CDR ANZSCO Codes
ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer
ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer (OSCA 243232) Plans, directs and conducts survey work to analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures, and designs above and below ground foundations for infrastructure projects. Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) has replaced ANZSCO for all Australian labor market and immigration purposes.
Skill Level
Skill Assessment Authority
Included On the Occupation List
ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), making it eligible for various skilled migration pathways. Eligible for:
- 186 ENS/DE Visa Occupations List
- 187 RSMS Visa Occupations List
- 189 Skilled Independent and Family Sponsored 489 Occupations List and 485 Graduate Work Stream
- 190 State/Territory Sponsored
- 485 Graduate Work stream (if criteria met)
- 491– Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) Occupation List
- 494 – Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) – Employer-sponsored stream
- Skills in Demand (SID) visa – Core Skills Pathway
Not Included on the Occupation List
ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer is not on:
- Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
- 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa – Short-term stream
- The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) no longer exists
- Any temporary or restricted occupation lists
Also, the 187 RSMS visa has been closed to new applications since 2019
Australian Visa Provision for ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer
Following is the Australian visa provision for ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer
Visa Type | ANZSCO Code | OSCA Code | Eligibility | Assessing Authority | Processing (75%) | Processing (90%) |
189 (Skilled Independent – Points Tested) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~9 months | ~12–15 months |
190 (State/Territory Nominated) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~9 months | ~12–15 months |
491 (Skilled Work Regional – Provisional) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~10 months | ~15–20 months |
Skills in Demand (SID) Visa – Core Skills Pathway (replaced 482 TSS) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~4–6 months* | ~8–17 months* |
186 ENS (Direct Entry) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~5 months | ~11 months |
494 (Employer-Sponsored Regional – Provisional) | 233212 | 243232 | Eligible | Engineers Australia | ~5 months | ~11 months |
* (Indicative processing times only – subject to change), vary by stream, nomination priority, employer status, and location.
Visa Processing Times
Visa processing times are indicative only and frequently changes. Some skilled visas now process faster in weeks to months). Processing times vary monthly and depend on demand. Current DHA guidance states Skilled permanent visas average 6–15 months, and employer-sponsored visas are often faster.
Its good idea to verify current times on the Department of Home Affairs website immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Unit Group 2332: Geotechnical Engineer Professionals
Unit Group 2332 is a broader group includes duties like planning/oversight of civil projects (dams, bridges, pipelines, etc.), analysing soil/rock behaviour, designing foundations, testing materials, etc. However, for 233212 specifically, the ABS and official migration sources (e.g., Home Affairs, Jobs and Skills Australia) emphasise the soil/rock analysis and foundation design aspects, not the full list of general civil tasks
Skill Level Required for Geotechnical Engineer
- Mandatory AQF Degree: You must hold a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or higher. Unlike other trades, Engineers Australia (EA) does not accept work experience as a substitute for this degree for migration skills assessments.
- Post-Qualification Experience: To claim points for immigration (NSW/QLD), only work performed after your degree graduation counts. Experience gained during your studies (internships or junior roles) is generally excluded.
- Compulsory State Registration: In QLD (BPEQ), VIC, and NSW, you cannot practice or sign off on designs independently without registration. This is now a legal requirement, not just a recommendation.
Occupations within Unit Group 2332
- 233211 Civil Engineer
- 233212 Geotechnical Engineer
- 233213 Quantity Surveyor
- 233214 Structural Engineer
- 233215 Transport Engineer
These are listed on Australia’s Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for migration.. For the most up-to-date and official information for occupation profiles, refer to Jobs and Skills Australia official website
English Language Proficiency Requirement
The visa requires at least “Competent” English, but to be competitive for a 190 or 491 invitation, you usually need to score higher than the minimum.
- IELTS: Minimum 6.0 in each component (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – no component needs to be 7
- PTE Academic: Minimum 50 in each component (all four skills need 50, not 65)
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum of 12 (Listening), 13 (Reading), 21 (Writing), 23 (Speaking), and 93 Overall
- OET: Minimum Grade B in all sections
- Exemptions may be available for individuals with passports from UK/USA/Canada/NZ/Ireland.
In fact, for GSM visas, competent English means IELTS 6 minimum in each band (or equivalent in PTE/TOEFL/OET). Higher scores (IELTS 7+) are only needed for extra points or licensing/registration.
Key Tasks Include:
ANZSCO 233212 Geotechnical Engineer are responsible for the following tasks.
- Plan, direct and perform site investigations including drilling, sampling and in-situ testing of soil, rock and groundwater
- Collect and laboratory test soil/rock samples to determine strength, compressibility, shear parameters, permeability and other critical engineering properties
- Analyse and predict behaviour of soil and rock under structural loading
- Design safe and economical foundations (shallow, deep, piled, raft), retaining structures, excavation support systems and ground improvement techniques
- Carry out slope stability analysis, landslide risk assessment and mitigation design
- Perform geotechnical modelling and numerical analysis using modern software (PLAXIS, GeoStudio, FLAC, Settle3, Slide etc.)
- Prepare geotechnical reports, risk assessments and design recommendations
- Provide geotechnical input during construction phase — supervision, verification, design changes and value engineering
- Assess groundwater conditions and design dewatering / drainage systems when required
- Ensure compliance with environmental, safety and regulatory standards in all geotechnical work
The 2025 Occupation Shortage List indicates that civil engineering professionals, including geotechnical engineers, are in high demand to meet housing and infrastructure targets
Skill Assessment & Pathway Changes
Engineers Australia (EA) has streamlined the Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) booklet.
- Fast Track Service: The “Fast Track” is now the standard expectation for most applicants. Processing times have fluctuated; current estimates for a standard CDR are roughly 12–15 weeks, but Fast Track can reduce this to 15–20 working days.
- Washington Accord updates: If your degree is from a country that recently gained full signatory status (e.g., specific recent cycles in India or Pakistan), you may no longer need a full CDR and could qualify for the simpler Accredited Qualification pathway.
What Should You Emphasize in CDR?
For your CDR under the 2026 OSCA 243232 (formerly ANZSCO 233212) standards, focus your career episodes on first-person accounts of soil/rock investigations, foundation design, and site surveys while strictly avoiding general project management. Also, explicitly demonstrate technical proficiency in 3D numerical modeling (e.g., PLAXIS or GeoStudio) and Geoprofessional Risk Assessment, as these are now core requirements of the OSCA 2024 Version 1.0 framework.
Also read:
Factors to Include in Your Career Episodes
Most powerful & safe focus for career episodes:
- Site investigation + testing
- Laboratory + field data interpretation
- Foundation / retaining structure design
- Slope stability / landslide mitigation
- Numerical modelling (PLAXIS / GeoStudio etc.)
- Construction stage geotechnical supervision & problem solving
Note: Engineers Australia now looks for evidence of “Sustainable Engineering” in Career Episodes. Ensure your report mentions how you considered environmental impact or material optimization in your soil analysis.
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Call us today for a free consultation or if you have any questions about ANZSCO 233212 (OSCA 243232) or your move to Australia. Let us help you find your way to success in Australia!
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