, and amount. A few key payslips (e.g., first and last of each year) or an annual salary report can substantiate the duration of employment.
- Tax Records: Income tax returns or tax certificates that indicate income from that employer. For example, in some countries you might have a tax assessment notice or annual tax slip referencing your employer’s name.
- Social Security or Insurance Contributions: Some countries have government-run pension or social security systems (e.g., provident fund, social insurance) where your employer contributions are recorded. If you can obtain statements of those contributions for the period of employment, it’s excellent evidence.
- Work Permits or Visas (if you worked abroad): If you worked in a country on a work visa, a copy of that visa or work permit can serve as proof that you were authorized and employed there.
- Business Registration or Licenses (for self-employed): If you ran your own engineering consulting, provide your business registration certificate, any contracts with clients, invoices, and client payment receipts – to demonstrate you had a legitimate business and projects.

EA typically expects at least one primary and one secondary document for each employment period. In practice, you should provide multiple documents to cover all bases. For example, for a job at XYZ Company from 2015–2020, you might include: a reference letter from XYZ, your job contract, a few payslips from 2015 and 2020, a tax slip for each year, and maybe a social insurance statement. The combination should clearly prove where you worked, for how long, what you did, and that you were paid. Note: Self-employed applicants need to provide alternate documents since you won’t have an “employer letter.” EA advises getting letters from clients you’ve serviced, describing the projects and confirming you did the work. Also include your business license and tax filings to show your company’s existence and income. The evidence should span the full period you claim.

5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Résumé: While not always explicitly listed as required, you should include an up-to-date CV in your application. The CV should chronologically list your education and work history (with months/years), job titles, company names, and a brief description of each role. This helps the assessor get an overview and cross-check details. Make sure your CV dates and details align with what’s in your reference letters and documents (any discrepancies might raise questions).

6. Application Forms and Declarations: When you apply through the EA online portal, you’ll fill out an application form. This includes declaring your personal details, education, and work claims. You will also make a declaration that your information is true and correct. There’s usually a checkbox or digital signature for this. Be honest and accurate – any misleading information can lead to application refusal and potential banning (EA takes fraud seriously and will apply sanctions for false documents). Finally, prepare to pay the required assessment fee (we’ll cover fees and process next). EA won’t process your application until payment is made. Before submission, double-check that all scans are clear and colored. Engineers Australia prefers color scans of original documents; they do not accept black-and-white scans of certified copies in lieu of color originals. In other words, scan your degree certificate in color, rather than a photocopy that was notarized – the original color scan is considered more authentic. If a document is in grayscale (like some payslips), that’s fine – just ensure quality. For translated documents, include the translator’s certification stamp and signature in the scan. By assembling all the above, you set the stage for a smooth assessment. The assessor’s job will be easier if your documentation tells a consistent story of your engineering journey.

How to Apply for an Engineers Australia Work Experience Assessment

Applying for the employment assessment is done through Engineers Australia’s online Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) portal. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

Step 1: Ensure You’re Eligible and Ready

Before starting the application, make sure you meet the prerequisites:

You have identified the correct ANZSCO occupation for your engineering discipline (e.g., 233211 Civil Engineer, 233512 Mechanical Engineer, etc.). Your degree and experience should align with this occupation’s requirements.
If this is your first time applying to EA, you either have an accredited qualification or you have completed your CDR for the qualifications assessment. As noted earlier, a positive skills assessment outcome (or concurrent application) is needed – you can’t get only your experience assessed in isolation. Usually, you will apply for the “Skills Assessment + Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment” together, unless you already did the former.
You have all necessary documents prepared (see the checklist in the previous section). It’s much easier if you have scanned everything beforehand and saved the files with clear names (e.g., “Passport.pdf”, “CompanyX_ReferenceLetter.pdf”, “CompanyX_Tax2018.pdf”, etc.).

Step 2: Create an Account on EA’s Portal

Visit Engineers Australia’s official website and navigate to the Migration Skills Assessment section. You will find an option to Apply or Access the online portal (it might be called EA’s Application Portal or MSA Portal). If you’re a new user, you’ll need to register an account. Use a valid email – this will be your login and how EA communicates with you. After verifying your email and logging in, start a new application. The system will ask what type of assessment you are seeking:

If you are doing both qualifications and employment together, select the combined option (for example, “CDR Assessment + Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment” or the applicable combo).
If you already have an assessment outcome and only need the work assessment now, select “Relevant Skilled Employment Assessment (Post-Assessment)” or similar.

Step 3: Fill in Application Details

The online form will prompt you to fill in personal details (name, DOB, address, etc.), then your education history, and your employment history. Be truthful and precise:

Under education, enter your degree details, institution, graduation year, etc.
Under employment, for each job you want assessed, input the employer name, your position title, start and end dates, and whether it’s full-time or part-time. There may be a text box to summarize duties – even if optional, it’s good to put a brief description for context.
There will be a section to declare English test results (if applicable) and membership of any engineering bodies (if you happen to be a member of Engineers Australia already or other institutions).
As part of the form, you might also need to select your payment option (standard or fast-track). EA offers a Fast Track service for an additional fee, where they assign an assessor to your case more quickly (typically within 20 business days). If you are in a hurry, you can opt for fast-track – but note this doesn’t guarantee a quicker final result, as complex cases or requests for more info can still cause delays. Most applicants go with standard processing by default.

Step 4: Upload Your Documents

Next, you’ll upload all the documents we discussed:

Passport scan, photo, etc., in the identity section.
Degree certificates and transcripts in the education section.
For CDR-based applications: upload your CDR report files (Career Episodes, CPD, Summary Statement) in the relevant slots.
In the employment section: there will be slots to add documents for each job entry you listed. Upload your reference letter for that job, then add supporting docs like payslips, contracts, etc. Tip: Combine multiple pages of a document into one PDF. For instance, if you have 5 payslips for Company X, merge them into one PDF file and upload as “Company X Payslips”. This makes it easier for the assessor rather than 5 separate uploads.
If the portal limits number of files, consider merging related docs together (but don’t mix different jobs in one file). Always ensure each file is under the size limit (the portal typically allows up to 5MB per file; compress PDFs if necessary but keep them readable).
Double-check each upload is correct and opens properly. Mis-uploading (e.g., mixing up files) can cause confusion or delays.

Step 5: Review and Pay

Before final submission, the portal will show you a summary of your application. Take a moment to review all info:

Are all your jobs listed correctly with correct dates?
Does each job have the corresponding documents uploaded?
Did you include all required pieces (e.g., the signed declaration, English test, etc., as needed)? If all looks good, proceed to payment. You’ll be prompted to pay the fee online (via credit/debit card usually). The fee depends on what you selected:
A combined qualification + employment assessment is a higher fee than qualification alone.
A separate employment assessment (if done later) as of 2025 costs around AUD $470 (plus GST).
Fast-track, if chosen, adds about AUD $350 extra.

Make sure the payment goes through and you get a confirmation. The application status in the portal should update to “Submitted” or “In Progress” after payment. (If it remains in “Draft” or “Pending Payment”, something may have gone wrong – you might need to retry payment.)

Step 6: Wait for the Outcome

Now comes the patience game. Under normal processing, Engineers Australia’s advertised timeline for the employment assessment is usually around 8 to 12 weeks. This can vary; some applicants get results sooner, especially if it’s straightforward and well-documented. With Fast Track, your application is assigned to a case officer faster (within about a month), but overall completion still depends on complexity. During this period, be responsive. EA may contact you via email or through the portal for additional information. For example, they might request:

Clarification on a document (perhaps a clearer scan if something was blurry).
Additional evidence for a certain employment period (maybe they want a tax document to back up a reference letter, or a more detailed duty statement).
Verification of documents (in rare cases, EA could ask for documents to be certified or notarized if authenticity is in doubt, but generally not if your scans are clear and complete).

If you get a request for more info (often called a “Notice of Required Information (NRI)”), don’t panic. It means the assessor just needs something extra. Respond within the timeframe given (usually 30 days) to keep the process moving. Upload the requested docs via the portal as instructed.

Step 7: Receive the Result

Once assessment is complete, you’ll receive an Outcome Letter from Engineers Australia. This is a formal PDF letter on EA letterhead. For migration skills assessments that include employment, the letter typically has two main parts:

Qualification Assessment Outcome: Stating that your qualifications (or CDR) have been assessed as meeting the requirements for your occupation (e.g., “Mechanical Engineer – Positive Outcome”).
Relevant Skilled Employment Outcome: This will list the periods of employment that have been recognized. For example, it might say: “Relevant Skilled Employment: XYZ Corp from Jan 2016 to Dec 2020 – 5 year(s) recognized.” They often round down to whole years. If some period wasn’t accepted, that job may be omitted or a shorter duration might be listed than what you claimed.

Check the letter carefully. Those dates are crucial for claiming points. You will submit this letter to the Department of Home Affairs with your visa application as evidence. If the letter does not mention a certain job or has a shorter timeframe, you must only claim points for the recognized time. (Home Affairs might grant points only for what’s in that letter.) If for some reason you got a negative outcome or not all your experience was recognized and you disagree, you do have options to appeal or request a review, but that involves additional fees and time. Ideally, with good preparation, you won’t need to. We’ll cover reasons for potential rejection next, so you can avoid them upfront.

Common Mistakes and Reasons for Rejection in EA Employment Assessments

Applying for an Engineers Australia Skilled Employment Assessment can be intricate, and mistakes in your application can lead to delays or even a refusal of certain claims. Here are some common reasons applications get rejected or work experience is not accepted – knowing these can help you steer clear of trouble:

Insufficient or Unverified Work Documents: One of the top reasons for rejection is not providing the proper evidence of your employment. If you fail to include an official reference letter from an employer, or you don’t submit any independent proof (tax/pay slips), the assessor has nothing solid to verify that work period. Each job you claim should be backed by at least a letter + one other proof. Missing documents = no points for that job.
Job Duties Not Clearly Described: Some applicants provide employer letters that are too vague – for instance, merely stating “X worked as a civil engineer at our company from 2018 to 2022” without listing what X did. Engineers Australia needs to see detailed duties and responsibilities to judge relevance. If your letters lack technical detail or read like generic HR templates, the assessor might conclude they can’t confirm what kind of work you did, and thus not count it. Letters that describe your engineering tasks (design, analysis, project management, etc.) in concrete terms are much stronger. We recommend including 5-6 bullet points of key duties in each reference letter (see our template below).
Duties Don’t Match Your Nominated Occupation: Even if you have a detailed letter, if those details show you weren’t doing tasks related to your claimed profession, you can be in trouble. For example, suppose you nominate “Electrical Engineer” but your reference letter duties are mostly about software development or administrative management – that experience might be deemed not relevant to Electrical Engineering. EA will compare your job duties against the expected tasks of your ANZSCO occupation. If there’s a big mismatch, they may reject that employment period as not relevant. Always ensure the narrative of your work aligns with your engineering category. If you had a mixed role, focus your documentation on the engineering aspects.
Not Enough Experience (Claiming Under 3 Years for GSM Points): By points test rules, you only start earning points at a minimum of 3 years overseas experience. If you submit for an employment assessment with, say, 2 years of work, EA can assess it (and they might verify it for other purposes), but Home Affairs will award 0 points for anything less than 3 full years. Many people thus wait until they have at least 3 years to apply for the assessment, or they include at least one job that covers 3+ years. Also, EA rounds down to full years. If you have 2 years 9 months, it will likely be recognized as 2 years, not enough for points. Be mindful of your dates.
Including Unqualifying Work:
- Pre-qualification experience: As mentioned, any work you did before earning your engineering degree won’t count. Some try to list internships or jobs during college – these will be ignored.
- Unpaid or volunteer work: EA generally only counts paid employment. If you did some unpaid research assistant job or volunteering, it’s not going to be considered “skilled employment” (because the assumption is skilled roles are paid roles at market rate). EA explicitly states that work should be paid at the appropriate professional rate. Stipends, odd allowances, or volunteer gigs usually won’t qualify.
- Part-time work: If you worked part-time, EA’s rules say 20+ hours/week counts as “full-time”. Anything significantly less might not be counted at all, or EA could pro-rate it (though typically they want full-time equivalents). It’s safest to accumulate full-time periods. If you must include a part-time stint, make sure it was at least half-time and be aware it might be discounted.
- Academic roles: Interestingly, EA notes that employment as a university lecturer or tutor is generally not considered relevant skilled employment in the engineering profession. The rationale might be that academia is somewhat outside industry practice (unless your nominated occupation is explicitly Engineering Academic, which is not a common migration category). So if you spent years teaching engineering but not practicing, EA might not count that. Use caution if including such roles.
- Research roles during PhD: Similarly, research assistant or fellow roles undertaken while pursuing a PhD are usually not counted (they assume you were still a student in a sense). If you have postdoctoral research employment after your PhD, that might count if it’s clearly a professional engineering research job.
Plagiarism or Identical Content in Career Episodes/Letters: EA has strict rules against plagiarism in CDRs, but it extends to employment references too. Don’t copy job descriptions from someone else or from the internet verbatim. Also, if multiple applicants from the same company submit letters with exactly the same wording for duties, EA might get suspicious (it has happened that EA questions form letters). Use your own words – or if it’s an HR-issued standardized letter, try to get your supervisor to personalize it. Providing false or misleading information is the worst thing you can do – if EA catches it, they will not only refuse your assessment but could ban you from reapplying for a period (up to 12 months or more). Honesty is the best (and only) policy.
Lack of Official Signatures or Contact Details: An easy pitfall – a reference letter without proper signatory details. Make sure your letters are on official company letterhead, signed by an authorized person (with their name and position stated), and ideally include contact info (an email or phone of HR or the signer). EA may do spot checks to verify letters, so having a reachable contact is important. A letter that looks unauthentic (no logo, no signature, just a plain Word document) won’t fly. Similarly, if you just upload a Word file instead of a signed/scanned document, EA won’t accept it – it must appear as an issued letter, not something you just typed yourself.

To avoid these pitfalls, double-check everything before submission. It can also help to get a professional review of your application if you’re unsure – there are experts and services (including possibly our own team) that can pre-assess your documents to ensure they meet EA’s criteria. A fresh pair of eyes might catch, for example, that your job description sounds too generic, or that you forgot to include a crucial tax paper. Remember, if EA cannot verify or is not convinced about a portion of your work, they simply will not approve that portion. Their outcome letter will list fewer years than you claimed, which directly impacts your visa points. It’s better to over-submit evidence than under-submit. Make your case easy to verify.

Tips for Success in the Engineers Australia Skilled Employment Assessment

Securing a positive employment assessment might feel daunting, but with the right approach you can maximize your chances. Here are some expert tips and best practices to help your application shine:

1. Prepare Detailed Employment Reference Letters: Your reference or experience letters are the centerpiece of your application. Ensure each letter includes:

Exact employment dates: e.g., “January 5, 2017 to March 30, 2021”. This precision helps EA calculate years correctly.
Job title and duties: Don’t just list the title; detail your main responsibilities. Use technical language appropriate to your field. If you’re an electronics engineer, talk about circuit design, testing, standards followed, etc. Be specific: mention projects, tools, and technologies you worked with. For instance, “Designed a 5 MW solar farm grid-connection system including load flow analysis using PSS/E software” is more telling than “worked on solar project”.
Full-time/Part-time status: Include a line like “This was a full-time position (40 hours per week)”. If part-time, state the hours/week.
Organization details: A sentence about what the company does can add context (especially if it’s not a famous company). e.g., “XYZ Ltd is an engineering consulting firm specializing in structural design for commercial buildings.”
Your performance (optional): Some letters include a note that the person’s performance was satisfactory or they were a valued employee. While not strictly needed by EA, it doesn’t hurt as it adds credibility.
Signature and contact: Ensure the letter is signed by someone with authority – ideally your direct manager or HR manager. Their name, position, email, and phone should be included for verification. Company stamp or seal is great to have if available.

If an employer is reluctant to write a detailed letter, explain it’s for an official assessment and you need those details. You can offer to draft it for them to sign. (Many companies are okay with this since it saves them time – just be truthful in what you write.)

2. Provide Ample Supporting Evidence: Don’t skimp on secondary documents. The more proof, the better. A few additional tips:

If you have annual pay summaries or tax slips that cover multi-year employment, include those for each year. They show continuity.
Include end-of-service documents if available (some companies issue a service certificate when you leave – those often have dates and titles).
If your country has a digital social insurance portal, print out the contribution history showing employer names and dates.
For each employment, label your documents clearly (a cover sheet can help). For example, you might combine documents and put a cover page “Evidence for Company ABC (2015–2019):” then list what’s attached (letter, contract, pay slips, etc.). This isn’t required, but a neat presentation can make the assessor’s job easier and leave a good impression.

3. Emphasize Relevant Projects in Your Write-ups: In the documentation (letters or an attached project report), highlight a couple of key projects you worked on that are relevant to your occupation. For instance, if you’re claiming experience as a civil engineer, mention that you worked on the design of a highway, or oversaw the construction of a 10-storey building, etc. EA doesn’t need a full project report like a CDR career episode, but a brief description can illustrate the level of work. You can even include project names or client names (if not confidential) to add weight. Eg: “Lead Structural Engineer for the ‘Sunrise Mall’ project – a 50,000 sqm commercial complex – responsible for seismic design and compliance with Australian standards (AS1170).” This not only shows relevance but also that you’re aware of industry standards.

4. Align Your Experience with Your Qualification: EA will check if your degree and your work make sense together. If you have a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering but all your work was in software development, that raises a flag – they might question if you’re truly working as a “Mechanical Engineer”. If you did shift fields (it happens), be prepared to justify it or you may have to accept that those years won’t count towards mechanical engineering. Ideally, your field of study and field of practice match. If they do, make that connection clear. For example, mention how knowledge from your degree was applied in your job. This assures the assessor that your employment is an extension of your engineering education.

5. Don’t Exaggerate Your Responsibilities: Be truthful about what you did. If you were a junior engineer, it’s okay to say you assisted in design rather than claiming you single-handedly managed multi-million-dollar projects (unless you truly did!). The assessors often have industry experience themselves and can sense inconsistencies. Claiming responsibilities far above your apparent level can cast doubt on your letters’ credibility. It’s better to present a solid, honest account of what you did – and if you grew into bigger roles over time, that’s fine to describe too.

6. Ensure Consistency Across Documents: Cross-check that the dates in your reference letters, your CV, and your application form all match perfectly. Even small mismatches (e.g., one document says you started in May 2018, another says June 2018) could confuse the assessment. Also, names of companies should be consistent (if an abbreviation is used in one place and full name in another, clarify it’s the same entity). If your documents are in different languages (e.g., a pay slip in French), the English translation should use the same job title terminology as your letter for clarity (you can have the translator add in brackets the English role if needed).

7. Consider Professional Help if Needed: If you find the process overwhelming or aren’t confident in writing your own references, you might seek help from migration experts or Engineers Australia assessment consultants. They can often provide templates, review your documents, or even communicate with your employers to get the right info. While it’s an added cost, it can pay off by getting it right the first time. Our team, for example, offers document review services to ensure everything meets EA’s standards (feel free to reach out if you’d like an expert eye on your application).

8. Keep Copies of Everything: After you submit, maintain a folder of all the files you sent. If EA asks a question, you know exactly what they saw and can reference it. Also, that way you can quickly resend something if needed. Having an organized set of your evidence also helps you later during your visa application, as you’ll likely need to upload these same documents for Home Affairs.

9. Be Patient and Responsive: We touched on this, but it’s worth emphasizing: after submission, check your email and portal regularly. If EA queries something, respond promptly. A quick response can mean your application continues smoothly rather than languishing. Conversely, panicking or bombarding EA with status requests too soon won’t help – give them the estimated time to work. If your application is well-prepared, it’s mostly a waiting game.

By following these tips, you’ll present a compelling and clear application that makes it easy for Engineers Australia to say “approved”. Many engineers successfully pass this assessment every year, and with thorough preparation, you can be one of them on the first try!

Sample Employment Reference Letter (Template)

One of the challenges applicants face is getting a good reference letter from their employers. To help, we’ve provided a sample template below that illustrates the kind of information and format that Engineers Australia looks for in an employment reference. You can use this as a starting point to draft your own letters for your past jobs. (Remember to tailor each letter to the specific role and tasks you performed. Do not just copy this verbatim – it’s meant as a guide.)

[On Company Letterhead]

[Date]

To Whom It May Concern,

This is to certify that [Employee Name] was employed at [Company Name] as a [Job Title] from [Start Date] to [End Date]. [Employee Name] worked on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) in this position.

During their tenure at [Company Name], [Employee Name]’s responsibilities included, but were not limited to, the following:

[Duty 1]: Describe a key duty or project. Be specific about tasks – e.g., “Designed and analyzed 3D models of pressure vessels using ANSYS to ensure compliance with ASME Section VIII codes.”
[Duty 2]: Another major task or responsibility – e.g., “Led a team of 4 engineers in the development of a wastewater treatment system, including process simulation and on-site commissioning.”
[Duty 3]: Continue with relevant tasks – e.g., “Performed regular load calculations and safety inspections for structural components in high-rise building projects.”
[Duty 4]: Additional duty – e.g., “Liaised with clients and contractors to coordinate engineering project deliverables and ensured all technical standards (per Australian Standards) were met.”
[Duty 5]: Additional duty or project – e.g., “Developed cost estimates and technical proposals for new automotive manufacturing equipment, achieving a 15% cost reduction through design optimization.”

Throughout the employment period, [Employee Name] demonstrated a high level of engineering expertise and professionalism. They contributed significantly to the success of projects such as [Mention a notable project, product, or client engagement]. [Employee Name] was also knowledgeable in industry standards and used [Software/Tools] (e.g., AutoCAD, MATLAB, etc.) proficiently in their work.

The position [Employee Name] held at our company was a skilled engineering role, and they received a monthly salary that reflected this level of responsibility (i.e., a professional engineering salary).

If you require any further information or clarification regarding [Employee Name]’s employment with us, please feel free to contact me at [manager’s email] or [phone number].

Sincerely, [Name of Supervisor/Manager] [Title], [Department] [Company Name] [Company Address] [Contact Email and Phone]

Notes on the template: This sample covers all key points: exact dates, full-time status, duties, mention of projects, and it clearly positions the role as a professional engineering position. It’s printed on letterhead and signed by a supervisor with contact info. When using this template, adjust the duties to reflect what you did in that job. If you have multiple jobs, get a similar letter for each. Some companies might have their own format – that’s okay as long as it contains these elements. You can gently provide your drafted letter to your boss and ask if they can put it on letterhead and sign. Most will oblige, especially if you explain it’s needed for an official migration skills verification. If a company no longer exists or you have trouble getting a reference (common with very old employments), you can try contacting a former manager or colleague to write a statutory declaration, but be aware: Engineers Australia typically does not accept self-declarations as primary evidence. They insist on official documents. A stat dec might serve as a last resort secondary evidence, but you should pair it with other proof like old pay slips or tax records to be safe.

Conclusion

The Engineers Australia Employment Assessment is a critical step for engineers who want to move to Australia and pursue their careers. By thoroughly understanding its requirements and preparing a solid application, you can significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome. Remember that the employment assessment is all about validating the quality and relevance of your work experience in an Australian context. To recap, we covered the essentials: it’s an optional (but advantageous) assessment that can grant you up to 15 migration points for skilled work experience. It requires gathering detailed evidence of your employment like reference letters, contracts, pay records, and more. We walked through the application process on the EA portal – from registering, to uploading documents, to patiently waiting for that all-important outcome letter. We also discussed common mistakes (like missing documents or vague job descriptions) that cause many applicants to stumble, and provided solutions and tips to avoid those pitfalls. By following the guidelines and advice in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to show Engineers Australia that your experience measures up. Whether you’re a civil engineer who built bridges, a software engineer who developed control systems, or an engineering manager leading teams – make sure EA can see the value and relevance of what you’ve done. If you feel uncertain at any stage, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance or refer to authoritative resources (like EA’s official MSA booklet and our other guides). For further reading, you might explore our article on Degree Assessment (to understand how your qualifications are vetted) or check out the Competency Assessment Guide for tips on the CDR process – since a strong foundation there will complement your employment assessment. Ultimately, achieving a positive Engineers Australia employment assessment can open doors: not only does it boost your visa prospects, but it also gives you confidence that your hard-earned experience is recognized at an international standard. It’s one more step toward turning your Australian engineering dream into reality.