What Applicants Need to Know Before Lodging a TRA Skills Assessment
When applying for an Australian skills assessment, many applicants focus on qualifications and documents—but age and work experience play a critical role in determining assessment outcomes and risk levels.
At ACTS Visa Skills, an RTO approved and endorsed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), we regularly see applications delayed or refused due to misunderstandings around experience requirements, timing, and evidence. Understanding how these factors interact can significantly reduce risk and improve your chances of a positive outcome.
Understanding Skills Assessment Risk
A skills assessment is not just a checklist exercise. TRA and approved RTOs assess whether an applicant’s skills, experience, and employment history meet Australian industry standards for the nominated occupation.
Risk increases when:
- Experience is insufficient, outdated, or poorly evidenced
- Employment history does not align with the ANZSCO occupation
- The applicant’s career timeline does not support skill maturity
- Documentation lacks consistency or credibility
Age and experience are not assessed in isolation—but together, they can raise concerns if they do not logically align.
Age and Skills Assessment: Clearing the Misconceptions
There is no official age limit for a TRA skills assessment however for most skilled migration visas (e.g., Skilled Independent subclass 189, Skilled Nominated subclass 190), you must be under 45 years of age when you receive an invitation to apply for the visa. Age can indirectly affect risk in the following ways:
Younger Applicants
Younger applicants may face higher scrutiny if:
- They claim high-level trade skills with limited years of experience
- Their experience appears accelerated or unrealistic
- There is insufficient post-qualification employment
In these cases, assessors may question whether the applicant has had enough time to develop skills to an Australian trade standard.
Older Applicants
Older applicants may encounter issues if:
- Their recent work experience is not current
- They have been out of the trade for an extended period
- Their skills have not kept pace with modern Australian workplace practices
TRA places strong emphasis on recent, relevant employment, not just total years worked.
Work Experience: Quality Over Quantity
One of the most common risk factors in skills assessment applications is misunderstood experience requirements.
TRA generally looks for:
- Relevant employment aligned with the nominated occupation
- Experience at the appropriate skill level
- Employment that is verifiable, paid, and ongoing
- Clear evidence of hands-on tasks, tools, and responsibilities
Common Experience-Related Risks
- Experience gained before formal training without sufficient evidence
- Job titles that do not match actual duties
- Overlapping employment periods that appear unrealistic
- Self-employment without strong third-party verification
Even applicants with many years of experience can be refused if their evidence does not clearly demonstrate competency.
The Importance of Skill Maturity
TRA assessors are trained to evaluate skill maturity—whether an applicant’s experience shows progression, responsibility, and competence over time.
Risk increases when:
- Employment history lacks development or consistency
- Tasks performed are basic or repetitive over long periods
- There is no evidence of independent work or problem-solving
ACTS Visa Skills works closely with applicants to ensure their experience is presented in a way that clearly demonstrates professional growth and trade competency.
How ACTS Visa Skills Reduces Assessment Risk
As a TRA-approved RTO, ACTS Visa Skills follows strict compliance and assessment standards. Our role is not to guarantee outcomes, but to ensure applications are:
- Accurately assessed against TRA requirements
- Supported by strong, well-structured evidence
- Aligned with the correct occupation and pathway
- Presented clearly, consistently, and professionally
We help applicants understand where risk exists and how to address it before submission—reducing delays, refusals, and unnecessary stress.
Final Thoughts
Age alone does not determine success or failure in a skills assessment—but when combined with unclear experience or weak documentation, it can increase risk.
The strongest applications demonstrate:
- Logical career progression
- Relevant and recent employment
- Clear alignment between skills, experience, and occupation
- Well-prepared evidence that meets TRA expectations
If you are unsure whether your age, experience, or employment history may impact your skills assessment, seeking guidance from a TRA-endorsed RTO like ACTS Visa Skills can make a meaningful difference. Contact us today to get started!