AASW English Language Policy - Migration Eligibility and Assessment

Sep 20, 2026

AASW English language policy sets higher English proficiency requirements for professional social work practice in Australia than Australia’s Department of Home Affairs sets for migration and visa purposes. It specifies approved evidence options based on IELTS Academic results, including single-sitting thresholds, two-sitting arrangements within six months, and a one-skill retake pathway within 60 days. It also defines validity windows for test results and outlines exemption eligibility based on secondary and tertiary education completed and assessed in English.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Background

AASW and Department of Home Affairs requirements comparison

International student requirements

Graduates of international social work qualifications

AASW English language skills standard

Option 1: One IELTS Academic test sitting

Option 2: Two IELTS Academic sittings within six months

Option 3: One IELTS Academic plus One Skill Retake

Parameters and test validity

Exemption grounds

AASW English Language Policy MIGRATION ELIGIBILITY AND ASSESSMENT 1. Background English language proficiency is essential for respectful, effective and safe social work practice in Australia. AASW REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT TO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS REQUIREMENTS The Department of Home Affairs sets the English language requirements for migration and visa purposes in Australia. The AASW sets the English language requirements for professional social work practice in Australia. Given that social work is a communication-based profession, it is essential that social workers have a high level of English language proficiency, which is why the AASW’s English language requirements are higher than the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements in some instances. FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COMPLETING AASW ACCREDITED COURSES Higher Education Providers (HEP) set the English language entry requirements for social work education in Australia. The AASW sets the English language requirements for professional social work practice in Australia. It is important to note that the AASW’s English language requirements for practice in Australia maybe higher than some HEP entry requirements. All international graduates of AASW accredited courses will be required to meet the AASW English language requirements for migration purposes. FOR GRADUATES OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK QUALIFICATIONS To live and work in Australia , applicants are required to evidence English language proficiency for both migration and/or eligibility for AASW membership for employment purposes. 2. AASW English language skills standard All applicants applying for an AASW assessment for migration and/or employment purposes must demonstrate English language proficiency. This requires: OPTION 1: A minimum overall score of 7.0 achieved in one sitting of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test; Where the policy requirements are met in one sitting, a minimum score of 7.0 must be achieved in all four components. For example: • IELTS Academic Test: Writing 7.5 , Reading 7.0, Speaking 7.5, Listening 7.0 or OPTION 2: A minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), achieved in a maximum of two sittings in a six (6) month period; and no component score is below 6.5; 1 20 May 2026 Applicants may demonstrate English language proficiency in two IELTS Academic test sittings completed within a six-month period, provided that: • a minimum score of 7.0 is achieved in each component across the two sittings, and • no individual component score is below 6.5. Any component score below 6.5 will render the test results unacceptable. For example: • Test 1: Writing 6.5, Reading 7.0 , Speaking 6.5, Listening 7.0 • Test 2: Writing 7.0 , Reading 6. 5, Speaking 8.0 , Listening 6.5 The bolded scores demonstrate how the minimum requirement of 7.0 in each component can be met across two sittings. or OPTION 3: One test sitting of the IELTS Academic Test with a minimum score of 7.0 in three of the four components of the test AND the inclusion of one IELTS Academic One Skill Retake test. Where the component score did not achieve the minimum score of 7.0 it must not be below 6.5. The IELTS Academic One Skill Retake test must achieve a minimum score of 7.0 in theretaken component. Eligiblility for IELTS One Skill Retake occurs when applicants have completed a full IELTS on computer test at an eligible test centre, and they have received their IELTS test score. The IELTS One Skill Retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test date. Applicants may demonstrate English language proficiency in one IELTS Academic test sitting and one IELTS Academic One Skill Retake test provided that: • a minimum score of 7.0 is achieved in three of the four components in the first sitting and the IELTS Academic One Skill Retake is undertaken to achieve a minimum score of 7.0 in the retake

FAQs

How does the AASW’s English language requirement differ from Home Affairs requirements?

The Department of Home Affairs sets English requirements for migration and visa purposes, while the AASW sets English requirements for professional social work practice. Because social work is communication-based, the AASW requirements may be higher in some instances.

What IELTS Academic score options can applicants use for AASW assessment?

Applicants can use one-sitting IELTS Academic with an overall minimum of 7.0 and minimum 7.0 in all four components, or two sittings within six months with 7.0 across components and no component below 6.5, or one IELTS Academic plus an IELTS Academic One Skill Retake to meet 7.0 across all four components.

What are the key validity and timing parameters for IELTS tests and retakes?

Test results must be obtained within three years prior to submitting an AASW qualification assessment. For the one-skill retake route, the retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test date, and where applicable it must be within 12 months of the AASW MEA application date.

Sep 20, 2026

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