Teacher 189 Visa Pathway: AITSL Assessment and State Registration

The AITSL Skills Assessment

AITSL runs one skills assessment process, checked against two criteria that must BOTH be met — it is not split into separate 'full' and 'provisional' application types. Qualifications: at least 4 years' full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study, including an initial teacher education qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree, and at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice with students in the relevant age range during that qualification. English language: met either through a study option (at least 4 full years of higher education study, conducted in English, in Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US) or with a single Academic IELTS Test Report Form, taken within the 3 years before applying, scoring at least 7.0 in both Reading and Writing and at least 8.0 in both Speaking and Listening. AITSL does not accept OET, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge or any other test — Academic IELTS is the only test-based route (AITSL will accept the IELTS One Skill Retake). The application fee is AUD $1,198, effective from 7 September 2026, with no GST charged; an appeal of the outcome costs AUD $938. AITSL states the majority of assessment-ready applications are completed within 4 weeks, with some taking up to 6 weeks, though volume and complexity can extend this.

ANZSCO Codes for Teachers

AITSL is the assessing authority for: Primary School Teacher (241213), Middle School Teacher (241311), Secondary School Teacher (241411), Special Needs Teacher (241511), Teacher of the Hearing Impaired (241512), Teacher of the Sight Impaired (241513), and Special Education Teachers nec (241599). Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher (241111) is assessed separately by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), not AITSL. Visa reach also splits along these lines: Secondary School Teacher, Special Needs Teacher, both Teacher of the Hearing/Sight Impaired codes, Special Education Teachers nec, and Early Childhood Teacher are on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) as well as the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), giving access to the subclass 189, 190, 482, 485, 491 and 494. Primary School Teacher and Middle School Teacher are on the CSOL only — not the MLTSSL — so neither carries a subclass 189 or 485 pathway; 190, 482, 491 and 494 remain open to them. Chen's situation (the platform's first paid applicant, ECT pathway) is an example: she sought a 482 pathway as an Early Childhood Teacher (241111), but her qualification was a Graduate Diploma (not a Bachelor) and her role was 'Educator' not 'Teacher' — this distinction often becomes the threshold question.

State Teacher Registration: The Other Required Step

Even with AITSL skills assessment positive, you cannot teach in Australian registered schools without state teacher registration. Each state has its own teacher regulatory body: NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA); Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT); Queensland College of Teachers (QCT); Teacher Registration Board of WA; Teachers Registration Board of South Australia; Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania; Teacher Registration Board of NT; Teacher Quality Institute (ACT). State registration requirements typically include: qualification assessment (different process than AITSL); English language; teaching practice evidence; criminal history check; child protection clearance. State registration and AITSL skills assessment are separate processes — completing AITSL does not automatically give state registration. Plan both pathways simultaneously.

Points Strategy for Teaching Occupations

The points figures below are from the general Home Affairs points test for the skilled visa program, not a teacher-specific scale — they apply to any nominated occupation on the relevant list. Age: 30 points at least 25 but under 33 years, 25 points at least 33 but under 40, 15 points at least 40 but under 45. English: 10 points for Proficient English (broadly, IELTS 7 in each band), 20 points for Superior English (broadly, IELTS 8 in each band). Qualifications: 15 points for at least a Bachelor degree — a standard Master's degree sits in the same 15-point band as a Bachelor unless it is a Master's by research in a specified STEM or ICT field, which can add a separate 10-point specialist-qualification bonus (education degrees don't qualify for that bonus). Overseas skilled employment: 5 points for 3 to under 5 years, 10 points for 5 to under 8 years, 15 points for 8 or more years. Australian skilled employment: 5 points for 1 to under 3 years, 10 for 3 to under 5, 15 for 5 to under 8, 20 for 8 or more. Credentialled community language (NAATI): 5 points. Single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident: 10 points. State nomination (190) and regional (491) carry additional state-specific points and are worth checking against each state's own teaching occupation list, since demand varies by state and subject area.

Timeline and Other Considerations

AITSL states the majority of assessment-ready applications are completed within 4 to 6 weeks, though this can extend during peak periods or if extra information is requested. State teacher registration is a separate application on its own timeline, and can be run in parallel with the AITSL assessment rather than after it. EOI-to-invitation timing and visa processing times vary by occupation, list and program-year allocation — check the current Home Affairs global processing times for the specific visa subclass rather than relying on a fixed range. Other considerations: (1) the ECT pathway is often more complex than primary or secondary because Australian ECT regulations (the National Quality Framework) distinguish Educator (no specific qualification required) from Teacher (Bachelor minimum) — many overseas applicants self-identify as ECT but hold qualifications that put them in the Educator category, which affects both the visa pathway and employment options, and because AITSL doesn't assess this occupation, the qualification comparison is done by ACECQA instead; (2) state regulators generally expect recent practising experience — a long pause from teaching can require a return-to-teaching process before registration; (3) employer sponsorship (482) is common for teachers, since many Australian schools sponsor directly, and it doesn't depend on the occupation carrying a subclass 189 pathway.

Can I teach in private schools without state registration?

Some independent schools may employ overseas-qualified teachers without state registration, but most registered schools require state registration. Tutoring and private one-on-one teaching is less regulated.

Does an Australian Master of Teaching help with AITSL?

Yes — an Australian Master of Teaching satisfies AITSL skills assessment requirements directly, bypassing the overseas qualification verification step. Many overseas teachers complete an Australian Masters specifically for this purpose.

What's the difference between AITSL and state teaching registration?

AITSL is for visa skills assessment (immigration purpose). State registration is required to actually teach in registered schools (employment purpose). Both are typically needed.

Are TESOL teachers eligible for the 189?

TESOL teaching itself doesn't have its own ANZSCO code. ESL/EAL teachers working at secondary level with appropriate qualifications may fit under Secondary School Teacher (241411), which does carry a subclass 189 pathway (it's on the MLTSSL). Whether a specific TESOL role matches that occupation, or a different one, depends on the actual duties — check the occupation definition against your role before nominating it.

How important is the difference between Educator and Teacher in Australian early childhood?

Critical. Educators (no specific qualification required, often Diploma of Early Childhood Education) cannot apply under ANZSCO 241111 Early Childhood Teacher. Teachers require Bachelor or higher in Early Childhood Education and typically curriculum/leadership duties. Many overseas applicants need careful pathway planning around this distinction.