Significant Changes announced in TRA’s Migration Skills Assessment Guidelines

A few important changes to Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) program guidelines of Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) has been announced. The new changes will replicate changes made to job requirements for all new MSA applications submitted with effect from 4 October 2022.

If an applicant wish to apply for a Migration Skills Assessment after 4 October 2022, s/he need to fulfil program criteria as per the new Migration Skills Assessment Applicant Guidelines- August 2022. However, there will be no impact of these changes on the applicants with existing MSA program applications, waiting for the result.

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Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)

The TRA is a skills assessment authority for applicants with trade skills acquired outside or inside Australia for the purpose of migration. It runs key skills assessment programs based on occupation,
passports (i.e. country of origin) of applicant (where applicant got qualification) and the type of visa an applicant need. It offers following programs:

• Job Ready Program (JRP): It is an employment-based skills assessment program. It is for overseas student graduates with an Australian qualification. 
• Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Skills Assessment: The TSS is for the applicants who needs a skills assessment as part of their application for temporary skills shortage (subclass 482) visa submitted to Department of Home Affairs, Australia. The TSS report endorses whether the candidate has the skills and experience in the nominated occupation to work in Australia.
• Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP): The OSAP program is for the applicants who need a skills assessment for their skilled migration visa application to the DHA. The OSAP report confirms if an applicant has skills and experience for the required level.
• Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants (SAOM) Incentive: Incentive 2 Skills Assessment Opportunities for Migrants (SAOM) Incentive is meant for migrants in Australia, seeking visa, i.e. permanent, family, partner, humanitarian or refugee visas.
• Migration Points Advice (MPA) Program: The MPA is for applicants with a successful TRA skills assessment report who want to apply to the DHA for a points-tested, independent skilled migration visa.

Obtaining Skill Assessment from an approved assessing authority, i.e. ACS, AACA, VETASSESS, etc. is one of the key requirements to apply for skilled visa in Australia, along with other key criteria, i.e. age, education, English language proficiency, etc.