AITSL Skills Assessment — Teachers

AITSL is the assessing authority for migration purposes for teaching occupations — Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers. A positive AITSL outcome is required to claim points and to lodge an EOI in a teaching occupation.

MARN 1576536

WIDEN does not assist with AITSL or state teacher registration in any way. AITSL handles the migration skills assessment. State and territory teacher registration authorities (VIT, NESA, TQI, QCT, TRBWA, TRB Tasmania, TRB NT, TRB SA) register teachers to teach in their jurisdiction. Both are entirely outside WIDEN's role. WIDEN's role is the migration side — visa subclass, points test, EOI strategy, regional pathways — that uses the AITSL outcome.

Teaching categories AITSL assesses

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
Primary School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher (subject specialisations matter)
Special Education Teacher

What AITSL checks

Qualification comparable to a four-year Australian initial teacher education degree (AQF Bachelor or above)
Qualification designed for the nominated teaching category
Sufficient embedded supervised teaching practicum within the qualification
English language competency (separate to migration English)

Frequently asked questions

Who does AITSL assess?

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is the assessing authority for migration purposes for teaching occupations — Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, Primary School Teacher, Secondary School Teacher, and Special Education Teacher. The assessment confirms that the overseas teaching qualification is comparable to the Australian standard for the relevant teaching category.

Is AITSL the same as state teacher registration?

No. AITSL provides the migration skills assessment. State and territory teacher registration authorities (VIT in Victoria, TQI in ACT, NESA in NSW, QCT in Queensland, TRBWA in WA, TRB Tasmania, TRB NT, TRB SA) are the bodies that register teachers to teach in their jurisdiction. The two are separate processes — AITSL for migration, state authority for practice. Some applicants progress both in parallel.

What does AITSL look for?

AITSL assesses: (1) that your teaching qualification is comparable to a four-year Australian initial teacher education degree at AQF Bachelor or above; (2) that the qualification was designed to prepare teachers for the level you're nominating (early childhood, primary, secondary, or special education); (3) that you have completed a supervised teaching practicum of sufficient duration as part of the qualification; and (4) English language competency, with specific score requirements for the assessment itself.

What English score does AITSL require?

AITSL accepts IELTS Academic and other recognised tests with published minimum scores — historically IELTS Academic with an overall and skill-band minimum, including a higher score for the Speaking and Listening bands. The published scores can change — verify the current requirement directly with AITSL before booking a test. The English requirement for visa points and grant is separate, assessed by the Department of Home Affairs.

How much does AITSL cost?

AITSL publishes current fees on its website. Standard skills assessment is typically in the mid-hundreds AUD. Reconsideration, appeal, and additional report fees are charged separately. Verify current fees with AITSL before paying.

How long does it take?

AITSL publishes current processing times. Plan for several weeks at minimum for straightforward applications; longer if additional information is requested or if the qualification requires deeper verification. State teacher registration is a separate timeline.

What if my qualification doesn't meet the practicum hours requirement?

AITSL has minimum practicum requirements (commonly around 45 days of supervised teaching practicum embedded within the initial teacher education qualification, varying by category). If your qualification didn't include sufficient embedded practicum, AITSL is likely to issue a negative or conditional outcome. Bridging options may include further Australian study (a Master of Teaching) or, in some cases, an alternative occupational pathway. The right next step depends on the specific outcome letter.

Speak with WIDEN

Discuss your migration pathway with WIDEN

Fields marked * are required. WIDEN does not assist with the AITSL skills assessment in any way — the application, evidence preparation, and outcome are entirely AITSL's domain. WIDEN provides migration advice (visa subclass strategy, points test, EOI, occupation list) — separate from the skills assessment process.

Full name *

Email *

Phone (with country code)

Country of citizenship

Your nominated occupation

Target visa subclass

Have you previously applied to AITSL?

No Yes (positive) Yes (negative)

Your question / situation

I consent to WIDEN — Migration Experts storing my information to respond to this enquiry. I understand that submission of this form does not create a client-agent relationship and that the skills assessment outcome is determined independently by AITSL. Privacy Policy. *

General information only. Fees, processing times, and eligibility criteria for AITSL change. Verify current details at www.aitsl.edu.au/migration-assessment before relying on this page.

This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022). WIDEN does not issue skills assessments — AITSL does. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Code, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). PI insurance held under the Migration Agents Regulations 1998. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.