Skills recognition
Years on the tools, but no Australian certificate?
For many trades a skills assessment, a formal qualification or both must be in place before a sponsored visa can move. Recognition of prior learning turns documented experience into a nationally recognised qualification. Our partner firm TradeQualify runs it; we fit it into the visa timeline.
Why it matters for the visa
Two tracks that have to meet.
A sponsored visa asks two different questions about your trade. The nomination asks whether the role fits an occupation on the list. The visa asks whether you have the skills for that occupation. For trades, the second question is often answered by a skills assessment from the assessing authority, and the assessing authority often wants to see a qualification or a long, well-documented work history.
That is where RPL comes in. If you have the years but not the paper, RPL can produce the Australian qualification that makes the skills assessment, and then the visa, workable. Started late, it holds everything up. Started in the right order, it runs alongside the sponsor’s own applications.
How the two firms work together
- SolvePlan (Trade Visa). We check the role, the occupation and your history and tell you whether a skills assessment, RPL, or neither is needed, and in what order.
- RPL (TradeQualify). If a qualification is needed, TradeQualify assesses your evidence against the trade qualification and issues it through its registered training organisation partners. Trades covered and current fees are confirmed when we refer you.
- Skills assessment (assessing authority). Where the occupation requires it, the application goes to the assessing authority with the qualification and the evidence behind it.
- Nomination and visa (Trade Visa). Lodged once the pieces are in place, so the Department sees a complete file.
Plain rule: don’t pay for RPL until someone has confirmed your visa pathway actually needs it. Some occupations and some streams don’t. Check first; the SolvePlan is where that happens.
Partner firm
TradeQualify
Recognition of prior learning and trade qualifications for experienced workers. A separate business, working to the same timeline as your visa.
Start your skills check
Tell us your trade, your years of experience and the evidence you can gather. We introduce you to TradeQualify, so both teams work from the same plan.
Ask about RPLGoogle reviews
What clients say about the Solve Migration team.
Milan S.Got my 482 visa without any hiccups. All thanks to Simona and Grace from the Solve team. They handled my case professionally and answered to all my queries in a timely manner.
Lucia P.I am so glad I got to do my sponsorship visa with Solve Migration! All the staff support me since day one, giving me professional advice, confidence and very attentive and quick to respond any doubts.
Reviews are of Solve Migration, the firm behind Trade Visa, and are shown as written by clients on Google. Rating as at 18 October 2026. Every matter is different and no outcome is guaranteed. Read all reviews on Google.
FAQ
Common questions
General information only. Figures change: we confirm the current rule for your matter in your SolvePlan.
What is recognition of prior learning?
RPL is an assessment process run by a registered training organisation. You show evidence of what you already do at work (photos, references, licences, job records, a practical or technical interview) and, if the evidence meets the units of competency, you are issued the nationally recognised qualification without sitting the course.
Is RPL the same as a skills assessment for a visa?
No. RPL gives you an Australian qualification. A skills assessment is a separate decision by the assessing authority for your occupation (for most trades, Trades Recognition Australia) that your skills meet the standard for migration. Some pathways need both, some need one, and the order matters. We map it in your SolvePlan.
Who is TradeQualify?
TradeQualify is our partner firm for recognition of prior learning and trade qualifications. It is a separate business. Trade Visa handles the sponsorship and visa side; TradeQualify handles the qualification side; the two run on one timeline.
How long does it take?
RPL depends on how quickly you can gather evidence and how the RTO schedules its assessment. Skills assessments have their own published timeframes. Neither should be left until after the nomination is lodged. Current timeframes are confirmed in your session.
Does my employer need to be involved?
Usually, yes: a current employer reference and evidence of your duties on site are among the strongest pieces of evidence. We brief your employer on what is needed and why.
Workers
A business has offered to sponsor you?
Book a SolvePlan. We check the job against the occupation, your experience and your English, and give you a written plan for the qualification and the visa together.
Book a SolvePlanEmployers
You need to sponsor someone?
Tell us the role and where you are. Employer Client Services replies the same business day with the steps, the costs and what we handle.
Tell us what you need