Planning to migrate to Australia as a skilled professional? You will be required to pass a skills assessment first. But here comes the confusing part: some occupations need a CDR while others need an RPL. So which one do you need? Check that out in this post!
The Simple Answer
Your professional field decides everything. If you are an engineer, then you need a CDR from Engineers Australia, but if you work in IT and lack formal IT qualifications, you will need a CDR from Engineers Australia. It is that simple. Now let’s check the details.
Engineering Occupations That Need CDR
Engineers Australia assesses the candidates who want to migrate for jobs. They check the CDR to understand your experiences and skills. So, it is better to hire CDR Report writing services for the best CDR reports. Here are the jobs that need CDR:
The 31 Engineering Jobs
Engineers Australia currently assesses 31 different engineering occupations. They group these into four categories:
Professional Engineer Jobs
- Civil Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Software Engineer
Engineering Technologist Jobs
- Civil Engineering Technologist
- Electrical Engineering Technologist
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist
- Building Associate
Engineering Associate Jobs
- Civil Engineering Draftperson
- Electrical Engineering Draftperson
- Mechanical Engineering Draftperson
Engineering Manager
When Must You Submit a CDR?
You need to prepare a CDR if:
- Your engineering degree comes from a country outside Sydney or Dublin accord
- Your university does not have Engineers Australia accreditation.
- You hold a provisionally accredited Australian degree
- You are applying for a different occupation than your degree title
- You have multiple qualifications relevant to your chosen occupation
Can You Skip the CDR?
Yes, you do not need a CDR if:
- Your degree cones form a Washington accord country
- Engineers Australia has already accredited your qualification
- Your programs meet the Sydney or Dublin Accord standard
- You qualify for the simpler Migration skill assessment pathway
ICT Occupations that Need RPL
Who Reviews Your IT Skills?
The Australian Computer Society handles all Information and communication technology assessments. They also cover Data Science and Cyber Security professionals.
When Do You Need RPL?
ACS created RPL specifically for IT professionals who:
- Have years of good work experience but no formal IT degree
- Hold a diploma or degree in a non-IT field
- Never attend university
- Want to prove their IT skills through real work experience
You should look for RPL writing services so that you do not have to face issues at the last minute.
How Much Experience Do You Need?
If you got a non-IT diploma or degree, then:
- You need 6 years of relevant IT work
- Plus, you pass the RPL assessment
No university qualification at all?
- You will need 8 years of relevant IT work
- Plus, you will take the RPL assessment
Which IT Jobs Does ACS Assess?
ACS reviews a huge range of IT occupations. Here are the main ones:
Information Technology Jobs
- Software Engineer
- Developer Programmer
- Software Tester
- System Analyst
- Database Administrator
- System TestEngineer
- Network Analyst
- Web Developer
- Multimedia Specialist
- Quality Assurance Engineer
- ICT Support Engineer
Data Science Jobs
- Data Scientist
- Data Analyst
- Data Engineer
Cyber Security Jobs
- ICT Security Specialist
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
Can you skip RPL?
- Yes, you do not need RPL if you have completed an IT degree
- Graduated from an Australian university with an IT degree
- Recently graduated and qualify for the Post-Australian Study pathway
- Can pass the standard ACS assessment
What Do You Need to Submit?
You must prepare:
- Three Career Episodes (write 1,000-2,500 words for each one)
- A CPD (Continuing Professional Development) list showing your training
- A Summary Statement linking your work to 16 competency standards
- Your academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Letters from your employers
- Your English test results (like IELTS)
- Your current resume
What they look for:
- How do you apply engineering knowledge
- Your problem-solving skills
- Your technical expertise in real projects
- Whether you meet Australian engineering standards
For RPL (IT Professionals)
You must prepare:
- Two detailed Project Reports (one from the last 3 years, one from the last 5 years)
- Your professional resume
- Your academic certificates (even if they’re not IT-related)
- Reference letters from your employers
- Vendor certifications (some jobs require these)
- Proof of your work experience
What they look for:
- How do you demonstrate IT knowledge
- Your practical skills application
- Whether your experience matches your chosen job
- If you picked the right ANZSCO code
Picking the Right Job Code
For Engineers (CDR)
When you apply for CDR, Engineers Australia gives you a dropdown menu. You pick from the 31 engineering occupations. The system automatically shows you:
- The skill level
- The ANZSCO code
- The job category
Just choose the occupation that best matches your degree and work experience.
For IT Professionals (RPL)
This part is super important for RPL applicants. Your ANZSCO code must:
- Match what you actually do at work (not just your job title)
- Align with your documented work experience
- Fit your project reports
- Reflect your real skills and expertise
Big Mistake People Make: They choose an ANZSCO code based on their fancy job title instead of their actual daily duties. ACS cares about what you DO, not what your business card says.
How Long Does Assessment Take?
CDR Timeline
- Engineers Australia typically takes 15 weeks to assign an assessor to your case
- Then they need more time to review everything
- Your outcome stays valid forever with Engineers Australia
RPL Timeline
- ACS usually completes assessments in 8-12 weeks
- You can request priority processing for faster results
- Your outcome stays valid for 3 years
Why Do Applications Get Rejected?
CDR Rejections Happen When:
- You don’t address all 16 competency elements
- They catch plagiarism or copied content
- Your career episodes use generic templates
- You don’t include enough technical detail
- Your work doesn’t align with your chosen occupation
RPL Rejections Happen When:
- You picked the wrong ANZSCO code
- You can’t prove enough work experience
- Your project reports lack technical depth
- You’re missing required vendor certifications
- Your experience doesn’t relate to your nominated job
- Your employment evidence has gaps
Special Cases to Watch
Engineering Project Managers
Did you manage engineering projects? Here’s what to do:
- Pick Engineering Professionals NEC (233999) if you have a Professional Engineer qualification
- Only pick Engineering Manager (133211) if you meet specific management experience requirements
IT Workers with Partial Degrees
Does your degree have some IT courses, but not enough?
- You might still need the RPL pathway
- ACS will check if your degree qualifies as “ICT Minor” (at least 2/3 of major requirements)
- Extra work experience can make up the difference
Vendor Certifications for IT Jobs
Some IT jobs require specific vendor certifications for RPL:
- DevOps Engineer
- Cyber Security Specialist
- Cloud Architect
- Other specialized roles
ACS only accepts certain certifications; check their guidelines for your specific job.
Your Action Plan
Engineers, follow these steps:
- Check if your country or university participates in the Accord agreements
- Verify if Engineers Australia accredits your qualification
- If not, start preparing your CDR
- Focus on showing all 16 competency elements across three different career episodes
- Write everything yourself, never copy or use templates
IT Professionals, follow these steps:
- Find out if your qualification counts as an ICT Major
- Calculate your relevant work experience years
- If your qualifications fall short, prepare for RPL
- Choose your ANZSCO code based on what you actually do daily
- Write detailed project reports that showcase your IT knowledge
Everyone should:
- Start early; assessments take 2-4 months
- Tell the truth about your experience and qualifications
- Get professional help if you’re unsure
- Submit complete documentation the first time
- Double-check that everything matches your ANZSCO description
Final Thoughts
Your professional field determines everything. Engineers need CDR through Engineers Australia. IT professionals without formal IT qualifications need RPL through the Australian Computer Society. Understanding which jobs fall under each category, and whether your qualifications let you skip these steps, gives you the foundation for successful Australian migration.
Whether you’re writing career episodes as an engineer or project reports as an IT professional, your goal stays the same: prove that your skills, knowledge, and experience meet Australian professional standards for your chosen occupation. Get this right, and you’re one big step closer to your Australian dream.