133111 Construction Project Manager: VETASSESS Assessment and Visa Pathways
Construction Project Manager, ANZSCO 133111, is assessed by VETASSESS as a Group A occupation. That means a skills assessment needs a Bachelor degree or higher in a highly relevant field, plus at least one year of relevant work. The occupation is on the lists for every main points-tested and employer-sponsored visa: the subclass 189, 190 and 491, the 482, the 186 and the 494.
The catch is the title. Plenty of people are called project managers on building sites, and VETASSESS assesses the job you actually did, not the one on your business card. Below is how it draws the line, what it costs, and where a positive outcome takes you.
Is your job a 133111?
VETASSESS describes Construction Project Managers as people who plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate construction of civil engineering and building projects, and the physical and human resources involved. It accepts one alternative title: Building and Construction Manager.
What separates the role is authority. The position has to determine and direct procurement on construction projects. It sets and monitors the schedule and decides how the building will be built. You'd have input into tendering and deal with clients and consultants directly. Progress reports and the risk of budget or time overruns sit with you too, and you'd supervise site managers and project engineers along with the trades.
These titles are not considered under 133111, because they sit elsewhere in ANZSCO or below the required skill level:
- Project Builder
- Building Associate, Building Inspector and Construction Estimator
- Contract Administrator and Program or Project Administrator
- Architect, Architectural Draftsperson and Design Manager
Picture a project manager at an office fit-out company with an MBA in project management. Two problems, not one. Interior fit-out is treated as a case-by-case project type, judged on complexity and scale. And the assessor says project management degrees without a concentration in the built environment or construction "would not generally be positively assessed". That second point is the one we see sink applications.
What VETASSESS needs from you
| Requirement | What VETASSESS asks for |
|---|---|
| Qualification level | Comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher (Master or Doctoral degrees count) |
| Highly relevant fields | Construction Project Management, Building Technology or Building Science, Civil Engineering. Architecture majors are considered case by case |
| Core subjects | Construction methodology or building; cost management or building economics; construction or site management, or project planning and scheduling |
| Employment | At least one year after the qualification, in the last five years, at 20 hours or more a week, highly relevant to the occupation |
| Extra documents | An organisational chart and VETASSESS's Project List template |
Both halves have to come back suitable. A strong degree with the wrong kind of work fails, and so does the reverse.
The organisational chart should be on company letterhead and show your position, your managers and the people below you, plus everyone reporting to your direct supervisor. Can't get one from the employer? A statutory declaration is accepted instead, as long as it explains what the chart would show and why you can't provide it. Self-employed applicants need evidence of the business, an accountant's or solicitor's statement, a statutory declaration of duties, and proof of regular income from the work.
Cost and processing time
| VETASSESS service | Australian tax resident (incl. GST) | Not an Australian tax resident | Approximate processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full skills assessment | $1,260.60 | $1,146.00 | 7 weeks |
| Priority processing (added to the full fee) | $949.30 | $863.00 | 10 business days after the application is confirmed eligible |
| Review of qualification only (within 90 days) | $391.60 | $356.00 | 7 weeks |
| Review of employment only (within 90 days) | $700.70 | $637.00 | 7 weeks |
| Review of both (within 90 days) | $1,050.50 | $955.00 | 7 weeks |
| Reassessment (within 12 months) | $856.90 | $779.00 | 7 weeks |
| Appeal of a not suitable outcome | $1,245.20 | $1,132.00 | 12 weeks |
| Renewal (within 3 years) | $544.50 | $495.00 | 2 to 5 weeks |
Those are the published fees and approximate times, read on 7 October 2026. Applications take longer when documents are missing, so the 7 weeks only holds for a complete file.
For every VETASSESS fee and processing time, including reviews, renewals and priority processing, see our VETASSESS processing time and fees guide.
Which visas 133111 can lead to
| Visa | Occupation list | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| 189, 190 and 491 | Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List | None |
| 482 (Core Skills stream) | Core Skills Occupation List | None |
| 186 (Direct Entry stream) | Core Skills Occupation List for the 186 | None |
| 494 | Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List for the 494 | None |
Every one of those lists names VETASSESS as the assessing authority for 133111. The same list also covers the subclass 485 graduate visa.
There's one more advantage. Construction Managers (ANZSCO unit group 1331) are in the construction priority group under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, so a 133111 application sits in the first processing band for the 482, the 186, the 189 and the other visas those Directions cover. That affects when a file is picked up and nothing else. Our post on Directions 121 and 122 explains the order.
What points did invited Construction Project Manager EOIs show?
In the Department's June 2026 SkillSelect data, most invited Construction Project Manager expressions of interest for the 189 showed 80 or 85 points, for the 190 showed 85 or 90 points, and for the 491 showed 95 or 100 points. Smaller numbers were invited at other scores, which the Department doesn't publish, and the invitation rounds are not a fixed cut-off. July 2026 showed the same bands.
Those numbers are high. They put the 189 out of reach for many applicants who simply meet the 65-point pass mark, which is why the employer routes matter so much for this occupation. Check your own score with our points calculator before you pay for an assessment.
For state nomination, the June 2026 data published 190 invitations for 133111 from four states: New South Wales and Queensland, plus Victoria and Western Australia. Figures for the other states fell under the Department's reporting threshold, so they may still have invited some. Each state sets its own criteria, and lists change during the year. Read the current state list before planning around it, as our Tasmania nomination changes post shows for one state.
FAQ
What are the responsibilities of a construction project manager under ANZSCO 133111?
VETASSESS describes the role as planning, organising, directing, controlling and coordinating the construction of civil engineering and building projects, and the physical and human resources involved. The position must have authority over procurement, scheduling, construction methodology and tendering input, and usually supervises site managers, project engineers, foremen, tradespeople and consultants.
Is construction project manager in demand in Australia?
Construction Project Manager, ANZSCO 133111, is on the occupation lists for the 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 and 494, and construction is a priority processing sector under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122. The Department's June and July 2026 SkillSelect data showed it being invited regularly, at high points.
Is there PR in project management in Australia?
For construction project managers, yes. ANZSCO 133111 can lead to permanent visas such as the 189, 190 and 186. But VETASSESS says project management degrees without a built environment or construction concentration would not generally be positively assessed for 133111, so a general project management background may not qualify.
How long does a VETASSESS skills assessment take?
VETASSESS lists about 7 weeks for professional occupations such as Construction Project Manager, longer if documents are missing. Priority processing takes 10 business days after VETASSESS confirms the application is eligible for it, for an extra fee.
How much is a VETASSESS skills assessment?
A full VETASSESS skills assessment for a professional occupation costs $1,260.60 including GST if you are an Australian tax resident, or $1,146.00 if you are not. Priority processing adds $949.30 or $863.00 respectively.
Can an architecture degree be assessed for construction project manager?
Possibly. VETASSESS considers architecture majors for ANZSCO 133111 case by case, if the course includes the core subjects (construction methodology, cost management, and construction or site management) and the employment is in a relevant construction context.
Not sure your role counts as a 133111, or whether the employer route beats waiting on points? Book a consultation and we'll check your degree, your duties and your points before you pay VETASSESS.
Work with us.
Share your requirements with us, and we'll take care of everything from start to finish, ensuring a seamless experience.
Explore related posts.
394111 Cabinetmaker (394112 Cabinet Maker): TRA Skills Assessment, Code Differences and Visa Options
331211 Carpenter and Joiner and 331213 Joiner: TRA Skills Assessment and Visa Options
