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If you are a medical laboratory professional planning to migrate to Australia, the AIMS skills assessment is a mandatory requirement before you can proceed with your skilled visa application. The Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists is the designated assessing authority under the Migration Regulations 1994 for medical laboratory and clinical science occupations. A positive outcome from this assessment is essential, as it confirms that your qualifications, training, and professional experience meet Australian standards for skilled migration eligibility.
Without a suitable skills assessment outcome, you cannot lodge an Expression of Interest or apply for a skilled visa under the General Skilled Migration program. The assessment process evaluates your academic background, clinical training, and relevant work experience to ensure alignment with Australian occupational requirements.
At CDR Australia Engineer, we assist medical laboratory professionals from over 40 countries in preparing complete, accurate, and fully compliant AIMS applications. Our goal is to ensure your documents are correctly structured and submitted the first time, improving your chances of a successful assessment outcome.
The Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS) is the peak multidisciplinary professional body for medical laboratory sciences in Australia. It is formally specified by the Australian Government under the Migration Regulations 1994 as the assessing authority for medical laboratory occupations under the General Skilled Migration program.
The Institute assesses whether your overseas academic qualifications, laboratory work experience, and English language proficiency are comparable to Australian standards for your nominated occupation. Depending on your specific qualification background, the assessment may be completed through a document review alone or through a two-stage process that includes a written professional examination.
A positive AIMS skills assessment outcome is accepted by the Department of Home Affairs for the following visa subclasses:
The following medical laboratory professionals fall under this category:
Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Assessment Type |
Medical Laboratory Scientist | 234611 | Document assessment (accredited degree) or 2-stage |
Medical Laboratory Scientist — IVF Embryologist | 234611 (Specialisation) | 2-stage (exam required) |
Medical Laboratory Technician | 311213 | Document assessment or 2-stage |
Pathology Collector / Phlebotomist | 311216 | Document assessment + exam |
Important note on processing: The authority aims to complete all assessments within 16 weeks of receipt. However, the verification of documents may take up to 6 months. Plan your migration timeline accordingly there is no priority or fast-track processing option.
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To apply for an AIMS skills assessment, applicants generally need to meet the following requirements:
All applicants must submit an English language proficiency test report as part of the assessment. The report must have been issued within three years of the date of application. The following tests are accepted:
Test | Minimum Requirement |
IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 7.0 in each of the 4 components |
TOEFL iBT | At least 24 Listening, 24 Reading, 27 Writing, 23 Speaking |
PTE Academic | At least 65 in each of the 4 components |
OET | Minimum B grade in each band (relevant profession only) |
2026 Update: As of 12 March 2026, English language requirements have been updated to align with the Department of Home Affairs’ Proficient English standard. Always verify current minimum scores via the official AIMS guidelines before applying, as these are now linked to Department of Home Affairs requirements rather than fixed within AIMS documents.
The assessment pathway you follow depends on your academic qualification and nominated occupation. There are two broad assessment pathways:
Pathway 1: Single Stage Document Assessment
Applicants with a qualification from an AIMS-accredited university are usually assessed through a document review only. No professional examination is required if the qualification meets accredited program requirements. Assessment is based on submitted documents and verification checks, making this the faster pathway.
Pathway 2: Two Stage Assessment
Applicants without an AIMS-accredited qualification must complete a two-stage process. Stage 1 involves a document assessment to determine eligibility. If successful, applicants proceed to Stage 2, which requires passing the AIMS Professional Examination. Both stages must be completed successfully to achieve a suitable assessment outcome.
The professional examination is generally conducted twice a year, usually in March and September, at selected locations in Australia and overseas. Missing an examination session may significantly increase overall processing time.
Important: A not suitable outcome for one occupation does not always mean the application is unsuccessful. In some cases, applicants may be assessed under a comparable occupation based on their qualifications and experience.
Step 1 — Confirm Your Occupation and Pathway Identify which occupation you are nominating and which assessment pathway applies to your degree. Check whether your degree appears on the AIMS-accredited programs list before preparing any documents.
Step 2 — Read Your Occupation-Specific Guidelines Each occupation has its own published guidelines and application form. Read the guidelines thoroughly before completing the form assessments are case-by-case, and the eligibility criteria differ between options within the same occupation.
Step 3 — Prepare and Certify Your Documents Gather all required documents per the occupation-specific checklist. Have every page of every document certified correctly incorrectly certified documents will not be processed and fees will not be refunded.
Step 4 — Submit Your Application Lodge your completed application form, all certified supporting documents, and payment of the application fee. Applications are accepted online via the AIMS website.
Step 5 — Stage 2 Examination (if applicable) If your Stage 1 document assessment finds you eligible, you will be invited to sit the relevant professional examination at the next available sitting (March or September). Prepare thoroughly a failed examination results in an unsuitable outcome for the Medical Laboratory Scientist occupation, though reclassification as Medical Laboratory Technician may still be possible.
Step 6 — Receive Your Outcome Applicants are notified of their assessment results by mail. A suitable outcome can then be used to support a visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.
AIMS Skills Assessment Service | Applying from outside Australia (exc. GST) | Applying from within Australia (inc. GST) |
Standard Skills Assessment | AUD 900 | AUD 990 |
Professional Examination | AUD 800 | AUD 880 |
Assessment Amendment / Review | AUD 200 | AUD 220 |
Appeal Application | AUD 200 | AUD 220 |
Re-issue of Assessment Letter | AUD 150 | AUD 165 |
Examination Deferral | AUD 100 | AUD 110 |
Processing Time: Most AIMS skills assessments are usually processed within roughly 16 weeks from the date of application. However, depending on the complexity of the application and verification requirements, background checks and document verification may increase the processing time overall and, in certain situations, may take up to six months.
The AIMS assessment is one of the most technically specific in Australia’s skilled migration program. The two-stage process and the strict certification standards mean that preparation errors cost time, and with processing windows of up to 16 weeks (and up to 6 months for document verification), there is no margin for resubmissions.
Our team at CDRAustraliaEngineers has supported medical laboratory professionals across all major Australian assessing authorities, preparing complete, compliant application packages that go in correctly the first time.
What we do for you:
✔ Eligibility and pathway verification
✔ AIMS accredited qualification assessment
✔ Document review and occupation-specific checklist preparation
✔ Certification standards review and compliance check
✔ Work experience verification
✔ Professional Examination preparation guidance
✔ Post-outcome support and resubmission assistance
No. Applicants who hold an AIMS-accredited degree are assessed through a single-stage document review with no examination required. Applicants without an accredited degree go through a two-stage process document assessment first, then the written professional examination if found eligible in Stage 1.
If your degree does not appear on the list of accredited Bachelor and Master programs from selected international universities, you will be assessed under the non-accredited pathway, which includes a Stage 2 professional examination.
Australian standards for your chosen occupation, and you can proceed further. A not suitable outcome means you may be reclassified to a different occupation level, or you may need to address the gap before reapplying depending on the qualification.
No. Work experience must be in a diagnostic medical pathology laboratory and must relate directly to the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, or prevention of human disease in a clinical setting. Postgraduate experience in a purely research environment is not counted regardless of the laboratory environment.
No. There is no priority or expedited processing offered by the assessing authority. Every application is evaluated in the order that it is received, and the typical turnaround time is up to 16 weeks, though document verification may take up to 6 months. The only way to control your timeline is to submit everything on time.
Yes. Applicants from both onshore and offshore locations are qualified. No matter where you live, the evaluation procedure is the same. When necessary, the professional exam is administered every two years in March and September at locations in Australia and a few other countries.
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