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If you are a qualified quantity surveyor planning to migrate to Australia, the AIQS assessment is a mandatory requirement before you can proceed with your skilled visa application. The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) is the official government-approved assessing authority for the Quantity Surveyor occupation (OSCA 241932) under Australia’s skilled migration program. A positive assessment outcome is essential, as it confirms that your qualifications and professional experience meet Australian industry standards required for migration purposes.
The assessment process carefully reviews your academic background, employment history, and quantity surveying responsibilities to determine whether they align with Australian competency expectations. Incorrect qualification pathways, weak employment references, or incomplete documentation are common reasons for delays and unsuccessful outcomes.
At CDR Australia Engineer, we assist quantity surveyors from over 40 countries with eligibility checks, pathway guidance, document preparation, and application support. Our goal is to help you submit a complete, compliant, and decision-ready AIQS application from the beginning.
The AIQS assessment is a formal migration skills evaluation conducted by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors on behalf of the Australian Government. It determines whether your overseas qualifications and professional experience meet Australian standards for the occupation of Quantity Surveyor, the only occupation assessed by this authority.
The assessment evaluates your degree comparability, the relevance of your qualification to quantity surveying, and your post-qualification work experience against Australian industry benchmarks. There are five assessment routes, and choosing the correct one before applying is the most important step in the entire process.
Quantity surveyors applying for any of the following Australian visa subclasses must obtain a positive AIQS skills assessment outcome before lodging their application:
Quantity Surveyor (OSCA 241932) is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making it eligible for the Subclass 189 independent pathway. Always verify your visa subclass requirements with the Department of Home Affairs before applying, as AIQS cannot provide advice on visa types or points calculations.
The majority of issues with an AIQS assessment can be avoided and are discovered prior to submission. The most common are selecting the incorrect pathway, HR or non-technical manager’s reference letter, work experience prior to graduation, and non-electronic certification of transcript. One could extend a process that already has no quick track by months. Looking at all five before paying the assessment fee is the safest way to safeguard your migration timeline.
AIQS will first look at your qualification, and no work experience will be considered until the degree has been assessed as suitable. The simplest case is a degree in construction management and economics or quantity surveying. Examples of allied disciplines include civil engineering or construction management. Acceptance is not guaranteed and is subject to the amount of measurement, cost planning, and procurement content within your subjects. In general engineering disciplines like mechanical, electrical, and software, allied disciplines are not accepted. If you are not sure, send us your transcript and subject list before you apply, and we will tell you which pathway is realistic.
Applicants must meet the English language standards set by the Department of Home Affairs. Test results must be from a single sitting (no combining scores).Â
Test | Minimum Requirement |
IELTS (Academic or General) | Overall 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each band |
PTE Academic | Overall 50 with minimum 50 in each skill |
TOEFL iBT | Overall 64 with minimum scores: Listening 12, Reading 13, Writing 21, Speaking 18 |
OET | Minimum grade B in each component |
Cambridge (CAE) | Overall 169 with at least 169 in each skill |
This route is for applicants with an Australian AIQS-accredited qualification who do not yet have one year of post-graduation experience. AIQS assesses your qualification only and does not assess work experience. The outcome can support points for a recognised degree, but it cannot be used for a permanent residency application.
This route is for applicants with an Australian AIQS-accredited qualification who do not yet have one year of post-graduation experience. AIQS assesses your qualification only and does not assess work experience. The outcome can support points for a recognised degree, but it cannot be used for a permanent residency application.
This pathway is for applicants who hold an Australian AIQS-accredited degree and have at least one year of post-qualification experience in quantity surveying. Only Australian degrees listed in the AIQS Accredited Program Guide are eligible. Overseas degrees, even if they appear in the guide, must be assessed under Pathway 3 or Pathway 4.
This pathway is for applicants who completed a non-accredited qualification in Australia and have at least two years of relevant post-qualification experience. It is also the correct route for holders of an accredited qualification who want their work experience formally assessed alongside their degree.
This pathway is for overseas-trained quantity surveyors. Your degree must be in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management and Economics and must be equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or higher. You also need at least two years of post-qualification experience in quantity surveying.
This pathway is for current financial members of AIQS, or of an equivalent formally recognized peak body, with at least 12 months of post-membership work experience in quantity surveying. Employment gained before you received your membership cannot be assessed under this pathway.
Not sure which route fits your degree and experience? Our team checks your pathway for free before you commit to any AIQS assessment fees.
If you studied overseas and have at least two years of post-qualification quantity surveying experience, Pathway 3 is usually your route. If you hold an Australian AIQS-accredited degree and at least one year of post-qualification experience, Pathway 1 applies. If you completed a non-accredited Australian qualification with at least two years of relevant experience, Pathway 2 applies.
 If you are a current financial member of AIQS or a recognized peak body with at least 12 months of post-membership experience, Pathway 4 applies. If you have an Australian-accredited degree but less than a year of experience, Qualifications Only is the correct outcome, though it cannot support a permanent residency application. Choosing the right pathway at the start is the single most important decision in your AIQS assessment.
All documents must be uploaded in PDF format. Certified copies must be dated no older than 12 months from the date of submission, with certification appearing on the front of each page.
AIQS will not accept physically certified transcripts or testamur. They must be certified electronically through the My eQuals Australia platform by your university directly. If your university is not registered on My eQuals, contact AIQS before submitting your application.
Applying for an AIQS assessment is a six-step process. Most delays come from skipping the first three steps, so complete them before you pay any fees.
Download and read the current AIQS Migration Skills Assessment Policy before you prepare any documents. It sets out the qualifying occupations, allied disciplines, supervisor requirements, and all eligibility criteria in detail. Applying without reading the policy is one of the most common causes of preventable errors and delays.
Identify which of the five routes applies to your qualification and experience, and check whether your degree appears on the AIQS accredited program list. If you hold an overseas degree, whether accredited or not, Pathway 3 or Pathway 4 applies to you.
Gather every document listed in the checklist above. Ask your university to arrange My eQuals electronic certification for your transcripts and testimony. Obtain reference letters that meet the AIQS supervisor and content standards. Have all non-English documents translated by a NAATI-accredited translator.
Complete the AIQS online application form and upload all documents in PDF format. Pay the assessment fee by credit card. A surcharge applies at the percentage shown on the application form. Your application is not lodged until the payment is processed successfully.
Migration skills assessments currently take up to five months to process because of high application volumes. AIQS is currently unable to answer phone calls about skilled migration, so send all queries by email. There is no priority or fast-track option, which is why a complete application from the start matters.
A positive outcome letter confirms that your qualification is suitable for the quantity surveyor occupation. The assessment is valid for two years from the date on your letter. Once you receive it, you can submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and continue with your visa application.
Your positive outcome letter is valid for two years from the date of issue. Your next step is to submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and choose the visa that fits your circumstances: Subclass 189, 190, or 491. Start preparing your English test result and any state nomination requirements while your assessment is still being processed, so you can move quickly once the outcome arrives. Remember that AIQS does not advise on visa types or points, so confirm those details with a registered migration agent or the Department of Home Affairs.
The AIQS skills assessment is a formal migration skills evaluation conducted by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) on behalf of the Australian Government. It is a mandatory step that confirms whether your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards for the Quantity Surveyor occupation.
Your pathway depends on where you studied and how much post-qualification experience you have. Overseas-trained applicants apply under Pathway 3 with a minimum of two years of experience. Australian-trained applicants with an accredited degree apply under Pathway 1 with one year of experience. Current AIQS or recognized body members with 12 months of post-membership experience apply under Pathway 4.
Processing currently takes up to five months from receipt of a complete application. There is no priority or fast-track option. Submitting a complete, correctly prepared application from the start is the only way to avoid additional delays.
The Qualifications Only assessment costs AUD $555 excluding GST. Pathways 1 to 4 cost AUD $655 excluding GST. Reassessment within 24 months costs AUD $350 and an appeal costs AUD $400. All fees are non-refundable.
No, AIQS does not offer a work experience-only pathway. For every assessment route, the qualification must first be assessed as suitable before any work experience can be considered. You must have already graduated before submitting your application.
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