Changed Roles? Claiming Points for Closely Related Work and Career Progression

Careers rarely stay in one box. You may have started as a graduate engineer, moved into project management and now lead a team. For employment points, the question is whether that work counts towards your nominated occupation. The answer depends on two rules: closely related occupations and career progression.

The basic rule: same ANZSCO unit group

ANZSCO groups occupations into unit groups, shown by the first four digits of the code. Under the Department’s policy, closely related skilled occupations are those in the same unit group.

Nominated occupation	Closely related (same unit group)
Accountant (General) 221111	Management Accountant 221112, Taxation Accountant 221113

This example comes from the Department’s own instructions. The closely related occupation must also be on the skilled occupation list that applies to your visa.

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Career progression

The Department’s instructions also recognise that careers advance. Career advancement usually means promotion to a senior role in your field with more responsibility. The instructions give examples of an accountant or engineer progressing to Chief Accountant, Chief Engineer or Chief Executive Officer over a 10-year period.

This kind of progression can sit outside the four-digit unit group and still be accepted, as an exception to the usual policy, if it follows a well-established career path. The instructions also say:

• most progression within a 10-year period will be within the three-digit ANZSCO minor group;
• there may be reasonable cases outside this, such as a geologist who becomes a university lecturer using their geology expertise;
• managerial roles may fall within the broader major group.

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What makes a career progression claim stronger

1. Show a clear line from your nominated occupation into the senior role, with dates.
2. Use reference letters that describe the technical duties you still perform, not only management tasks.
3. Explain how the senior role builds on the skills of your nominated occupation.
4. Make sure the earlier periods in your nominated occupation are well evidenced too.

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Watch the state rules and your skills assessment

Your assessing authority may only count work it considers closely related to your nominated occupation, and some states apply their own definitions for nomination. If the assessing authority did not count a period, read how the skilled date and ANZSCO interact before you claim it.

For the general rules on hours, pay and leave, see what counts as skilled employment for points.