TRA Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) vs Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP)
Sources checked . Information only, not migration advice.
Short answer
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) offers more than one skills assessment program. The standard Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) is the general program. The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is a separate program that TRA's guidelines apply to listed occupations and, for most of them, listed passport countries.
This page describes the programs as published. It does not say which one a particular person needs; TRA's current guidelines and occupation list decide that.
The two programs as TRA publishes them
| Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) | Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | TRA's standard skills assessment for migration in trade occupations. | A separate TRA program with its own pathways (documentary evidence, technical interview and, if required, a practical assessment). |
| Who it is not open to | The four licensed occupations (Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Plumber (General)), and applicants whose passport country and occupation require OSAP. | Not applicable to occupations that are not on the OSAP occupation list. |
| How listing works | The default program for trade occupations that are not caught by an OSAP requirement. | An occupation on the OSAP list, with a passport from a country listed for that occupation. A person on the list but from another country may still choose OSAP. |
| Licensed occupations | Not available for the four licensed occupations. | Compulsory for permanent migration in those four occupations (two pathways, depending on whether the person holds a relevant Australian VET qualification or a current Australian licence). |
| Fee in the guidelines held by LogiVisa | AUD 795 (guidelines dated July 2026). | Pathway-based; see TRA for the current fee schedule. |
TRA changes these rules. TRA revises its program rules and occupation list, so treat any summary, including this one, as a pointer to TRA's current guidelines.
Assessment is not a licence
A TRA skills assessment is made for migration purposes. It is not an Australian occupational licence. For licensed occupations such as electrician or plumber, working in Australia also involves the relevant state or territory licensing body, which is a separate process with separate requirements.
The reverse also holds: an Australian licence or qualification can be relevant evidence for TRA, as the OSAP pathway split above shows, but it is not the same decision.
Where to check what is current
- TRA's Migration Skills Assessment Program Guidelines and OSAP occupation list, on the TRA website.
- The licensing authority in the state or territory where the person intends to work, for licensed occupations.
- The Department of Home Affairs for which assessing authority and assessment each visa requires.
Official sources
- Trades Recognition Australia — Program guidelines, OSAP occupation list and fees (this page's table follows the July 2026 edition captured by LogiVisa on 2026-10-11)
- Department of Home Affairs: SkillSelect — How a skills assessment is used in skilled visa applications