English in a Skills Assessment: Requirements by Authority
The English requirement in the skills assessment process and the English requirement for the visa are two separate things. You need to meet both — but they can have different levels and different timing.
This article focuses on the English requirement on the assessing authority’s side, not the Department of Home Affairs requirement when assessing the visa.
ACS
ACS does not set an English certificate requirement as a mandatory condition for lodging a skills assessment.
This does not mean English is unimportant — the documents you submit must be in English (or accompanied by a certified translation), and well-written English descriptions of work duties will be considered more effectively. But ACS does not require you to submit an IELTS or PTE result to assess your skills.
The English requirement will come at the visa application stage — that is a Department of Home Affairs requirement, not an ACS one.
VETASSESS
VETASSESS has an English requirement, but the way it is determined is more complex:
For many occupations under VETASSESS Professional, a person who studied at an institution where the language of instruction was English (for at least two years) is usually treated as meeting the English requirement for assessment purposes.
For those without evidence of study in English, VETASSESS may require an English certificate. The level required and the tests accepted can change — check the current information on the VETASSESS website for your specific occupation.
TRA
TRA (Job Ready Program) has an English requirement tied to the practical stage in Australia. During the work stage (JRE), you must communicate in a real work environment in English — this is not just a certificate requirement but a practical one.
TRA may also require an English certificate depending on the case — check TRA’s updated guidance.
Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia does not require a separate English certificate for the CDR assessment process. However:
- The CDR (Career Episodes, Summary Statement, CPD) must be written in English
- If your qualifications are not in English, a certified translation is required
- EA does not require you to submit an IELTS or PTE as part of the MSA file
EA’s English requirement and the Department of Home Affairs requirement are separate — an English certificate will be required at the visa stage, not at the EA assessment stage.
ANMAC — the strictest requirement
ANMAC has a mandatory and highest English requirement among the skills assessing authorities. This is a requirement of ANMAC itself, not just a visa requirement.
The tests accepted and the minimum scores:
| Test | ANMAC requirement |
|---|---|
| OET (Occupational English Test) | Minimum B in all four components (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) |
| IELTS Academic | Minimum 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each band (not an average) |
| PTE Academic | Minimum 65 overall and 65 in each band |
| TOEFL iBT | Minimum 24 in each section |
Important note: For IELTS, ANMAC requires 7.0 in each individual band — it is not enough to average 7.0 while having a band below 7.0. This is a point many people get caught on.
OET is designed specifically for the healthcare sector and is often chosen by nurses/midwives because its content is close to their actual work.
Order of priority when planning
- Identify the assessing authority for your occupation by ANZSCO code
- Check that authority’s English requirement directly on its website
- Prepare and sit the correct test required, reaching the correct level
- Test results have a validity period (usually two to three years) — time it appropriately
If you are targeting ANMAC, prepare for the strict English requirement early — this is often the most time-consuming step in the process.