Moving to Australia as a Teacher: AITSL vs ACECQA vs State Registration
Teacher migration to Australia runs on two separate tracks people mix up: a skills assessment for your visa (AITSL, or ACECQA for early childhood), and a state teacher registration to actually teach. Here's what each one costs and requires. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Teacher migration: two separate
- 0:14 Two different assessing bodies
- 0:28 Not every code reaches
- 0:40 AITSL: $1,198 to apply
- 0:54 AITSL English:
- 1:06 The English test exemption:
- 1:21 ACECQA: $1,100 to apply
- 1:32 A skills assessment doesn't let you teach.
- 1:49 Queensland: up to 12 weeks
- 1:59 A Working With Children Check
- 2:24 Trained here? A subclass 485
- 2:37 Where to read more
Transcript
Migrating as a teacher runs through two separate processes people mix up: a skills assessment for your visa, and a state registration to actually teach. Here's how they differ.
Which body assesses you depends on your occupation code. AITSL assesses secondary, primary, middle and special needs teachers. ACECQA assesses early childhood teachers specifically.
Not every teaching code reaches the points-tested subclass 189. Secondary, Early Childhood and Special Needs teachers do. Primary and Middle School teachers don't.
The AITSL skills assessment costs $1,198. An appeal costs $938. Most assessment-ready applications are decided within 4 to 6 weeks.
AITSL's English requirement is Academic IELTS 7.0 in Reading and Writing, and 8.0 in Speaking and Listening, from a test taken in the 3 years before you apply.
There's an exemption. If your full 4 years of teacher education, including supervised practice, was completed entirely in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US, you may not need the test.
For early childhood teachers, the ACECQA skills assessment costs $1,100. A review of an unsuccessful outcome costs $990.
Passing your skills assessment doesn't let you teach. You also need registration with the state where you'll work: NESA in New South Wales, VIT in Victoria, QCT in Queensland, TRBWA in Western Australia, or TRB in South Australia.
Queensland's own college cites up to 12 weeks to assess an overseas application, on top of identity, suitability and English checks.
You'll also need a Working With Children Check before you can be employed around children — a separate background check from both your skills assessment and your registration.
With a competitive score, Secondary, Early Childhood and Special Needs teachers can use the subclass 189 directly. Others typically use the subclass 190, which adds 5 points, or the subclass 491, which adds 15.
If you trained here, the subclass 485 buys you time after graduation to sort registration and your next visa. Because the right combination depends on your exact occupation code, this one is worth getting checked.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
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