The Correct Authority
Engineers for Australia deal with Engineers Australia, engineers for New Zealand with Engineering New Zealand, and ICT professionals with ACS.
CDR Eligibility Checker
Find out whether you need a CDR for Engineers Australia, a KA02 for New Zealand, an ACS RPL report, or an accredited pathway, with an instant readiness score to guide your next step.
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Check Your Assessment Pathway
Answer questions about your profile to discover your pathway and readiness score.
Choose your assessment depth
Quick for a fast check, or Detailed for more accuracy.
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This checker gives a general pathway indication and readiness estimate only. Always confirm your final requirements with the relevant assessing authority before lodging an application.
How the CDR Eligibility Checker Works
The checker turns a few quick answers about your country, field, qualification and readiness into a likely assessment pathway and a clear readiness score, so you know your direction before you start writing.
- 01
Choose Your Depth
Pick a quick check for a fast direction, or a detailed run for a more accurate read across more of your profile.
- 02
Answer the Questions
Tell the checker your target country, field, qualification, accreditation, experience, English status, documents and timeline.
- 03
See Your Likely Pathway
Your answers point to CDR, KA02, ACS RPL, or an accredited pathway, with the assessing authority named for each.
- 04
Read Your Readiness Score
Experience, English, documents and timeline combine into a readiness score that shows whether to start now or gather more first.
- 05
Follow the Next Steps
Each result includes a focused action list and links to the tools and services that match your pathway.
Not Sure Which Pathway Fits You?
Australia and New Zealand use different assessing authorities. Your destination decides whether Engineers Australia, ACS, or Engineering New Zealand reviews your case.
Engineers are assessed by Engineers Australia through a CDR. ICT professionals are assessed by the Australian Computer Society through an ACS RPL report.
A Washington or Dublin Accord accredited degree may follow the accredited pathway with no Career Episodes. A non accredited degree usually needs a full CDR.
Most pathways need a minimum English result before assessment. Confirm your bands, or your exemption, before you plan your timeline.
Transcripts, employment reference letters, an updated CV, and project records support most pathways. Start collecting them while you research.
Your qualification, occupation, and projects should all point the same way. A consistent profile makes your chosen pathway far easier to prove.
Why It Matters
Why Your Assessment Pathway Matters
Choosing the wrong pathway leads to weak planning, poor project selection, and mismatched evidence. The right pathway lets you build the correct report structure from day one.
The Right Report Type
A CDR, a KA02, and an ACS RPL are not the same document. Each has its own purpose, structure, evidence style, and competency focus.
Better Project Selection
CDR projects must show engineering competency, while ACS RPL projects must show ICT knowledge and system level contribution.
Stronger Evidence Match
Your CV, qualifications, employment letters, and project reports should all support the same pathway and nominated occupation.
Less Costly Rework
Starting on the correct pathway prevents rewriting later and stops you preparing documents in the wrong assessment format.
Who Should Use This Checker?
This tool suits anyone weighing an engineering or ICT skills assessment who wants a clear starting direction before committing time to a report or an application.
Engineers Bound for Australia
See whether your qualification points to a CDR or the accredited pathway, and what to confirm with Engineers Australia next.
ICT Professionals
Confirm that the Australian Computer Society assesses your field, and see how an ACS RPL report fits your projects and experience.
New Zealand Applicants
Find out whether the KA02 Knowledge Assessment through Engineering New Zealand is the right route for your migration plan.
Early Stage Researchers
Get a quick, honest read on your direction and readiness before you spend money on tests, documents, or agents.
CDR, KA02, ACS RPL and Accredited Pathway Comparison
Compare the main assessment routes before you prepare your report. This overview shows the authority, target country, who it applies to, and the core documents for each pathway.
Assessment Pathway Overview
| Pathway | Assessing Authority | Country | Who It Applies To | Key Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDR | Engineers Australia | Australia | Engineers with non accredited or pathway specific qualifications | 3 Career Episodes, Summary Statement, CPD record, CV |
| KA02 | Engineering New Zealand | New Zealand | Engineers applying for a New Zealand knowledge assessment | Knowledge Assessment evidence, competency details, qualification and work evidence |
| ACS RPL | Australian Computer Society | Australia | ICT, software, networking, systems and related professionals | 2 RPL project reports, employment evidence, CV, qualification documents |
| Accredited | Engineers Australia | Australia | Holders of Washington or Dublin Accord accredited degrees | Qualification evidence, CV, employment letters, no Career Episodes |
| Stage 2 | Engineers Australia | Australia | Experienced engineers seeking Chartered status | Stage 2 competency evidence, referee reports |
Quick Pathway Direction
| Your Profile | Likely Direction | What to Check Next |
|---|---|---|
| Engineer for Australia with a non accredited qualification | CDR | Confirm occupation category, English score, and Career Episode project strength. |
| Engineer for Australia with a Washington or Dublin Accord degree | Accredited | Verify your institution and program are on the recognised list. |
| Engineer targeting New Zealand | KA02 | Check the Engineering New Zealand knowledge assessment requirements. |
| ICT or software professional for Australia | ACS RPL | Check the ACS pathway, project suitability, and ICT knowledge areas. |
Common CDR Eligibility Mistakes
Many delays start with the wrong pathway decision. Check your plan against these common mistakes before you begin writing or gathering documents.
Mistake 01
Assuming Everyone Needs a CDR
An accredited degree may skip the CDR, and ICT professionals use ACS RPL instead. Confirm your route before you write anything.
Mistake 02
Ignoring Your Target Country
Australia and New Zealand use different authorities and reports. Choose your destination first, then match the assessment.
Mistake 03
Guessing Your Accreditation
Not every degree from an accord country qualifies. Verify your institution and program on the recognised list before you rely on it.
Mistake 04
Mixing Up Engineering and ICT
An engineer files a CDR, an ICT professional files an ACS RPL. Sending the wrong report to the wrong authority wastes time and money.
Mistake 05
Leaving English Too Late
Most pathways need a minimum English result first. Book or confirm your test early so it does not stall your application.
Mistake 06
Starting Without Evidence
Transcripts, reference letters, and project records take time to collect. Begin gathering them before you start writing.
Get Help With Your CDR, KA02, or ACS RPL
After checking your result, get expert guidance to match your occupation, qualification, project evidence, and report structure to the correct assessment pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about CDR eligibility, Engineers Australia pathways, KA02, ACS RPL, accreditation, and document preparation.
Engineers applying for Australian migration may need a CDR when their qualification is not covered by a recognised accredited qualification pathway (such as the Washington Accord). This typically affects engineers educated at non accredited institutions or in countries not on the accredited list. A CDR includes three Career Episodes, a Summary Statement, and a CPD record.
A CDR is used for engineering skills assessment through Engineers Australia. A KA02 Knowledge Assessment is used by Engineering New Zealand for migration to New Zealand. An ACS RPL report is used by ICT professionals to demonstrate skills to the Australian Computer Society. Each has a different structure, evidence style, and assessing authority.
No. ICT professionals are assessed by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), not Engineers Australia. If you do not hold a closely related ICT qualification, you will typically need an ACS RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) report with two project reports demonstrating your ICT knowledge and experience.
The Washington Accord is an international agreement between engineering accreditation bodies. If you graduated from an accredited program in a signatory country, your degree may be recognised without a full CDR, and you would follow the accredited qualification pathway instead. Not all degrees from signatory countries qualify, so always verify with Engineers Australia.
Yes. A recognised accredited engineering qualification may follow an accredited qualification pathway with no Career Episodes. A non accredited qualification usually requires a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) through the standard pathway.
No. This checker gives a general pathway indication and a readiness estimate only. Final eligibility depends on your exact qualification details, occupation, work history, and the latest rules from the relevant assessing authority. Always confirm with Engineers Australia, ACS, Engineering New Zealand, or a registered migration agent before lodging an application.