Job Ready Program (JRP): Earn your skill assessment today

A Job Ready Program (JRP) is a structured employment-based skills assessment program designed to help individuals, especially those with trade qualifications, who need to demonstrate their skills for Australian employment or migration.

The Job Ready Program (JRP) is administered by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), a government agency that helps eligible individuals develop the skills and workplace experience needed to secure employment in their nominated occupation in Australia.

This program consists of four logical steps that are essential for individuals applying for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa, such as subclass 189, 190, or 491.

The requirements of the Job Ready Program (JRP) are outlined below:

• You must have been the primary visa holder for a student visa (subclass 500).

• You must have at least 1 year of full-time study to complete the program.

• Your occupation must be listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

• Your occupation assessment path must be listed on the official Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) website.

• You must complete at least 360 hours of work or vocational placement in Australia relevant to your occupation.

• You must be eligible for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485).

Here is why the job-ready program is crucial for international graduates with trade qualifications:

• It helps individuals gain practical experience and develop skills for employment in the Australian workforce.

• It helps you obtain a positive skills assessment, which is a key requirement for applying for skilled migration visas such as subclass 189, 190, 491, or 186.

• It develops trade-specific practical skills and equips individuals with the confidence and workplace readiness needed to succeed in the Australian labour market.

The Job Ready Program (JRP) consists of four key stages, all of which must be completed to obtain a positive skills assessment through Trades Recognition Australia:

Stage 1: Provisional skills assessment (PSA)

The first stage of the Job Ready Program is to pass the Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA). This stage verifies the genuineness of your Australian education qualifications and relevant work experience.

Eligibility criteria:

• You must be the primary holder of a student visa (subclass 500) in Australia.
• You must study a course in your nominated occupation from an approved Australian institution that is CRICOS-registered.
• Must have completed at least 360 hours of work experience or vocational placement in the related occupation relevant to the applicant’s qualifications.

After obtaining a positive skills assessment, applicants become eligible to apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and proceed to stage 2 of the Job Ready Program.

Application process for PSA:

• Register online by creating an account on the Job Ready Program website.
• Pay the PSA Fee.
• Fill in the required PSA applications and submit them online.
• Once submitted, download and print the assessment summary.
• Send your printed assessment summary along with all required supporting documents to the designated TRA email address.

Stage 2: Job Ready Employment (JRE)

In this stage, applicants need to secure employment in their nominated trade occupation with an eligible employer in Australia. The applicant needs to complete at least 1725 hours of paid employment within a year in a work environment approved by the TRA.

Eligibility criteria:

• You must have obtained a positive PSA result.
• You must hold or have applied for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) / have full work rights for at least 18 months.

Application process for JRE:

• Register on the official JRP website.
• Submit your employer's details.
• Send your printed JRE summary plus all the required documents to the TRA email address.

Stage 3: Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA)

In this stage, an assessor authorised by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will visit your workplace to conduct the Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA). The assessment checks whether practical skills and performance align with the requirements of the nominated occupation.

Eligibility criteria:

• Applicant must be employed in a TRA-approved workplace relevant to their nominated occupation.
• You must provide evidence that you have worked at least 863 hours in paid employment over six months beginning with the start date of the Job Ready Employment (JRE) stage.
• You must provide acceptable Skills Progress Reports (SPR) and Employment Verification Reports (EVR).

During the Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA), the assessor evaluates whether the applicant is performing their duties at the required skill level for their nominated occupation in Australia.

If the applicant doesn't demonstrate competency at the required level, they may continue working with their current employer and undertake a reassessment later when they gain experience.

Application process for JRWA:

• Receive confirmation from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) that you are eligible to undertake the JRWA.
• Log in to your Job Ready Program account and submit the required information online.
• Pay the JRWA fee.
• Print the JRWA summary document and have your employer verify the details by signing it.
• Send your signed JRWA summary along with all required documents to the TRA email address.

Stage 4: Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA)

You can apply for the JRFA once you have completed all three JRP stages. This is the final assessment of JRP, and once you get a positive result, you will be eligible to apply for several skilled migration visas:

Eligibility criteria:

• You must have obtained a positive JRWA result.
• Applicants must complete at least 1725 paid employment hours in a TRA-approved workplace for over 12 months.
• You must collect evidence of employment, such as payslips, bank statements, work certificates, and other evidence.

Application process for JRFA:

• Sign in to your JRP account and complete the JRFA application.
• Pay the JRFA fee.
• Submit the details and print the JRFA summary document.
• Send your printed JRFA summary along with all required documents to the TRA email address.

• Carpentry
• Boat building
• Automotive mechanic
• Commercial cookery
• Heavy diesel mechanic
• Solid plastering
• Bricklaying
• Wall & floor tiling
• Electrical instrumentation
• Automotive body repair
• Automotive electrician
• Engineering fabrication
• Electrical engineering
• Airconditioning & refrigeration
• Cabinet making
• Joinery
• Painting and decorating

Completing the Job Ready Program (JRP) requires more than simply meeting the eligibility criteria. Understanding the program requirements, eligible occupations, documentation, timelines, and assessment stages is essential to achieving a positive outcome.

With 10+ years of experience in education and migration support, Search Education provides personalised guidance throughout every step of the Job Ready Program.

Our MARA-registered migration agents have in-depth knowledge of Australian immigration policies and can help you understand the JRP requirements, confirm your eligibility, identify your eligible occupation, prepare the required documentation, and confidently navigate each stage of the program.

Trusted by hundreds of students from Australia, Chile, Nepal, India, the Philippines, and beyond, we're committed to making your Job Ready Program journey straightforward, informed, and stress-free.

Book a consultation today and let Search Education help you successfully navigate the Job Ready Program and move closer to your skilled migration and career goals in Australia.

• https://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/our-programs/job-ready-program