Secondary School Teacher (ANZSCO code 241411) is one of the more encouraging occupations on Australia's skilled lists. The waiting queue is far smaller than the big engineering and ICT occupations, and teachers have been receiving a healthy share of invitations. Your assessing body is the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), and its assessment comes down to two criteria: your qualifications and your English. This guide covers who assesses you, exactly what those criteria are, which visas 241411 opens, and what the Department of Home Affairs data shows.

What counts as a Secondary School Teacher under ANZSCO 241411?

ANZSCO 241411 is a Secondary School Teacher, degree-qualified to teach students aged roughly 13 to 18 in secondary schools. It sits alongside related but separate teaching codes, including Primary School Teacher (241213), Middle School Teacher (241311) and Early Childhood Teacher (241111). Each has its own assessing arrangements, so it matters which one your qualification and experience actually fit. Get the code wrong and the assessment goes to the wrong body.

Who assesses Secondary School Teachers?

AITSL is the assessing authority for 241411 across the skilled and employer-sponsored program:

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What are the two AITSL criteria?

Every AITSL teacher assessment is judged against two criteria, and you must meet both. There's no partial pass.

The first is qualifications. You need a minimum of four years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education that results in a qualification, and it must include an initial teacher education qualification comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher. That teacher education component has to include at least one year of full-time study in secondary teacher education, and at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice with students in the 13 to 18 age range in a secondary school setting. AITSL does not assess short courses under a year, non-academic qualifications, professional development programs or incomplete qualifications.

The second is English language proficiency, which you can meet one of two ways. Either you completed at least four full years of higher education taught in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, resulting in a qualification at Bachelor level or higher and including your teacher education, or you provide an Academic IELTS with at least 7.0 in both Reading and Writing and at least 8.0 in both Speaking and Listening, on a single test report form. AITSL accepts an Academic IELTS taken within the last three years.

How does the AITSL assessment work?

The process runs through AITSL's applicant portal. You pick the checklist for your specific occupation, prepare your documents (identity, qualifications, evidence of supervised practice, and English evidence if applicable), and submit. AITSL says the majority of assessment-ready applications are completed within four weeks, with some taking up to six. Incomplete applications or wrong documents are the main cause of delay. Fees are set out on AITSL's fees page; confirm the current amount when you apply.

One useful extra: after you receive your Skills Assessment Certificate, you can request a Skilled Employment Statement (SES), which is an optional summary of your relevant skilled employment that can support your points claim for skilled migration.

Which visas can a teacher apply for, and how competitive is it?

Because 241411 is on the skilled and employer-sponsored lists, the main options are the Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas, plus the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). For 482 Core Skills and 186 nominations lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423.

Here's where teachers stand out. As at April 2026 there were around 9,900 submitted EOIs for Secondary School Teacher, a fraction of the 40,000-plus queues for chefs and engineers. And the invitation data is stronger: in the June 2026 figures, this occupation had a large number of invited EOIs across the points-tested 189 stream as well as state nomination, more than most occupations of its size. Teaching also sits inside the priority occupation group for skilled visa processing, which can help timing. None of that guarantees an invitation, but a well-prepared teacher applicant is in a relatively good position compared with the crowded trades and ICT occupations.

FAQ

Who assesses Secondary School Teacher 241411 for migration?

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), as set out in LIN 19/051 and the related occupation instruments.

What are the AITSL criteria for a teacher skills assessment?

Two criteria, both required: a qualifications criterion (at least four years of higher education including an initial teacher education qualification at Bachelor level or higher, with supervised secondary teaching practice) and an English language proficiency criterion (a study option, or an Academic IELTS with 7.0 in Reading and Writing and 8.0 in Speaking and Listening).

How long does an AITSL assessment take?

AITSL says the majority of assessment-ready applications are completed within four weeks, and some take up to six. Incomplete applications cause delays.

Is Secondary School Teacher on the 482 list?

Yes. 241411 is on the Core Skills Occupation List for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.

How competitive is teaching compared with other occupations?

The waiting queue is much smaller, around 9,900 submitted EOIs as at April 2026, and invitations have been comparatively strong, including through the 189 stream. Teaching is also in the priority occupation group for skilled visa processing.

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