Chef 351311 vs Cook 351411: what the official descriptions say
Sources checked . Information only, not migration advice.
Short answer
Chef (351311) and Cook (351411) are two separate ANZSCO occupations in two separate unit groups (3513 and 3514). ANZSCO describes a Chef as planning and organising food preparation and cooking, and a Cook as preparing, seasoning and cooking food. ANZSCO also gives them different skill levels (2 and 3).
Which description a person's actual work matches is decided by the assessing authority from the evidence, not by the job title. For both occupations the assessing authority listed by TRA is Trades Recognition Australia.
The two ANZSCO entries side by side
| Chef 351311 | Cook 351411 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit group | 3513 Chefs | 3514 Cooks |
| Occupation description | Plans and organises the preparation and cooking of food in a dining or catering establishment. | Prepares, seasons and cooks food in a dining or catering establishment. |
| Skill level (Australia) | Skill Level 2 | Skill Level 3 |
| Indicative qualification | AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma; at least three years of relevant experience may substitute. | AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV; at least three years of relevant experience may substitute. |
| Tasks that appear in the entry | Planning menus, estimating food and labour costs and ordering food supplies; monitoring the quality of dishes at all stages; demonstrating techniques and advising on cooking procedures; enforcing hygiene regulations; may select and train staff. | Examining foodstuffs for quality; regulating oven and grill temperatures; seasoning and portioning food; preparing food for special dietary requirements; may plan menus and estimate food requirements; may train kitchen staff and apprentices. |
| Specialisations listed | Chef de Partie, Commis Chef, Demi Chef, Second Chef, Sous Chef | None listed on the page |
Source: the ABS ANZSCO 2022 unit group pages for 3513 and 3514, checked 2026-10-20. The ABS marks that release as not the latest, so confirm the version the assessing authority and the Department of Home Affairs currently use.
Why the job title alone does not settle it
Both entries describe work in a dining or catering establishment, and the Cook entry says a Cook may plan menus and estimate food requirements, which are also Chef tasks. Each ANZSCO unit group also states that the other occupation is excluded from it: Chefs are excluded from 3514 and Cooks are excluded from 3513.
Kitchens use titles such as head chef, chef de partie or cook inconsistently. ANZSCO classifies by the tasks performed and the skill level of the work, so an assessing authority reads evidence of duties and responsibilities rather than the title on a contract.
Where TRA fits
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is the assessing authority for trade occupations including Chef and Cook. TRA runs the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) and, for listed occupations and passport countries, the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP). In the TRA program page capture held by LogiVisa (July 2026), both Chef and Cook appear on the OSAP occupation list for a published set of passport countries.
Whether MSA or OSAP is the program for a given person depends on TRA's current rules. See the separate comparison of the two programs below.
Skills assessment is a separate step
An assessment of skills by TRA is a different thing from a visa decision. It does not establish that a person can be granted any visa, will be nominated by a state, or will be invited to apply. The guide on skills assessment versus visa requirements sets out the separation.
Official sources
- ABS ANZSCO 2022: Unit Group 3513 Chefs — Chef description, tasks, skill level, indicative qualification, exclusions
- ABS ANZSCO 2022: Unit Group 3514 Cooks — Cook description, tasks, skill level, indicative qualification, exclusions
- ABS: ANZSCO classification — Current ANZSCO release information
- Trades Recognition Australia — Current Migration Skills Assessment and OSAP information