One of the most frequently asked questions from our audience is whether being a “teacher” is a golden ticket for skilled migration to Australia. In this episode, Negin Safaee, Registered Migration Agent (MARA 1791573), drawing on years of casework involving skilled visas, maps out exactly where education roles stand: from primary and secondary teachers to university lecturers, vocational teachers, school principals, and early childhood educators. The key is that Australia’s migration system involves two distinct types of “priority,” and the correct answer depends on which one we are discussing.
Short Answer
Education roles are assessed at two separate levels. At the federal level, “teaching” is a priority processing sector, which only dictates the order of application handling, not visa eligibility or approval. At the state level, the Victorian Skilled Visa Nomination Program for 2026–27 has identified only the following occupations as priority education roles: Middle School Teacher (241311), Secondary School Teacher (241411), Special Needs Teacher (241511), Special Education Teachers nec (241599), and Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (241111). Primary School Teacher (241213), University Lecturer (242111), and Vocational Education Teacher (242211) remain eligible and are on the CSOL, but they are not on the Victorian education priority list.
What the Law Says
To understand this, we must distinguish between three regulatory layers:
Layer 1 — Occupation Lists: Occupational eligibility for skilled visas is based on the Migration Regulations 1994 and related legislative instruments. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), published by the Department of Home Affairs, includes numerous education occupations, such as 241111, 241213, 241311, 241411, and 241511, as well as 242211 (Vocational Education Teacher / Polytechnic Teacher). Being on the list means you are “eligible to apply,” not that you are a “priority.”
Layer 2 — Federal Processing Priorities (Ministerial Directions): Under the Migration Act 1958, s 499, the Minister for Immigration issues directions that determine the order in which applications are processed. The priority approach for health and education began with Direction 105 (effective 15 December 2023) and is reflected in the Department of Home Affairs’ migration program reports; this approach continues in current directions, placing agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, construction, resources, defense, law enforcement, health, and education in the highest processing category. The crucial legal point, as specified in the directions themselves, is that processing priority does not waive any legal requirements; all visa criteria must still be met.
Layer 3 — State Selection and Nomination: For 190 and 491 visas, applicant selection is at the state’s discretion. Victoria has stated on the official Victorian Skilled Visa Nomination Program (Live in Melbourne) page that only occupations listed within each priority industry receive priority, and priority does not guarantee an invitation; however, all occupations on the relevant Department of Home Affairs list remain eligible for Victorian nomination. In the early childhood education sub-stream, Victoria prioritizes ROIs that demonstrate at least one year of relevant experience and Proficient or Superior English levels.
Occupation Status: List, Priority, and Assessing Authority
| Occupation (ANZSCO) | On CSOL | Victorian Education Priority 2026–27 | Skills Assessing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher — 241111 | Yes | Yes (Early Childhood Education sub-stream) | ACECQA (Replaced AITSL from Dec 2024) |
| Primary School Teacher — 241213 | Yes | No | AITSL |
| Middle School Teacher — 241311 | Yes | Yes (Teachers sub-stream) | AITSL |
| Secondary School Teacher — 241411 | Yes | Yes (Teachers sub-stream) | AITSL |
| Special Needs Teacher — 241511 | Yes | Yes (Teachers sub-stream) | AITSL |
| Special Education Teachers nec — 241599 | — | Yes (Teachers sub-stream) | AITSL |
| University Lecturer — 242111 | — | No | VETASSESS |
| Vocational Education Teacher / Polytechnic Teacher — 242211 | Yes | No | VETASSESS |
| School Principal | — | No | Dependent on occupation assessment |
| Private Tutors/Music/Art Teachers (Unit Group 2493) | — | No | Dependent on occupation |
Key clarifications for your case:
- Primary School Teacher (241213): This is a fully eligible occupation on the CSOL; therefore, pathways for the 189 visa and state nomination are open. However, this occupation is not listed in Victoria’s published education priority sub-streams. Thus, saying it is “subject to new priorities” is only accurate in the context of federal processing priority, not state selection.
- Vocational Education Teacher (242211): It is on the CSOL and the migration pathway is active, but it is not on the Victorian education priority list for 2026–27.
- University Lecturer (242111): This is not on the Victorian priority list. Any assessment regarding invitation trends for this role must be based on actual SkillSelect data or state invitation reports, rather than general assumptions.
- School Principal: This is not on the Victorian education priority list and is not considered “priority” for state selection. Whether it falls under “teaching” at the federal level must be strictly based on the occupation schedules in the relevant Ministerial Direction (Direction 121/122).
- Private Language and Arts Teachers: These are classified under ANZSCO unit group 2493 as Education Professionals; they are within the “education field,” but they are not priority occupations.
- Early Childhood and ACECQA: The migration role of ACECQA is not universal but occupation-specific; since December 2024, the skills assessment authority for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (241111) moved from AITSL to ACECQA. Roles in childcare center management fall under this, whereas school teacher assessments remain with AITSL. Furthermore, “Childcare Education Worker” is not an ANZSCO title; the correct titles are Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator (Certificate III/Diploma level), which lead to an “educator” status, not “teacher,” and do not meet the requirements for code 241111.
- Qualifications and Teaching Credentials: To be assessed as a “teacher,” a degree in the specialty subject alone is insufficient; you must hold a recognized teacher training qualification that includes supervised teaching practice. For early childhood, a recognized higher education qualification equivalent to four years, covering the 0–5 age group with supervised teaching, is required. The RPL pathway for Certificate III/Diploma results in an “educator” status, not a “teacher.” Consequently, a physics graduate without teacher training units will not be assessed as a Physics Teacher.
What This Means for You
As Negin Safaee, Registered Migration Agent, explains, making the right decision for an education case begins with a simple question: Are you looking for “processing speed” or an “invitation”? If you have an employer or your application is already lodged, federal processing priority in the education sector works in your favor and may expedite your case. However, if you are still at the ROI and state selection stage, what matters is the specific state priority list for that program year. In Victoria for 2026–27, this list in the education sector is narrow and specific.
The good news for primary teachers, university lecturers, and vocational teachers is that not being on a priority list does not mean the door is closed: these roles are eligible on the Department of Home Affairs list, and Victoria has confirmed that all federally listed occupations remain eligible for nomination. The right strategy is usually a hybrid one: maximizing points (Proficient or Superior English, work experience, NAATI, regional study), exploring both 189 and 491 visas, and considering other states that may prioritize your specific role. At our office, every case is evaluated using this three-layer map—occupation lists, processing priorities, and state selection criteria—and the correct skills assessment authority (AITSL, ACECQA, or VETASSESS) to ensure no time or money is wasted.
Resources
- Victorian Skilled Visa Nomination Program — Priority industries and occupations (2026-27), Live in Melbourne, Victoria State Government — liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/migrate/skilled-migration-visas/vpt
- Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Documents/core-sol.pdf
- Skilled visa processing priorities / Ministerial Directions — Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — Skilled visa processing priorities
- Migration Act 1958, s 499 (Ministerial Directions) — Federal Register of Legislation — legislation.gov.au — Migration Act 1958
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Federal Register of Legislation — legislation.gov.au — Migration Regulations 1994
- Skills assessing authorities (including ACECQA for ANZSCO 241111 and AITSL for school teachers) — Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — Skills assessment
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) — Register of Migration Agents — mara.gov.au
Start your education case with the right map
If you are a teacher, lecturer, university professor, or early childhood educator, a precise assessment can be the difference between years of waiting and a clear pathway. We determine your ANZSCO code, identify whether your skills assessor is AITSL, ACECQA, or VETASSESS, find which state prioritizes your role, and outline the combination of English and experience needed to hit the invitation threshold. Negin Safaee, Registered Migration Agent (MARA 1791573), reviews your case based on these official, up-to-date sources and presents your options transparently and honestly, without unrealistic promises. Contact our office today to book a professional consultation for skilled migration in the education sector.
Frequently asked questions
Are all teachers subject to the new priorities?
No. At the federal level, the “teaching” sector is a processing priority, which only determines the order of application handling. At the state selection level, the Victorian Nomination Program for 2026–27 identifies only the Middle School Teacher (241311), Secondary School Teacher (241411), Special Needs Teacher (241511), Special Education Teachers nec (241599), and Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (241111) as priority education roles.
What is the status of the Primary School Teacher (241213)?
The Primary School Teacher (241213) is on the Core Skills Occupation List and is eligible for skilled visas and state nomination, but it is not included in the published Victorian education priority sub-streams for 2026–27. Therefore, being “subject to priority” is only accurate in terms of federal processing, not Victorian state selection.
Does a Vocational Education Teacher have priority?
Code 242211 (Vocational Education Teacher / Polytechnic Teacher) is on the CSOL and the pathway is open, but it is not included in the Victorian education priority list for the 2026–27 program year; its skills assessment is usually conducted by VETASSESS.
Where do University Lecturers (242111) stand?
This occupation is not on the Victorian education priority list. Any assessment of invitation chances for university lecturers must be based on actual SkillSelect invitation data or official state reports rather than general assumptions about “teaching shortages.”
Does a School Principal have priority?
It is not on the published Victorian education priority list and is therefore not considered a priority for state selection. Inclusion of this role in the “teaching” group at the federal level is only relevant if explicitly cited in the occupation schedule of the specific Ministerial Direction (Direction 121/122).
In which group are private language or art teachers classified?
These individuals are classified under ANZSCO unit group 2493 as Education Professionals; they are within the education field, but they are not priority occupations.
Which authority assesses skills for kindergarten and school teachers?
Since December 2024, the skills assessment authority for Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher (241111) has moved from AITSL to ACECQA, whereas school teachers such as Secondary School Teacher (241411) and Primary School Teacher (241213) are still assessed by AITSL. The ACECQA role is not universal and covers only specific occupations.
Can I be assessed as a Physics Teacher with a pure physics degree?
No. To be assessed as a teacher, your qualification must include a recognized teacher training program with supervised teaching practice. For early childhood, a four-year higher education equivalent qualification covering the 0–5 age group with supervised teaching is required. The Certificate III/Diploma pathway leads to an “educator” status, not “teacher.”
Does priority processing mean faster visa approval?
No. Ministerial Directions issued under s 499 of the Migration Act 1958 only determine the order in which applications are processed. All legal visa criteria—including skills assessment, points, English proficiency, health, and character—must still be fully met.
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on October 27, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Mrs. Negin Safaee Registered Migration Agent 1791573
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.