Skills assessment · ANZSCO 322313
Welder (First Class) Skills Assessment & RPL Pathway
How Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313) is assessed for skilled migration — and where Recognition of Prior Learning fits
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
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- Occupation: Welder (First Class)
- ANZSCO code: 322313
- Skill level: Skill Level 3
- Assessing authority: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- Note: Not a nationally licensed occupation, though workplace welding tickets and site inductions are commonly required by employers.
- RPL relevant: Yes — see below (RPL through an RTO can lead to a Certificate III in Engineering — Fabrication Trade, but that VET qualification is separate from the TRA migration skills assessment, which independently evaluates your skills and verified employment for visa purposes.)
Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313) is a Skill Level 3 trade occupation covering the welding of metal parts using manual and semi-automatic processes, interpreting drawings and applying quality standards. For skilled migration the assessing authority is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). Widen Migration (MARN 1576536) helps welders prepare a well-evidenced skills assessment.
The skills assessment & RPL pathway for Welder (First Class)
For a Welder (First Class) (ANZSCO 322313), TRA carries out the migration skills assessment, generally through the Offshore Skills Assessment Program or, onshore, the Job Ready Program. TRA looks for a qualification comparable to a Certificate III in Engineering — Fabrication Trade and current, verifiable welding experience, usually supported by employer references, payslips and a portfolio.
Keep the qualification and the migration assessment distinct. RPL through an RTO can issue an Australian VET qualification based on your existing skills, but that is not the TRA migration skills assessment, which independently evaluates your skills and experience for visa purposes. Welding is not a licensed trade, so there is no occupational licence to obtain, though employers routinely require welding qualifications, tickets and site inductions.
Evidence typically required
- Certificate III in Engineering — Fabrication Trade or a comparable overseas qualification, with transcripts
- Detailed employer references confirming your duties as a welder
- Evidence of current, relevant work experience (often at least 12 months in the last three years)
- Payslips, contracts or tax records corroborating employment dates and hours
- A work portfolio, photographs or project records demonstrating the level of work
- Identity documents and any relevant licences or training certificates
Is RPL part of your Welder (First Class) pathway?
Book a consultation to confirm the right assessing authority and whether RPL fits your visa goal for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
Who assesses Welder (First Class) for skilled migration?
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the assessing authority for Welder (First Class). TRA conducts the assessment via the Offshore Skills Assessment Program or, in Australia, the Job Ready Program, looking at both your qualification and verifiable work experience.
Does an RPL Certificate III in Engineering — Fabrication Trade complete my skills assessment?
No. An RPL Certificate III in Engineering — Fabrication Trade is a VET qualification issued by a Registered Training Organisation. The TRA migration skills assessment is a separate process that weighs your qualification together with verified employment evidence against Australian trade standards. The qualification can support the assessment but does not replace it.
Which skilled visa uses this occupation?
Once Welder (First Class) is positively assessed, the assessment supports a points-tested or employer-sponsored skilled visa. The right one depends on your points, age, state nomination and whether an employer will sponsor you.
- Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent (points-tested, no sponsor)
- Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated (state nomination)
- Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (regional nomination)
- Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand (employer sponsorship)
- 482 → 186 permanent residency pathway
- Check your points for 189/190/491
Related occupations
- Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
- Automotive Electrician
- Baker
- Bricklayer
- Butcher or Smallgoods Maker
- Cabinetmaker
- Carpenter
- Chef
Related guidance
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) — skills assessment overview
- RPL guide for this field
- All occupations by assessing authority
- RPL — migration pathway guidance
- RPL by assessing authority
General information only, not migration advice. ANZSCO codes and assessing-authority arrangements change (ANZSCO is transitioning to OSCA) and skilled occupation lists are updated periodically — confirm the current code, authority and requirements for your situation. Skills assessments are conducted by the relevant assessing authority and RPL qualifications are issued by Registered Training Organisations, not by WIDEN. No qualification or assessment guarantees a visa. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.