Job Ready Program 2025: A Straightforward Guide to Getting Your Skill Assessment After Graduation
If you’re studying a trade in Australia and dreaming of staying here long-term, there’s a fantastic opportunity you should know about—the Job Ready Program (JRP).
Over the years, we’ve seen countless students go through this process and successfully transition from studying to securing permanent residency. If that’s your goal too, this guide will walk you through the exact steps to follow in 2025 to get your full skills assessment within a year of graduating.
Let’s dive in.
What Is the Job Ready Program?
The Job Ready Program is a pathway offered by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) designed specifically for international students who finish a trade qualification here in Australia.
It helps you prove your skills and get a positive skill assessment which is essential for many permanent visa options after just 12 months of working in your trade.
Normally, this kind of assessment would require years of experience. But with the JRP, if you’ve studied in Australia, you get a much faster route.
Step 1: Study a Trade Course (Minimum Two Years)
Your first move is to complete a trade course that runs for at least two years. This makes you eligible for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485 – Graduate Work stream), which gives you time to work and complete the JRP after graduation.
Some common trade courses include:
💡 Tip: If you’re 36 or older when you finish your course, you may not be eligible for the 485 visa. In that case, a Training Visa (subclass 407) could be a great alternative.
Step 2: Apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA)
Before you apply for your graduate visa, you’ll need to apply for a Provisional Skills Assessment through TRA.
This step is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need to submit documents like:
- Your qualification certificate
- A completion letter from your college
- Your transcript
Once that’s approved, you’re officially on your way!
Step 3: Start Working & Log Your Experience
Next, you’ll need to sign up an employer who’s willing to support your Job Ready Program application. They’ll need to complete a form confirming the kind of work you’re doing and you’ll begin uploading your payslips regularly to TRA.
The goal here is to complete 12 months of full-time (38 hours/week) work in your trade.
And here’s some good news: if you’ve already started working right after graduation, you can backdate up to 3 months of payslips which can help speed things along.
🛠️ Example: If you’re working as a tiler, you’ll need to show that you’re consistently doing tasks like measuring, cutting, and laying tiles and your payslips will back that up.
Step 4: Workplace Assessment
After you’ve worked for at least six months, TRA will arrange a site visit to assess your skills in action.
It’s not a test in the academic sense. Think of it more as someone observing you on the job. They’ll watch you perform some of your day-to-day tasks and speak to your employer to make sure you’re competent in your trade.
Honestly, this part isn’t anything to worry about. In our experience at Pathway to Aus, almost no one fails this stage as long as you’ve been doing the job.
Step 5: Complete the Final 12 Months & Get Your Full Skills Assessment
Once you’ve completed the full 12 months of work and submitted all your payslips, TRA will issue your full skills assessment.
This is a key requirement for applying for various permanent visas.
What Visas Can You Apply for After the JRP?
With your skills assessment in hand, you can move on to the next step: submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and applying for one of several permanent residency visas:
- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
- State Nominated Visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
- Employer Sponsored Visas (subclass 482, 186, etc.)
Which one you go for depends on your occupation, state nomination options, and your points score—but the full skills assessment is what unlocks the door to all of them.
Final Thoughts
The Job Ready Program has been a game-changer for international trade students in Australia. It gives you a clear, structured path from graduation to permanent residency and you don’t have to wait years to get started.
At Pathway to Aus, we’ve helped hundreds of students go through this journey. If you’re unsure where to start, need help choosing a trade course, or just have questions about visas and employment options, we’re always here to help.
Need More Info?
✅ See a full list of eligible trade courses
✅ Learn more about the Job Ready Program
✅ Contact Pathway to Aus for personalised advice
Disclaimer: This post is for general guidance only and does not constitute migration advice. Please speak with a registered migration agent for individual support.
