Engineers Australia: the accredited qualification pathway and the CDR pathway
Sources checked . Information only, not migration advice.
Short answer
Engineers Australia assesses engineering qualifications and skills for migration through more than one pathway. The accredited (qualification) pathway applies to qualifications that Engineers Australia, or an Accord signatory it recognises, has accredited. The Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway applies to provisionally accredited or non-accredited qualifications, and to qualifications that do not match the occupation sought.
A CDR is a written report assessed against Engineers Australia's standards; it is not a qualification. Neither pathway is a visa decision. This page does not say whether any particular degree is accredited; the official checkers do.
The two pathways as Engineers Australia describes them
| Accredited qualification pathway | CDR pathway | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | A program accredited by Engineers Australia (Australian qualification), or an overseas qualification recognised under the Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord. | A provisionally accredited Australian qualification, a non-accredited engineering qualification, a qualification that does not match the occupation sought, or a combination of qualifications that shows the underpinning knowledge. |
| What is assessed | The accredited qualification. | Knowledge, skills and competency, written up in a Competency Demonstration Report, against Engineers Australia standards for the occupation. |
| Overseas recognition conditions | Completed after (or in the year) the country became a full signatory; within the accredited period on the signatory's site; fully accredited. Provisional accreditation is not sufficient. | Not applicable. |
| Where to check | The International Engineering Alliance qualification checker for overseas qualifications; Engineers Australia's accredited program list for Australian ones. | Engineers Australia's CDR guidance. |
Engineers Australia states that from 1 September 2024 Advanced Diploma and Associate Degree holders can use the accredited pathway only with Engineers Australia-accredited qualifications.
The three Accords
The Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords are international agreements that recognise engineering education accredited by member bodies. Which Accord a qualification falls under depends on its level and type, and a qualification is recognised only under the conditions in the table above.
Qualification assessment is not a migration outcome
An Engineers Australia outcome tells a visa process how a qualification or competency compares with an engineering occupation. It does not decide that a person can apply for a visa, is nominated by a state, or is invited. The guide on skills assessment versus visa requirements covers the later steps.
Official verification
- Overseas qualification: use the International Engineering Alliance qualification checker linked below, then confirm against the current Engineers Australia page.
- Australian qualification: check Engineers Australia's list of accredited programs, including the program's accredited period.
- Occupation: Engineers Australia's application offers 31 engineering occupations; the occupation page for Civil Engineer shows how LogiVisa reports that assessing authority.
Official sources
- Engineers Australia: Migration skills assessment — Pathways, Accords, accreditation checks, 1 September 2024 change (page updated 27 February 2026)
- International Engineering Alliance — Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords; qualification checker for overseas programs