Professional Year Prog

Professional Year Program

What is the Professional Year Program?

The Professional Year Program (PYP) is a government-recognised, structured development program for international graduates in Australia.

It bridges the gap between university study and professional employment by combining formal training with real workplace experience — giving you the skills, networks, and confidence to build a career in Australia.

The program runs for 44 to 52 weeks and consists of two components:

1. Classroom-based professional training

2. 12-week internship placement with an Australian employer.

It is available in three fields only:

Information Technology (IT)

Engineering

Accounting

Why Does It Matter for Your PR?

Completing an approved Professional Year Program adds 5 bonus points to your Australian skilled migration points score under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) system.

These points apply to:

Subclass 189— Skilled Independent Visa
Subclass 190— Skilled Nominated Visa
Subclass 491— Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

In a competitive PR points pool where invitation cutoffs regularly exceed 80+ points, these 5 points can be the difference between receiving an invitation this round or waiting another year.

Beyond migration points, the program also helps you build Australian workplace communication skills, understand local professional culture, and establish industry connections — all of which matter when job-hunting after your 485 visa.

Who Can Apply?

You are eligible for the Professional Year Program if:

You have completed a Bachelor's degree or higher from an Australian university in IT, Engineering, or Accounting
You hold a valid Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa (or another eligible Australian visa that permits study)
You are currently residing in Australia for the duration of the program
Your qualification is recognised by the relevant professional body (ACS for IT, Engineers Australia for Engineering, CPA Australia/CAANZ/IPA for Accounting)

For skilled migration PR visas (189, 190, 491), applicants must generally be under 45 years of age.

Since the Professional Year takes up to a year, it is advisable to start as early as possible after receiving your 485 visa.

Government-Approved Programs

To earn the 5 PR points, your Professional Year must be completed through an approved provider under one of these five recognised programs:

Stream	Approved Program
Engineering	Engineers Australia Professional Year Program
IT	Australian Computer Society (ACS) Professional Year Program
Accounting	CPA Australia Skilled Migration Internship Program
Accounting	Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Skilled Migration Internship Program
Accounting	Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Skilled Migration Internship Program

Note: Only programs delivered by providers approved under these bodies count toward PR points. Always verify that your chosen provider is currently accredited before enrolling.