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Secretary (General) – ANZSCO 521211

Secretary (General) (ANZSCO 521211) is a skill level 2 occupation assessed by VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services) for Australian skilled migration. It is on the ROL list and can be used for subclass 494.

Open Secretary (General) in the interactive ANZSCO search · Book a free migration assessment

Quick facts

  • ANZSCO code: 521211
  • Skill level: 2 – Associate degree, advanced diploma or diploma, or at least 3 years of relevant experience.
  • Assessing authority: VETASSESS
  • Occupation lists: ROL
  • English test for skills assessment: Not required
  • ANZSCO unit group: 5212 Secretaries

Secretary (General) job description and duties

Performs secretarial, clerical and other administrative tasks in support of Managers and Professionals.

Tasks include

  • Liaising with other staff to arrange meetings, and to gain and provide information
  • Preparing reports, briefing notes and correspondence, and proofreading work for typographical and grammatical errors
  • Maintaining appointment diaries and making travel arrangements
  • Processing incoming and outgoing mail, filing correspondence and maintaining records
  • Answering telephone calls, responding to inquiries and redirecting callers
  • Taking and transcribing dictation of letters and other documents
  • Greeting visitors, ascertaining nature of business and directing visitors to appropriate persons
  • May implement management decisions and maintain records of meetings
  • May handle bookkeeping and petty cash functions

Education and skill level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below. In Australia: AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 2) In New Zealand: NZQF Diploma, or at least three years of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 2) In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

What the assessing authority expects: VETASSESS Group C: minimum AQF Diploma or higher. Highly relevant fields include Business Administration, Management, Office Management.

Visa options for Secretary (General)

Eligible means the occupation is on a list the visa accepts. You still need to meet every other requirement.

  • Subclass 189 Skilled Independent: Not eligible (via MLTSSL)
  • Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated: Not eligible (via MLTSSL / STSOL)
  • Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional – State/Territory nominated: Not eligible (via MLTSSL / STSOL / ROL)
  • Subclass 491F Skilled Work Regional – Family sponsored: Not eligible (via MLTSSL)
  • Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate – Post-Vocational Education Work: Not eligible (via MLTSSL)
  • Subclass 482 Skills in Demand – Core Skills stream: Not eligible (via CSOL)
  • Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme – Direct Entry: Not eligible (via CSOL)
  • Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – Employer sponsored: Eligible (via MLTSSL / STSOL / ROL)
  • Subclass 407 Training visa: Not eligible (via MLTSSL / STSOL / ROL)

State and territory nomination for Secretary (General)

This occupation is not on the federal lists for the 190 or 491 visas, so no state or territory can nominate it. Employer-sponsored visas may still apply.

Skills assessment for Secretary (General)

VETASSESS checks two things: that your qualification is at the right Australian (AQF) level and in a relevant field, and that you have enough relevant work experience at the right skill level. You need a positive result on both.

The process

  1. Pick the right occupation: Match your duties to the occupation description and check its VETASSESS group.
  2. Prepare documents: Qualifications, transcripts, employment references, payslips and ID as high-quality colour scans.
  3. Apply online: Create a VETASSESS account, upload documents and pay. You can change occupation free within 10 days of payment.
  4. Assessment: An officer reviews your file and may ask for more documents (you get 28 days to respond).
  5. Outcome: Download your outcome letter and use it for your EOI and visa.

What you need for this occupation

Secretary (General) is a VETASSESS Group C occupation. You need a qualification at AQF Diploma or higher level and must meet one of these pathways in full:

  • Pathway 1: AQF Diploma or higher in a highly relevant field + 1 year of highly relevant post-qualification employment in the last 5 years
  • Pathway 2: AQF Diploma or higher (not highly relevant) plus an extra highly relevant qualification at Certificate IV level or above + 1 year of highly relevant post-qualification employment in the last 5 years
  • Pathway 3: AQF Diploma or higher in a field that is not highly relevant + 2 years of highly relevant post-qualification employment in the last 5 years
  • Pathway 4: AQF Diploma or higher in any field + 4 years of employment at the right skill level, including 1 year of highly relevant employment in the last 5 years

Highly relevant fields of study include: Business Administration, Management, Office Management.

Employment must be paid, 20 or more hours a week and at the right skill level. Official VETASSESS page for Secretary (General).

Documents checklist

  • Passport bio page
  • Degree certificates and full academic transcripts
  • Employment reference letters on company letterhead (duties, dates, hours, salary)
  • Payslips, tax or bank records for each job
  • CV/résumé
  • English translations of non-English documents

Key facts

  • Fee (full assessment): AUD 1,146 from outside Australia (no GST); AUD 1,260.60 in Australia
  • Priority processing: + AUD 863 (outside Australia) / AUD 949.30 (in Australia); about 10 business days
  • Outcome valid for: 3 years from the issue date
  • Work hours that count: 20 hours or more per week
  • Validity for visas: Home Affairs generally accepts an assessment for 3 years unless the letter says otherwise

English language requirement

For the VETASSESS skills assessment

No English test required. No English test is needed for the VETASSESS skills assessment. VETASSESS checks your qualification and employment; your English is tested later, for the visa.

For the visa (189, 190 and 491)

Separately, the visa needs at least Competent English. Minimum scores for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025:

  • IELTS (Academic or General): Listening 6.0, Reading 6.0, Writing 6.0, Speaking 6.0
  • PTE Academic: Listening 47, Reading 48, Writing 51, Speaking 54
  • TOEFL iBT: Listening 16, Reading 16, Writing 19, Speaking 19
  • OET: Listening 290, Reading 310, Writing 290, Speaking 330

Proficient English adds 10 points and Superior English adds 20 points in the points test.

Related occupations in unit group 5212

Frequently asked questions

What is the ANZSCO code for Secretary (General)?

The ANZSCO code for Secretary (General) is 521211. It is a skill level 2 occupation.

Who assesses Secretary (General) for Australian migration?

Secretary (General) is assessed by VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services). You need a positive skills assessment before you can apply for most skilled visas.

Which Australian visas can a Secretary (General) apply for?

Secretary (General) is on the ROL list, so it can be used for: 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – Employer sponsored. You must still meet every other visa requirement.

Do I need an English test for the Secretary (General) skills assessment?

No. No English test is needed for the VETASSESS skills assessment. VETASSESS checks your qualification and employment; your English is tested later, for the visa.

Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics ANZSCO 2022 (CC BY 4.0), Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation lists, VETASSESS and state and territory nomination pages. Checked November 2026. General information only, not migration advice. Search all ANZSCO occupations.

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