If you are a plumber outside Australia and want to apply for permanent skilled migration, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) will normally send you through its Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP). Plumber (General) is one of four licensed trades where OSAP is compulsory, and it costs up to $5,320 in the longest version. This guide sets out the occupation codes, the two pathways, the evidence TRA asks for and what happens to your plumbing licence afterwards.
Which plumber code is yours: 334111 or 334116?
Home Affairs' combined skilled occupation list names TRA as the assessing authority for Plumber (General). The occupation carries two codes: ANZSCO 2022 code 334116 applies to subclass 186 and 482 visas, and ANZSCO 2013 code 334111 applies to other visas. It sits on both the MLTSSL and the CSOL.
The same trade, the same assessing body, but the code on your application depends on the visa you are aiming for. Check the code against the visa you plan to lodge before you pay for anything. Our guide to the five TRA programs explains how the programs differ if you are not sure which one fits your visa.
Why OSAP is compulsory for plumbers
TRA says OSAP is compulsory for permanent migration in four licensed occupations: Electrician (General), Electrician (Special Class), Plumber (General) and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. For these four, applicants from all countries must have an OSAP assessment unless they are applying for a 482 or 485 visa.
That is a bigger rule than it looks. For some other trades, your passport decides the route, and a country list sends only some applicants offshore. For a plumber, the passport does not remove OSAP. TRA's Migration Skills Assessment Program also cannot be used for Plumber (General), so the cheaper documents-only route is closed to you. If you are weighing the two, our post on TRA MSA eligibility shows why.
OSAP is carried out by a TRA-approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that recommends an outcome for TRA to approve. You choose the RTO from TRA's RTO Finder, contact it directly and receive a Payment Identifier Code for each step.
Pathway 1 or Pathway 2, and what each costs
TRA splits OSAP applicants into two pathways. Pathway 1 is for applicants without a relevant Australian VET qualification. Pathway 2 is for applicants with a relevant Australian VET qualification, or a current identified Australian occupational licence without restrictions. Most plumbers applying from overseas start on Pathway 1.
| Stage | Pathway 1 (AUD) | Pathway 2 (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Documentary Evidence | $1,120 | $1,120 |
| Technical Interview | $2,000 | $900 |
| Practical Assessment, if required | $2,200 | Not listed |
| Total, up to | $5,320 | $2,020 |
These are TRA's published figures, so confirm them on the official OSAP page before you budget. TRA's own guide is that applications are typically processed within 15 weeks of submitting complete documentary evidence, and "complete" is the word that matters. Gaps in the evidence are the usual reason a timeline stretches.
How much work history you need to show
The OSAP Guidelines (July 2026) set the minimum full-time paid employment for Pathway 1 applicants. Plumber (General) is a licensed trade, so two of the four figures apply:
- 6 years of full-time paid employment if you have no formal training.
- 4 years of full-time paid employment if you have formal training.
The other two figures in the guidelines, 5 years and 3 years, are for non-licensed trades, so they are not yours. Count your own history honestly against the first two lines, then look for gaps in the paperwork behind each year.
The evidence TRA asks for
OSAP has two phases: a Documentary Evidence Assessment, then a Technical Skills Assessment that includes a technical interview and, for licensed occupations, a practical assessment. The paperwork phase comes first, and it is where plumbers lose time.
| Evidence | What TRA's requirements say |
|---|---|
| Employer statements | On business letterhead, with exact employment dates, hours, job title and detailed tasks |
| Pay records | Such as three payslips naming employer and employee |
| Skills evidence | Specified photographic, documentary or video evidence for each unit of competency or cluster of competencies, if you have no relevant Australian qualification |
A tradesperson who has worked for one employer for ten years can still struggle here, because a letter that says "good plumber, 2014 to 2024" does not give exact hours or tasks. Our post on employer references and TRA evidence checklist walk through what a strong letter and a useful photo set look like.
Getting ready for the technical interview
The technical interview is a conversation with an assessor about how you actually do the work. If English is your second language, practising the way you explain a job, step by step, can help you feel calmer. A tool such as InterviewTraining.ai's skills practice lets you rehearse describing a task out loud before the real thing.
Step by step: from evidence to an OSAP outcome
- Confirm the code and visa. Match 334116 or 334111 to the visa you plan to lodge.
- Work out your pathway. Decide whether you fit Pathway 1 or Pathway 2.
- Add up your employment against the 6-year or 4-year requirement.
- Collect letterhead statements and payslips for every employer in the period.
- Choose a TRA-approved RTO from the RTO Finder and ask for your Payment Identifier Code.
- Submit complete documentary evidence, then attend the technical interview and, if required, the practical assessment.
- Read the outcome letter and keep it safe, because any reassessment clock starts from it.
What happens after OSAP: the OTSR and your plumbing licence
A successful assessment in Plumber (General) through a TRA-approved RTO gives you an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR). It records the technical skills you demonstrated against the relevant Australian VET qualification. An OTSR is not itself a nationally recognised qualification, but a pathway to obtain one.
TRA lists the licensing steps as: get an OTSR, apply to a state or territory regulator for a provisional licence to work under supervision, complete Australian context gap training, get the Australian VET qualification, then apply for an Australian occupational licence.
For plumbers there is a catch that electricians do not have. TRA says there is no nationally agreed gap training package for migrant plumbers who hold an OTSR, so each state and territory plumbing licensing board sets the pathway to the Certificate III in Plumbing and a full licence, and cost and time differ by state. TRA's plumbers page lists what it says for each state.
| State | What TRA says for an overseas plumber with an OTSR |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Eligible for a Provisional Tradesperson Certificate for three years, which cannot be renewed; you work under supervision and complete Australian context gap training with an RTO to be issued a Certificate III in Plumbing |
| Queensland | May get a provisional licence for 12 months, working under a licensed plumber |
| Tasmania | May get a provisional licence for 12 months, working under a licensed plumber |
| Western Australia | May get a provisional licence for 12 months, working under a licensed plumber |
For any other state or territory, go to its licensing authority, because TRA says requirements vary and you should confirm the conditions of each licence category with the regulator. Our trade licence guide explains why a Certificate III alone may not be the end of the story, and the overseas electrician licence post shows how the same five-step idea plays out in a trade with national gap training.
Where RPL fits
OSAP and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are different things. OSAP is a skills assessment for a migration purpose. RPL compares your evidence, such as work history, references, photos of your work and tickets, with the units of competency in a qualification, and an RTO decides whether it meets the requirements. ASQA's RPL fact sheet gives a plumbing example in which the RTO used a self-assessment, an interview and a skills assessment in a simulated workplace, found gaps, and the student completed some further training before receiving a Certificate III.
That shows the shape of the process, not a result you can count on. If your plan is to end up with the Certificate III in Plumbing, which is current on training.gov.au, the evidence you gather for OSAP, in particular your letters, payslips and photos, is the same kind of evidence an RPL assessor looks at. Keep it organised from the start.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the passport decides. For Plumber (General), OSAP applies to applicants from all countries unless the visa is a 482 or 485.
- Using the wrong code. 334116 and 334111 belong to different visa groups.
- Weak employer letters. A letter without exact dates, hours and tasks does not meet TRA's evidence requirements.
- Treating the OTSR as the finish line. It is a pathway to a qualification and a licence, not either of them.
- Missing the reassessment window. If you address skill gaps, a reassessment must be lodged within 12 months of your original outcome letter, and only one is allowed per assessment stage.
Frequently asked questions
Is OSAP compulsory for every plumber who wants permanent migration?
TRA says OSAP is compulsory for permanent migration in Plumber (General), and applicants from all countries must have an OSAP assessment unless they are applying for a 482 or 485 visa. Check the current TRA page before you apply.
How much does a plumber skills assessment cost?
TRA lists OSAP at up to $5,320 for Pathway 1 and $2,020 for Pathway 2, in Australian dollars. The Practical Assessment is charged only if it is required, so your total depends on your pathway and on what the RTO asks for.
How long does OSAP take?
TRA says applications are typically processed within 15 weeks of submitting complete documentary evidence, as a guide only. Incomplete evidence is the most common way to go beyond that guide.
Does an OTSR make me a licensed plumber in Australia?
No. An OTSR records your skills against the Australian VET qualification and is a pathway to that qualification. Each state and territory plumbing board sets the route to the Certificate III in Plumbing and a full licence, and cost and time differ by state.
Can I use the cheaper Migration Skills Assessment instead?
TRA says its Migration Skills Assessment Program cannot be used for Plumber (General), even though the program costs $795 for the trades it does cover. For a plumber the route is OSAP, not the documents-only program.
Key takeaways
- Plumber (General) has two codes, 334116 and 334111, depending on the visa.
- OSAP is compulsory for plumbers seeking permanent migration, whatever the passport.
- Costs run up to $5,320 on Pathway 1 and $2,020 on Pathway 2.
- Strong employer letters, payslips and unit-by-unit evidence decide how smoothly the paperwork goes.
- An OTSR leads to state licensing steps, and each state sets its own plumbing pathway.
