Apply for
ACECQA Skills Assessment
Your recognised pathway to skilled migration and early childhood employment in Australia.
ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority) assesses early childhood teaching and education qualifications for skilled migration and industry recognition. Whether you are applying as an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT), Child Care Centre Manager, or Early Childhood Educator, ACECQA determines whether your qualification meets the requirements under Australian education and care regulations.
At Knowbal Migration, we guide you through the correct ACECQA assessment pathway, help verify whether your qualification is equivalent to an Australian ECT/educator qualification, and support you in resolving common issues like practicum hour deficits, missing course documentation, non-equivalent overseas qualifications, or incomplete NQF mapping.
Assessment Pathways
| Feature | Qualifications Assessment (Individuals) | Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) | Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) | DAMA Skills Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | To determine if a qualification is recognised under the National Quality Framework (NQF). | For skilled migration applicants (ECT, Educators, Child Care Centre Managers). | For Temporary Graduate (485) visa applicants. | For Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) where ACECQA must assess qualifications for regional employer-sponsored roles. |
| Who it’s for | Anyone needing confirmation of qualification equivalence (overseas or Australian-trained). | Applicants seeking migration skills assessment for early childhood occupations. | Recent Australian graduates applying for the 485 visa. | Applicants whose employer or DAMA region requires an ACECQA assessment for childcare/early childhood roles. |
| Qualification requirement | Must submit qualification evidence for NQF mapping — transcripts, course structure, practicum hours. | Must provide qualification evidence meeting ACECQA early childhood requirements for migration. | Must provide Australian qualification eligible for 485 stream. | Qualification must meet DAMA agreement requirements (varies by region/occupation). |
| Assessment method | Desktop evaluation of qualification against NQF + ECT/Educator requirements. | Migration assessment based on qualification + practicum + NQF equivalence. | Verification of Australian qualification + course completion | Qualification mapping against DAMA occupational requirements. |
| Practicum requirement | Required for ECT assessment; varies for Educator levels. | Essential — supervised placement hours must meet ACECQA standards. | This requirement applies only to the Child Care Centre Manager occupation. | Required if DAMA role demands ECT/Educator equivalence. |
| Outcome type | Written report confirming if qualification is ACECQA-approved. | Migration Skills Assessment outcome letter for skilled visas. | PSA outcome for 485 visa. | DAMA skills assessment outcome for employer-sponsored regional migration. |
| ANZSCO relevance | Determines eligibility for roles like ECT or Educator under NQF — not ANZSCO-specific. | Links to ANZSCO codes: ECT (241111), Childcare Centre Manager (134111), Educators (various). | Supports ANZSCO codes eligible for 485 visa. | Depends on DAMA occupation list for the region. |
| Common applicant groups | Overseas early childhood graduates needing qualification recognition. | Applicants lodging skilled migration applications (189, 190, 491). | Australian-educated graduates in early childhood. | Applicants nominated under DAMA employer-sponsored childcare roles. |
The Knowbal Visa Application Process
Applying for the ACECQA Skills Assessment feel complicated, but Knowbal is here to support you at every stage. Here’s how we simplify the application process
- STEP 1
- STEP 2
- STEP 3
- STEP 4
- STEP 5
Initial Consultation
We start by reviewing your study history, current visa status, and eligibility for the Temporary Graduate Visa. This personalised consultation helps us understand your situation and plan the best application approach for you.
Assigning an Expert Agent
Once we assess your case, you’ll be assigned a dedicated migration expert. This professional will be your main point of contact, guiding you through each step and answering your questions promptly.
Document Preparation
Gathering and organising your documents correctly is critical. Knowbal helps you prepare all necessary paperwork, including your Confirmation of Enrolment, academic transcripts, proof of completion, health insurance, and identity documents to avoid delays or errors.
Submitting the Application
We lodge your visa application on your behalf with the Department of Home Affairs, ensuring everything complies with visa requirements and your information is accurately presented.
Ongoing Updates
Throughout the processing period, Knowbal monitors your application and keeps you informed. Should the Department request additional information, we will assist you promptly to ensure a smooth process.
FAQs
Yes, but only if you provide alternative evidence such as placement letters, course outlines, supervised practice logs, or confirmation from your training provider. Missing practicum is one of the most common reasons for delays, so preparing strong evidence early is important.
You may begin preparing your documents, but ACECQA cannot issue a PSA outcome without official course completion evidence. Many students face timing issues for their 485 visa — we help plan the PSA lodgement to avoid delays.
Yes. You may still be eligible for skilled migration under Educator-linked ANZSCO occupations. We assist you in understanding which occupation best fits your qualification and long-term PR strategy.
Not necessarily. ACECQA evaluates your course content, practicum, and NQF alignment, not the title alone. However, unclear documentation can slow down verification. We help prepare structured evidence so your qualification is assessed accurately.
ACECQA may verify English suitability for migration-related assessments, but requirements can vary by pathway (PSA vs MSA). Because requirements can change, we guide you to ensure your English documentation meets current migration and visa standards.
Very strict. If ACECQA cannot validate your institution, practicum hours, or course structure, your assessment may be delayed or unsuitable. We help prepare verifiable documentation and advise on alternative evidence if a provider cannot respond.
DAMA agreements have region-specific qualification and experience rules. If your ACECQA outcome doesn’t fit your DAMA occupation requirement, we help reassess your options — including alternative DAMA occupations or state-based migration pathways.
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