Professions / Welders, mechanics and plumbers / Australia
Welders, mechanics and plumbers
to Australia.
Which program assesses you depends on the trade.
What the official sources say
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The Offshore Skills Assessment Program is compulsory for permanent migration as a Plumber (General) or an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic (as well as the two electrician occupations).
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Other trades are assessed through the Migration Skills Assessment Program, a documentary assessment for occupations and countries not required to be assessed in the other programs.
Checked against the official pages on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so JO confirms the current position before you rely on it.
What this page does not tell you
Which occupation code your job maps to, whether it is currently eligible, and how many points or what score you would need. Those depend on your exact duties and on lists and thresholds that change, so JO confirms them for your case rather than guessing here.
The usual steps
- 01
Document your trade and your hours
Employer letters, payslips and certificates for the trade you want assessed.
- 02
Find your trade’s assessment route
A few trades have a compulsory practical assessment; many are assessed on documents.
- 03
Plan any licence
Plumbing and refrigeration work is licensed in many places.
- 04
Prove your English and choose the pathway
JO matches your trade to the routes that fit.
Next step
Find out where
you stand.
The readiness check is free and takes about eight minutes.