Comparing Engineering Occupations for Australian Migration
Four common engineering occupations for Australian migration
Engineering is one of the occupational groups Australia draws on most heavily, particularly in infrastructure, construction and energy. The four occupations below all appear on the CSOL and are all skills-assessed by Engineers Australia (EA). Each ANZSCO code and skill level has been verified from the ABS (ANZSCO 2021).
Comparison table
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Skill Level | Assessing authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | 233211 | 1 | Engineers Australia |
| Structural Engineer | 233214 | 1 | Engineers Australia |
| Electrical Engineer | 233311 | 1 | Engineers Australia |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | 1 | Engineers Australia |
All four occupations sit at Skill Level 1 and all appear on the CSOL, making them eligible for the 482, 186, 190 and 491 visas.
What sets the engineering occupations apart
The boundaries between engineering occupations are clearer than in IT — the ANZSCO definition for each code is fairly specific:
- Civil Engineer (233211): Designs and supervises the construction of infrastructure — roads, bridges, drainage systems and water works. This is the most fitting code for engineers working on civil projects.
- Structural Engineer (233214): Specialises in load-bearing structural calculations — high-rise buildings, bridges and towers. Many civil engineers do structural work, but the two codes are separate in ANZSCO.
- Electrical Engineer (233311): Designs electrical systems — power generation, transmission and industrial control systems. This does not include electricians (Electrician — 341111) or electronics engineers.
- Mechanical Engineer (233512): Designs mechanical systems — engines, HVAC, industrial equipment and machinery. The Manufacturing Engineer (233514) is a separate code.
If your work spans several areas, choose the code that matches the activity you spend most of your working time on — EA assesses on the basis of your actual duties, not your job title.
Engineers Australia assessment: CDR and Migration Skills Assessment
Unlike ACS (an online submission), EA requires you to write a CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) — a set of documents comprising a career summary, three engineering scenarios (Career Episodes) and a continuing professional development (CPD) statement. The CDR needs to demonstrate competency against the Washington Accord standard, and it is the hardest step in the engineering migration pathway.
Engineers who graduated from a university within the Washington Accord network (which includes a number of recognised institutions) may be considered by EA under a more streamlined form of Migration Skills Assessment — but a CDR is still required.
All occupations require EA assessment before lodging an EOI
Whichever visa you apply under (482, 189, 190 or 186), engineers need an EA assessment outcome as a mandatory document before lodging an EOI or seeking visa nomination. Fees (check the current fee on the assessing authority’s official site) vary by type, with processing taking 8–16 weeks.
Next steps
See the detailed article for each occupation via the links below. To understand the CDR process and EA assessment, see the article on the civil engineer CDR — the process is similar for all four occupations.