1. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Q1: Can AITSL help with migration and visa advice?
Q2: I want to migrate to Australia as a teacher. What courses can I study in Australia?
Q3: What is the basis for AITSL's assessment of overseas qualifications?
2. QUALIFICATIONS
Q4: My Bachelor's degree is not related to teaching, can I still factor this into my assessment?
Q5: I don't have copies of my transcripts or award certificates. What should I do?
Q6: I have not completed my qualification, can I still include it in my application?
Q7: Does an employment based route into the the teaching profession, such as the United Kingdom's (UK) Graduate Teacher Program
(GTP), meet AITSL's requirements?
Q8: I have qualificactions in TESOL or Special Education. Can I apply for an assessment with AITSL?
Q9: I have Montessori qualifications. Can I use them as evidence of initial teacher education studies?
3. EVIDENCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Q10: Do I need to sit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test?
4. APPLICATION PROCESS
Q11: How do I determine which ANZSCO code to select?
Q12: Can I submit my application form ahead of my supporting documents?
Q13: I need my assessment urgently. Can AITSL fast track my application?
Q14: How long is an AITSL assessment valid for?
Q15: I have a Teaching Australia skills assessment certificate, is this still valid?
Q16: I want to withdraw my application, can I get a refund?
Q17: I am not satisfied with my assessment outcome, what can I do?
Q1: Can AITSL help with migration and visa advice?
No, AITSL does not answer queries about migration to Australia or provide advice on visas as the General Skilled Migration
program is continually changing and adapting to Australia's economic needs. Up-to-date information about migration is on the
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website www.immi.gov.au. AITSL advises all prospective applicants to check the latest requirements for the General Skilled Migration program before
applying for an assessment.
Q2: I want to migrate to Australia as teacher. What courses can I study in Australia?
AITSL does not provide advice on what programs of study to undertake to meet the requirements of this assessment.
Teaching requirements vary between Australian states and territories. In general initial teacher education programs
offered by Australian universities meet the professional criterion.
Most teacher registration authorities in the state or territory you wish to study provide a list of accredited initial teacher
education courses.
DIAC advises against making educational choices on the basis of hoping to achieve a particular migration outcome as the General
Skilled Migration program will continue to change.
Q3: What is the basis for AITSL's assessment of overseas qualifications?
AITSL assesses overseas qualifications using the Country Education Profiles (CEP) which are produced and maintained by Australian
Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR), the Australian Government authority
on the recognition of overseas qualifications in Australia.
In cases where a qualification is not covered by the CEP, other resources such as the UK National Recognition Information
Centre (UK NARIC) and university handbooks may be used.
Q4: My Bachelor's degree is not related to teaching, can I still factor this into my assessment?
Yes, provided you have completed a minimum of four years, full time higher education level study of which, one of those years
involved completion of an initial teacher education qualification. For example, you may have completed a three year Bachelor
of Science degree and a one year Post Graduate Diploma in Education.
Q5: I don't have copies of my transcripts or award certifcates. What should I do?
You will need to contact your university to request a copy of these documents. If your university is unable to provide them
it must issue a statement on their official letterhead, with the reason the transcripts/awards are not able to be provided,
the dates of your study, units studied, grades awarded, and confirmation of your completion of study.
Q6: I have not completed my qualification, can I still include it in my application?
No. AITSL does not consider incomplete studies in the assessment process.
Q7: Does an employment based route into the teaching profession, such as the United Kingdom's (UK) Graduate Teacher Program
(GTP), meet AITSL's requirements?
No. Initial teacher education programs that do not result in the issue of a recognised academic award and academic transcript
by an accredited higher education institution will not be considered in the assessment process.
Q8: I have qualifications in TESOL or Special Education. Can I apply for an assessment with AITSL?
Qualifications such as these are specialised fields of study which have their own ANZSCO codes (occupational
title and number). If these are your only teaching qualifications, you will need to have your qualifications
assessed by a different authority. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship can direct you to the relevant assessment
authority if you wish to migrate as a TESOL or Special Education Teacher.
Q9: I have Montessori qualifications. Can I use them as evidence of initial teacher education studies?
The initial teacher education studies required by AITSL provide general preparation for pre-primary, primary or secondary
school teaching. Montessori qualifications are not recognised by AITSL as meeting the professional criterion, given it is
a specialised method of teaching.
Q10: Do I need to sit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test?
All applicants are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency. Applicants may be exempt from providing
an Academic IELTS test report if they meet the following criterion:
Completed at least one year full-time higher education level study for an initial teacher education qualification in Australia,
Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America
AITSL reserves the right to request an Academic IELTS test report if the supporting evidence does not satisfy the English
Language proficiency requirements.
Q11: How do I determine which ANZSCO code to select?
An AITSL assessment is based on your initial teacher educaction qualification. If, as part of your initial teacher education
qualification, you have completed initial teacher education studies in more than one occupation (for example in primary and secondary teacher education) you may nominate more than one nominated occupation.
AITSL is not able to advise you on which nominated occupation to select.
Q12: Can I submit my application ahead of my supporting documents?
No. AITSL requires all supporting documents at the time the application is submitted.
Q13: I need my assessment outcome urgently. Can AITSL fast track my application?
No, AITSL does not provide a fast track assessment service. AITSL is committed to processing all applications within 8 weeks
from the date of the initial notification email providing all the required supporting documents are submitted with the application.
If an assessment outcome is needed by a specific date, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure a complete assessment
application in lodged well before the date an assessment outcome is required.
Q14: How long is an AITSL assessment valid for?
An AITSL Skills Assessment Certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue.
Q15: I have a Teaching Australia skills assessment certificate, is this still valid?
Yes, skills assessment certificates issued by Teaching Australia, the former name of this assessing authority, are valid for
two years from the date of issue and will be recognised by DIAC for the purposes of General Skilled Migration for that period.
Q16: I want to withdraw my application, can I get a refund?
AITSL will only issue a refund of AUD400 if your assessment has not commenced. To withdraw your application you will need
to notify AITSL in writing via overseasquals@aitsl.edu.au.
Q17: I am not satisfied with my assessment outcome, what can I do?
Your first step is to email your assessment officer to clarify the reason behind your assessment outcome. If after contacting
your assessment officer, you still do not agree with your outcome, you may request a formal appeal. This must be done within
60 days of the date of your assessment outcome.
AITSL will consider new information/evidence demonstrating you met the assessment criteria at the time of your initial assessment.
If you wish to submit new evidence, obtained after the date of your assessment outcome, you will need to submit a new assessment
application.
Appeals are completed within 8 weeks from the date they are received. The fee for an appeal is AUD450.00, payable in advance.
