A TRA Skills Assessment confirms that your trade qualifications and work experience meet Australian industry standards. It is commonly required for employer-sponsored and skilled migration visas to prove that you are genuinely skilled in your nominated trade occupation.

You need a TRA assessment if your occupation is a trade role assessed by Trades Recognition Australia and your visa pathway requires a skills assessment. This includes trades such as electrician, plumber, chef, carpenter, automotive technician, fitter, and welder.

TRA offers different assessment pathways depending on your background, such as migration skills assessment, employer-sponsored skills assessment, offshore skills assessment, or the Job Ready Program for recent Australian graduates. Choosing the correct pathway is critical, as each has different eligibility and evidence requirements.

You will usually need identity documents, trade qualifications or certificates, detailed employment references, payslips or contracts, and evidence showing the tasks you performed. If documents are not in English, certified translations are required. Clear and consistent documentation significantly improves assessment outcomes.

In many cases, yes. Depending on your trade and assessment pathway, you may be required to complete a technical interview or practical assessment to demonstrate your skills. This is especially common where qualifications were obtained overseas or where work evidence alone is not sufficient.

Processing times vary depending on the pathway and the quality of evidence submitted. Once granted, a positive TRA assessment is generally valid for  3 years allowing it to be used for visa applications within that timeframe.

If your assessment is unsuccessful, you may be able to request a review or reapply after addressing the reasons for refusal. This may involve providing additional evidence, clarifying work experience, or completing further assessment steps. Understanding the refusal reasons is key before reapplying.