Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Explained: All 10 Levels
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is Australia's national policy covering all regulated qualifications from Certificate I through Doctoral Degree across ten levels. Introduced in 1995, it creates a consistent standard that employers, universities, and migration assessing authorities use to interpret qualifications from anywhere in Australia or overseas.
For skilled migrants, the AQF level of an overseas qualification directly determines visa eligibility, occupation classification, and whether an assessing authority will issue a positive outcome. Professional occupations generally require AQF Level 7 or above, while trade occupations are benchmarked against Certificate III or IV outcomes.
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