Architects plan and design buildings, provide concepts, plans, specifications and detailed drawings, negotiate with builders and advises on the procurement of buildings. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level

1

Specialisations

• Conservation or Heritage Architect

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Architect is Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Three pathways for skills assessment by ACA:
  • Pathway A – If you hold an accredited architecture qualification from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore
    • If one of your qualifications is on the list of accredited architecture qualifications, you can obtain a Skills Assessment letter through a simple verification process. View a summary of the process here.
    • If your Australian qualification is not on the list of accredited architecture programs, you do not qualify for the verification process. You may be eligible for the Overseas Qualifications Assessment if you have completed an overseas qualification.
    • Applicants with other qualifications from New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore (which are not on the list of accredited architecture qualifications) are required to undertake the Overseas Qualifications Assessment or the Experienced Practitioner Assessment to obtain a Skills Assessment letter.
  • Pathway B – If you hold overseas qualifications
    • Applicants who completed academic qualifications in architecture awarded by institutions outside of Australia are required to undertake the Overseas Qualifications Assessment or the Experienced Practitioner Assessment to obtain a Skills Assessment letter.
  • Pathway C – If you hold both Australian and overseas qualifications
    • Only one of your qualifications needs to be on the list of accredited architecture qualifications for you to obtain a Skills Assessment letter through the simple verification process
  • To be eligible for the overseas qualifications assessment you must meet the following criteria:
    • Applicants must have completed a 5 year full-time equivalent architectural qualification awarded by an institution outside of Australia and may reside in Australia or overseas
    • Professional experience is not assessed. Evidence of work experience will not be taken into account.
  • To be eligible for the experienced practitioner assessment you must meet the following criteria:
    • Minimum five-year professional qualification/s in architecture – applicants must hold an Australian accredited professional qualification in architecture.
    • Seven-years relevant professional postgraduate experience with a minimum of three years providing architectural services on complex projects practising at Executive Level (principal decision-maker)
    • 12 months relevant professional experience in Australia within the last three years
    • Resident in Australia

Did you know?

You only need to complete stage 1 of the overseas qualification assessment to meet the requirement of a Skills Assessment for immigration purposes. However, if you wish to go on to register as an architect in Australia you must also complete stage 2.

Stage 2 involves additional eligibility requirements, a portfolio submission and  an interview. 

design commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and recreational buildings and landscapes.

Tasks

• obtaining advice from clients and management to determine type, style and size of planned buildings and alterations to existing buildings
• providing information regarding designs, materials and estimated building times
• preparing project documentation, including sketches and scale drawings, and integrating structural, mechanical and aesthetic elements in final designs
• writing specifications and contract documents for use by builders and calling tenders on behalf of clients
• consulting with Professionals and clients about external area designs, costs and construction
• compiling and analysing site and community data about geographical and ecological features, landforms, soils, vegetation, site hydrology, visual characteristics and human-made structures, to formulate land use and development recommendations, and for preparing environmental impact statements
• preparing reports, site plans, working drawings, specifications and cost estimates for land development, showing location and details of proposals, including ground modelling, structures, vegetation and access
• inspecting construction work in progress to ensure compliance with plans, specifications and quality standards

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

• 232111 Architect
• 232112 Landscape Architect