Last Updated on March 21, 2026 by Ozlinks Education

ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician

Skill Level: 2

The Respiratory Technician (ANZSCO 311217) qualifies for various Australian skilled migration visas, including the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa and subclass 186 direct entry, as it is listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). A positive skills assessment from the assessing authority VETASSESS is required for the subclass 186 direct entry stream.

Job Descriptions

Respiratory Technician Performs routine lung function tests; uses and maintains diagnostic equipment under the supervision of Respiratory Scientists. Monitors patients on ventilation or those undergoing sleep studies.

Tasks include

Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • operating equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring disorders of the heart, lungs, kidneys, nervous system and hearing, and in anaesthesia
  • undertaking and assisting with medical analytical procedures and assisting Anaesthetists and surgical teams
  • recording the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured, and pattern and rhythm interpreted
  • taking, collecting and labelling blood, urine and other samples from patients
  • preparing and staining slides and tissue sections for blood and histological examination
  • performing diagnostic tests on tissues and body fluids and analysing the chemical constituents of blood, urine, faeces and tissues
  • testing for diseases by looking for the presence of antibodies and the products of immune response in samples
  • setting up, checking and maintaining operating theatres, anaesthetic workstations, life support machines and associated equipment
  • referring prescriptions to Pharmacists and assisting in preparing medications
  • operating and maintaining equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring of breathing or sleep disorders

Alternative Titles:

  • Sleep Technician

Specialisation:

  • Neurophysiological Technician

ANZSCO Skill Level 2

The occupation Respiratory Technician (ANZSCO 311217) requires a qualification that is assessed as comparable to the ANZSCO Skills Level 2 of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma or a higher degree, specifically in a field that is highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

  • Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Occupations Group

Skills Assessment Respiratory Technician

Assessing Authority: VETASSESS (Group: E) 

Unless you qualify for a skills assessment exemption, a positive skills assessment is required to apply for the visas listed below for the occupation ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician

A skills assessment is a mandatory requirement for the subclass Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 visa under the Direct Entry Stream.

Assessing Authority for Respiratory Technician

VETASSESS is the assessing authority that conducts skills assessments for the occupation ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician.

For assistance with your skills assessment application, please reach out to Ozlinks Migration.

Skills Assessment Criteria

To obtain a positive outcome in a skills assessment, an applicant must satisfy both the qualifications and employment criteria.

  • Qualification(s): An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma, a higher qualification, or a qualification that is considered equivalent in skill level and relevant to the nominated occupation is required.
  • Employment: A minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience is required, with at least 20 hours per week of post-qualification employment, and it must be completed within the last five years.

Processing Time

The full skills assessment process for this occupation will take between 8 and 10 weeks from the date you submit and pay for the application to VETASSESS. The time it takes to finish depends on how quickly VETASSESS get all of the required documents and any other information from you. Making sure you've given all the necessary documents in the right format will help cut down on the time it takes to process.

What will I get after the assessment?

When your application for a skills assessment is done, the assessing authority will send you an email with a soft copy of the skills assessment outcome letter.

The letter should contain the required skill level outcome, whether your qualification is assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) or not. Furthermore, it outlines the employment period that you have claimed and whether the evidence that you provided is met or not. If you meet both the qualifications and employment criteria for the skill assessment, you will get a positive result. If you don't, you will get an unsuccessful result.

Application Fees

The following table provides an outline of the fees that are charged by VETASSESS in accordance with it for the purpose of their service of full skill assessments for professional occupations.

Application Fees – Full Skills Assessment
Applicant is a resident of Australia for tax purposes* (fee includes GST) AUD $1,205.60
Applicant is NOT a resident of Australia for tax purposes*(fee excludes GST) AUD $1,096.00
Points Test Calculator

Potential Visa Pathways for Respiratory Technician

The ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician occupation is currently included on the following migration occupation lists:

Occupation: ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician with the potential to obtain a pathway from temporary to permanent residency through the following visas:

Skills Assessment Support

Fill out the form for a free application review.

Skill Assessment Support

We provide skill assessment support for individuals seeking to complete the skills assessment for the occupation ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician.

Our expertise in document checks, combined with our experience in preparing VETASSESS skills assessment applications, enables us to ensure that your applications fulfil all necessary requirements. This maximises your chances of achieving the best possible outcome.

311217 respiratory technician skills assessment
311217 respiratory technician skills assessment

Search ANZSCO Occupation

Frequent Ask Questions

Here is a list of common questions that our clients ask us regarding ANZSCO 311217 Respiratory Technician skills assessment. If you need more information do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

What documents are required for a Respiratory Technician skills assessment?

In most cases, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

Personal Documents

  • Passport bio page
  • Passport photo
  • Other identification: national ID, driver license
  • Current CV/Resume

Qualifications

  • Diploma/Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.
  • A full academic transcript

Employments Evidence Documents.

  • Employment contract
  • Personal tax return
  • Superannuation Statement
  • Employment Verification Letter
  • Payslips

The ANZSCO occupation code for a Respiratory Technician in Australia is 311217, as classified by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations system.

To become a respiratory technician in Australia, you generally require an AQF diploma, advanced diploma, or associate degree in a relevant field, such as respiratory science, health science, biomedical science, or an overseas equivalent qualification.

Yes, a Respiratory Technician is regarded as a skilled worker. The Respiratory Technician occupation, classified under ANZSCO code 311217, is designated as Skill Level 2. It is currently in high demand and lists on the migration occupation lists:

VETASSESS is the assessing authority in Australia that conducts skills assessments for the occupation ANZSCO311217 Respiratory Technician.

Ozlinks Migration Agent is here to assist you with the skills assessment for the occupation 311217 Respiratory Technician. With our extensive experience in this area, we offer step-by-step guidance to help you meet all document requirements and maximise your chances of a positive outcome.

Disclaimer: 

Information under ANZSCO Occupations (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) section is published in accordance with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence guideline. ANZSCO Version 1.3 updated on 25 March 2021 and original source can be accessed on Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

This section does not intend to provide immigration assistance pursuant to section 276 of Migration Act (Cth) 1994 as described in the Migration laws. It is based on public guidelines available at Department of Home Affairs’ Website. It is your responsibility to verify accuracy and status of provided information with your Registered Migration Agent (RMA) who is bound by the MARA code of conduct before submitting any visa applications.