Australia Migration HubVisas · Points · Pathways

ANZSCO 241599 · MLTSSL

Special Education Teachers nec

The 189 cut-off rose to 85 points in Jun 2026, from 75.

Official data, checked 15 October 2026Skills assessment: AITSLVictorian priority (Education)
Latest 189 cut-off85ptsJun 2026 · +10 vs Nov 2025
189 rounds invited4of 6lowest ever 65 pts (Aug 2022)
State lists4of 8list it for 190 or 491
ShortageShortagenational · JSA 2025

Path to permanent residence

The steps for the points-tested visas, with this occupation’s own assessing body, lists, cut-offs, fees and processing times.

  1. Skills assessment

    Get a positive assessment from Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. It must still be valid when you’re invited: usually 3 years, or less if the assessment says so.

  2. English

    Show at least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band, or an equivalent PTE, TOEFL, OET or Cambridge score). Proficient adds 10 points and Superior adds 20.

  3. Points

    Score at least 65 on the federal points test, counting nomination points for the 190 (+5) or 491 (+15). For the 189, the latest round invited Special Education Teachers nec at 85 points (Jun 2026). Work out your points · see when they change.

  4. Expression of Interest

    Submit a free EOI in SkillSelect for the visas this occupation allows: 189 (independent), 190 (state nominated), 491 (regional, nominated). It stays active for 2 years, and your points and date of effect decide your place.

  5. State nomination (190 / 491)

    4 of 8 list Special Education Teachers nec: ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria. Open or inviting now and listing it: New South Wales. Also open, with no published occupation list: Tasmania (check its criteria). Each state ranks applicants its own way. See every state.

  6. Invitation and visa application

    When invited, lodge within 60 days. Base fee for the main applicant: AUD 6,135 for the 189, AUD 6,140 for the 190, AUD 6,140 for the 491; family members pay extra. You’ll also need health checks and police certificates.

  7. Decision and PR

    Home Affairs decides 90% of applications within 189: 8 months · 190: 16 months · 491: 18 months. The 189 and 190 are permanent visas. The 491 is a 5-year provisional visa; after at least 3 years living and working in regional Australia you can apply for permanent residence (191) if you meet its requirements, including income.

Employer-sponsored route

✓On the Core Skills Occupation List

An Australian employer can sponsor Special Education Teachers nec on a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, Core Skills stream (base fee AUD 4,015). The Employer Nomination Scheme (186) is the usual next step to permanent residence for 482 holders who meet its requirements.

What a Special Education Teachers nec does

Official description and tasks from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ANZSCO 2022).

This occupation group covers Special Education Teachers not elsewhere classified. Registration or licensing is required.

Qualifications and experience: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

  • ANZSCO skill level1 of 5 (1 is highest)
  • Unit group2415 Special Education Teachers

Tasks

ABS lists tasks for the whole unit group, Special Education Teachers. Skills assessments and employer nominations compare the duties you’ve done with the ANZSCO description and tasks, so check yours match.

  • Assessing students' abilities and limitations with regard to intellectual, physical, social and emotional disabilities, exceptional intellectual gifts, or specific problems of language and culture
  • Planning, organising and implementing special programs to provide remedial or advanced tuition
  • Administering various forms of assessment and interpreting the results
  • Teaching basic academic subjects, and practical and self-help skills to hearing and sight impaired students
  • Devising instructional materials, methods and aids to assist in training and rehabilitation
  • Advising, instructing and counselling parents and teachers on the availability and use of special techniques
  • Stimulating and developing interests, abilities, manual skills and coordination
  • Conferring with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons for special needs students
  • Preparing and maintaining student data and other records and submitting reports

189 cut-off history

Lowest score invited in each round, and whether your points would have been enough.

6065707580859095100Aug’2265Oct’2295Dec’22May’23Dec’2365Jun’24Sep’2480Nov’2475Aug’25Nov’2575Jun’26856065707580859095100Aug’2265Oct’2295Dec’22May’23Dec’2365Jun’24Sep’2480Nov’2475Aug’25Nov’2575Jun’2685
Lowest 189 points score invited, by round. Grey dots: no 189 invitations for this occupation.

State and territory nomination

Whether Special Education Teachers nec is on each state’s current list, and where each program stands.

✓ On the state’s current list– Not on the list No current list to check
State or territory190491ProgramNominated so far
ACT✓✓See site<5 / <5
New South Waleslisted by unit group✓✓Inviting11 / 0
Northern TerritoryNo listNo listClosed91 / 25
Queensland2025–26 list · also offshore✓✓Not open yet6 / <5
South AustraliaNo listNo listNot open yet0 / 0
TasmaniaNo listNo listOpen206 / 55
Victoria✓✓Not open yet0 / 0
Western AustraliaNo listNo listNot open yet17 / 120

Program status is for 2026–27. Being listed doesn’t mean a state is inviting now, and each state has its own criteria. “Nominated so far”: 190 / 491 nominations this program year (Home Affairs).

Shortage rating

Shortage nationally, and the same in every state and territory.

Jobs and Skills Australia’s rating of the labour market. Invitations also depend on planning levels, ceilings and how many EOIs are waiting, so the two don’t always line up.

Every round since 2022

Round189 cut-offChange491 familyTotal 189 invited
4 Jun 202685+10–10,000
13 Nov 202575–10,000
21 Aug 2025––6,887
7 Nov 202475−5–15,000
5 Sep 202480+15–7,973
13 Jun 2024––5,292
18 Dec 202365−30–8,300
25 May 2023––7,353
8 Dec 2022––35,000
6 Oct 202295+30–11,714
22 Aug 2022658512,200

After an invitation

Home Affairs’ current processing times for the points-tested visas.

VisaHalf decided within90% decided within
Skilled Independent (189)61 days8 months
Skilled Nominated (190)4 months16 months
Work Regional (491), state nominated5 months18 months
Work Regional (491), family sponsored4 months7 months

Home Affairs, decisions to 31 August 2026. Clock starts when you lodge, which you must do within 60 days of an invitation.

Plan with this occupation

Sources and method