331211 Carpenter and Joiner and 331213 Joiner: TRA Skills Assessment and Visa Options

Carpenter and Joiner (ANZSCO 331211) and Joiner (ANZSCO 331213) sit in the same unit group as Carpenter, 331212, and all three are assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). All three are on the occupation lists for the main skilled and employer-sponsored visas. But the codes aren't interchangeable. TRA assesses you against the occupation you nominate, and the qualification TRA lists for Joiner is different from the one for the other two.

Which TRA program you use depends on your visa, your passport, whether you trained in Australia and whether you hold a qualification. One detail differs from Carpenter: Papua New Guinea isn't on the passport lists for Carpenter and Joiner or Joiner.

Not sure which code or program fits your work? Book a consultation before you pay.

How the three codes differ

Duties are what separate them. By the ABS description, a joiner cuts, shapes and fits timber parts in a workshop, ready for installation, while a carpenter and joiner both constructs and installs structures and fixtures and cuts, shapes and fits timber parts. Your employer references need to describe the duties of the code you nominate, because the MSA guidelines require the nominated occupation to be directly relevant to your qualification and your employment.

Our Carpenter 331212 post covers the on-site carpentry code.

Which TRA assessment do you need?

Both occupations use the same ten-country list for OSAP, for TRA's TSS assessment and for the Department's mandatory 482 assessment. Carpenter's list has an eleventh country, Papua New Guinea.

Worked example, for two qualified applicants with a Papua New Guinea passport applying for the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa:

• Carpenter 331212: Papua New Guinea is on TRA's OSAP list for Carpenter, so OSAP is compulsory.
• Carpenter and Joiner 331211 or Joiner 331213: Papua New Guinea isn't on the OSAP list for these codes, so the Migration Skills Assessment applies, at $795.

From 31 July 2024, TRA also removed the compulsory OSAP requirement for both occupations for qualified applicants with a passport from China, Iran, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates or the United Kingdom, who now use the MSA. Applicants from those countries without a qualification can opt in to OSAP. TRA lists both occupations as prioritised on its construction prioritisation list.

On the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, the Department's mandatory-assessment rule has exemptions, such as having already met TRA's OSAP standard. With a passport outside the ten listed countries there's no mandatory skills assessment, and TRA's TSS assessment isn't offered to you. The 482 still requires at least 12 months of relevant work in the 5 years before you apply, and the Department can require you to demonstrate your skills.

What each program costs and how long it takes

To qualify for the MSA you need a relevant qualification, at least 3 years of paid work in the occupation and at least 12 months full time in the 3 years before you apply. TRA doesn't accept trade tests without verifiable formal training, short courses or an occupational licence in place of a qualification.

OSAP Pathway 1, for applicants without a relevant Australian VET qualification, asks for 3 years of full-time work with formal training, or 5 years without it. A practical demonstration may be part of the technical assessment. A successful Pathway 1 outcome in a non-licensed trade such as these also awards the relevant Australian VET qualification.

Where a positive assessment takes you

Both occupations are invited through SkillSelect. Our points calculator shows where you'd sit.

Under Ministerial Direction 122, both fall inside the construction group, which affects only the order in which a visa application is picked up. Both are also on the lists for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) and Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visas.

States set their own lists for the 190 and 491. In the ACT's 12 October 2026 invitation round, the minimum Canberra Matrix score reached for the Carpenters and Joiners unit group was 100 for Canberra residents and 95 for overseas applicants. ACT says that minimum is an indication only.

A TRA outcome isn't a licence. Some states and territories require a licence or registration for construction work, and TRA recommends checking with the relevant state or territory department before you apply, so the outcome is also suitable for licensing.

FAQ

Can a carpenter and joiner get PR in Australia?

Yes, if you meet the visa's requirements. Carpenter and Joiner, ANZSCO 331211, and Joiner, ANZSCO 331213, are on the lists for the permanent 189, 190 and 186, and for the provisional 491 and 494. For the 189, 190 and 491 you need a suitable Trades Recognition Australia skills assessment when you're invited.

Is joinery on the PR list in Australia?

Yes. Joiner, ANZSCO 331213, is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List used for the 189, 190 and 491, and on the Core Skills Occupation List for the 186 and 482. Trades Recognition Australia is the assessing authority.

What qualifications do you need to be a joiner for a skills assessment?

Trades Recognition Australia lists the Certificate III in Joinery (CPC31920) as the Australian qualification for Joiner, ANZSCO 331213. For the Migration Skills Assessment you need a relevant qualification plus at least 3 years of paid work as a joiner, including 12 months full time in the last 3 years.

What does ANZSCO skill level 3 mean?

It's the skill level the ABS assigns to Carpenters and Joiners: an AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or an AQF Certificate IV. The ABS says at least three years of relevant experience may substitute for those qualifications, though the migration skills assessment sets its own evidence rules.

Can you get a 482 without a skills assessment?

For a carpenter and joiner or joiner, it depends on the passport. A TRA skills assessment is mandatory for 482 applicants with a passport from Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam or Zimbabwe, unless exempt. With any other passport it isn't mandatory, though the Department can require you to demonstrate your skills.

How much is a TRA skills assessment for a joiner?

The Migration Skills Assessment costs $795. OSAP, compulsory for a joiner with a passport from one of ten listed countries applying for a permanent or regional visa, costs $1,120 for the documentary stage and $2,000 for the technical interview on Pathway 1, plus $2,200 if a practical is required. The Provisional Skills Assessment for a 485 costs $130.

‍

Want your code, TRA program and evidence checked before you pay? Book a consultation. Our skills assessment service handles the TRA side and the visa side together.