Update (October 2026)
This article describes the changes to the Job Ready Program from 1 July 2022. Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is now part of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and JRP fees and requirements are updated from time to time. See our Job Ready Skills Assessment and Skills assessment and assessing authorities pages before you apply.
From 1 July 2022, the Job Ready Program (JRP) will move from a four (4) step program to a three (3) step program.
The Job Ready Program (JRP) is for international student graduates who have received a completed qualification issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), as a result of study in Australia. The RTO must be registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to deliver the training. Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skills assessing authority within the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the Department) for nominated occupations.
What is the new process of Job Ready Program skills assessment.
The new Job Ready Program applicants will contact three steps only. From 1 July 2022, new applications will be accepted by selecting the JRP Program Registration and Eligibility option.
Transition Period
As a result of this key change, no new applications for the Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) [Step 1 of the JRP] will be accepted after 4.00 pm (AEST) on 30 June 2022.
If you have not started your PSA application before 1 July 2022, you will not be able to apply for a PSA. You will need to apply under the new JRP process on or after 1 July 2022.
If you have applied for a PSA outcome before 1 July 2022, your application will be processed, and you will receive your PSA outcome.
If you have received a PSA outcome before 1 July 2022, your progress through the JRP will not be affected.
The following occupations are assessed by TRA
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Documentary evidence assessment requirements
Applicants must submit decision-ready documentary evidence of the applicant’s identity, skills, and employment experience with the initial application. The most common cause for delay, or an unsuccessful outcome is insufficient evidence of the required period of employment, the currency of employment (generally 12 months in the past three years in the nominated occupation) or the employment undertaken is limited in that it does not cover a sufficient range of tasks for the occupation being applied for e.g. a cook in a limited service restaurant or a mechanic that generally only works on transmissions.
At a minimum, the following should be supplied at the time of application:
Employer statements
The applicant must supply verifiable employer statements, and pay evidence for each period of employment they wish to claim.
- the exact employment period (start and finish dates)
- the normal hours of work
- the nature of employment (full-time, part-time, casual)
- job title (occupation)
- a detailed description of the relevant tasks undertaken
- the name and address of the business on official business letterhead
- the name, position, contact details and signature of the person authorised to make the statement and the length of time they supervised the applicant.
Pay evidence
Pay evidence should include (but is not limited to) two items listed below for each year they wish to claim:
- official government tax records or documents that may include payment summaries, group certificates or notices of assessment
- three payslips citing names of the employer and employee
- superannuation documents citing the names of the applicant and employer
- bank statements with the employer’s name and clearly showing income has been deposited.
Occupation experience and knowledge requirements
For example, a light vehicle mechanic must demonstrate competency across the full range of tasks as an Australian mechanic, across systems including starting, ignition, cooling, braking, suspension, steering, etc. An applicant that simply carries out minor servicing and repairs is unlikely to be able to demonstrate the required competency across the full range of tasks.
TRA-approved RTOs are bound by the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (replaced by revised Standards for RTOs from 1 July 2025). Assessors must be qualified for the occupation they are assessing. Assessors provide reports to TRA for each applicant with the most common reasons for an applicant failing the technical assessment phase being:
- applicants are unable to demonstrate their skills across the full range of competencies required
- applicants are unable to complete the technical assessments in English without assistance (program requirement)
- applicants are clearly working in a different role to that being applied under.
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