Migration assessment

Highly trained and educated professionals from around the world are encouraged to study, work and settle in Australia. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) provides detailed information on their website about how claims are assessed for students and business professionals wanting to work in Australia.

Our assessment unit assesses qualifications on a fee-for-service basis for qualified accountants seeking a skills assessment for the purposes General Skills Migration.

Our assessment unit can provide advice on applying for a skills assessment. Questions relating to migration should be directed to DIAC.

Requirements

CPA Australia is gazetted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to assess qualifications for qualified accountants seeking immigration to Australia under the following Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations (ANZSCO) codes.

Nominated ANZSCO codes are:

• accountant (general) (ANZSCO code 221111)
• external auditor (ANZSCO code 221213)
• management accountant (ANZSCO code 221112)
• taxation accountant (ANZSCO code 221113)
• finance manager (AZNSCO code 132211)
• corporate treasurer (ANZSCO code 221212)

To meet the requirements for a nominated Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations (ANZSCO) code, prospective migrants must have:

1. a formal qualification (or qualifications) that is assessed as comparable to at least an Australian Bachelor degree according to Australian Education International National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) and CPA Australia, and
2. met the English proficiency requirement

The qualification/s must cover at least nine of the following 12 core curriculum areas. Each nominated occupation has four mandatory core knowledge areas.

Work experience will not be accepted in lieu of formal qualifications.

To meet the English proficiency requirement you must have:

• an IELTS academic test report form is required showing a band score of at least seven (7) on each of the four (4) components – speaking, reading, listening and writing

Please note graduates of an Australian accounting degree who have completed the Skilled Migration Internship Program: Accounting (SMIPA) may provide their SMIPA transcripts and completion certificate in place of IELTS.

All other individuals must meet the IELTS requirement.

Please note that a successful assessment is valid for two years from the assessment outcome date.

Individuals who have submitted an application before 30 June 2010 will need to ensure that all outstanding documentation is received by CPA Australia by 31 August 2010 to be assessed under the previous criteria.

Professional qualifications

All advice relating to qualifications is subject to confirmation by formal, individual assessment of qualifications through CPA Australia.

Holders of professional qualifications recognised by CPA Australia as degree-comparable may be assessed as meeting the degree requirement.