Migrating to Australia as an engineer involves a mandatory skills assessment by Engineers Australia (EA). This process ensures your qualifications, professional background, and technical knowledge meet Australian engineering standards.
Unfortunately, many applicants receive rejections due to avoidable errors. Knowing what typically causes failure can significantly boost your chances of approval.
A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Rejection in Engineers Australia Skill Assessment
1. Weak Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)
The CDR plays a crucial role—especially for those applying through the non-accredited qualifications route.
Common pitfalls include:
- Copy-pasting from sample reports (plagiarism)
- Overuse of technical jargon without context
- Generic or shallow career episodes with no real project detail
- Misalignment with EA’s 16 core competencies
How to fix it:
Create authentic content based on your own experience. Clearly demonstrate your role, challenges faced, and the impact of your contributions. Adhere closely to the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) booklet by Engineers Australia.
2. Lack of Detailed Engineering Responsibilities
EA expects evidence of genuine engineering-level tasks and responsibilities.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing technician-level duties
- Highlighting only administrative or supervisory roles
- Not providing technical depth or real-world application
Solution:
Your CDR and experience should emphasize problem-solving, technical design, and analytical skills central to engineering practice.
3. Incomplete or Incorrect Educational Documentation
Your academic credentials are thoroughly evaluated.
Frequent issues:
- Missing mark sheets or degree certificates
- Poorly scanned documents or inconsistent file names
- Non-English documents submitted without translation
Solution:
Provide certified copies of all records, ensure clear scans, and translate documents into English if needed.
4. Invalid English Language Scores
You must meet EA's language requirements through one of the accepted tests:
- IELTS: At least 6.0 in each band
- PTE Academic: Minimum score of 50 in each section
- TOEFL iBT: Total score of 64 or more, with minimum sub-scores
Error to avoid:
Submitting expired or inadequate test results.
Solution:
Confirm your test scores are current and meet the minimum threshold for each section.
5. Non-Compliant Employment Reference Letters
If you’re claiming skilled employment, your references must follow EA's standards.
Typical oversights:
- Missing official company letterhead
- Incomplete job duration details
- Lack of information about employment type or job responsibilities
- Absence of authorized signatures
Solution:
Use EA’s recommended format. Ensure references are signed, detailed, and include specific project information.
6. Plagiarism or AI-Generated Content in CDR
EA uses powerful detection tools to scan for copied or AI-generated material.
Common error:
Using AI tools or internet samples without proper customization.
Best practice:
Write about real, hands-on experiences. Keep the content unique and personalized to avoid detection.
7. Unrecognized or Irrelevant Degree
Only specific engineering degrees are accepted under EA’s guidelines.
Mistakes:
- Applying with diplomas or degrees outside of engineering
- Submitting unrelated qualifications
What to do:
Ensure your degree aligns with EA’s categories—Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, or Engineering Associate.
8. Incorrect ANZSCO Code Selection
Choosing the wrong occupation code can lead to assessment failure.
Tip:
Your career history, qualifications, and CDR must all align with the right ANZSCO code and EA occupation category.
Final Thoughts:
An EA skill assessment is not just paperwork—it's about presenting a compelling and credible engineering narrative.
Top Tips for Success:
- Use original, experience-driven content
- Follow EA’s formatting and competency guidelines
- Seek expert review and advice for compliance and accuracy
Need Support?
At Apical Immigration Experts, we specialize in preparing CDRs, reference letters, and complete EA applications. We've successfully helped hundreds of engineers—many with previously rejected cases—achieve their Australian dream.
