This is a 2026 step-by-step pathway guide for a Cardiac Technician migrating to Australia under ANZSCO 311212. 311212 is on CSOL with state nomination availability — full skilled visa stack: Subclass 189 Independent (where listed), Subclass 190 State-Nominated, Subclass 491 Regional Provisional → 191 PR, Subclass 186 Direct Entry, Subclass 494 Regional Employer → 191, and Subclass 482 Core Skills → 186 TRT.
For the cost / timeline view see the 311212 cost & timeline case study. For VETASSESS document details see the skills assessment guide.
Step 1 — Confirm 311212 is the right code
ANZSCO 311212 covers cardiac investigations technical work — 12-lead ECG, Holter monitoring, ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring (ABPM), exercise stress testing (treadmill / bicycle / pharmacological), event monitoring, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) assistance, stress echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation lab support (cath lab — diagnostic angiography, PCI, electrophysiology), pacemaker / ICD / CRT device implantation support and follow-up checks, and tilt-table testing.
If you're a sonographer specialising in cardiac echo, you typically fit 311212. If you do generalist sonography (obstetric, abdominal, vascular), 251214 Sonographer may be the right code.
If you're an electrophysiology specialist focused on EP studies / RFA / cryoablation / implant programming, you fit 311212 with a senior-EP focus.
Step 2 — VETASSESS skills assessment
VETASSESS (vetassess.com.au) handles 311212. Standard requirements:
- Qualification — at least AQF Bachelor degree (Bachelor of Cardiac Technology, Bachelor of Clinical Physiology, Bachelor of Medical Science with cardiology / clinical physiology major, Master of Cardiac Sonography).
- Skilled employment — at least 1 year highly relevant in the 5 years before applying (post-qualification).
- Reference letters must show majority time on cardiac investigations — number / type of TTEs per week, stress tests, cath-lab cases, device follow-ups.
Standard turnaround 12-16 weeks.
Step 3 — English
EOI lodgement requires Competent English. For points-tested visas, target Proficient (10 pts) or Superior (20 pts) — clinical roles attract higher English bars in practice.
Step 4 — Choose a visa pathway
Subclass 189 / 190 / 491
189 if 311212 is on MLTSSL — confirm at EOI. 190 / 491 are realistic given persistent shortage. Strong nomination markets:
- NSW Health — Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore, Westmead, Liverpool, John Hunter (cath lab / EP), regional referral centres.
- Vic Health — Alfred (heart and lung specialist centre), Royal Melbourne, Austin, Monash, MonashHeart, St Vincent's; regional Bendigo / Ballarat / Geelong.
- QLD Health — RBWH, PA Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital (national heart-lung centre), Townsville University Hospital.
- WA Health — Royal Perth, Fiona Stanley, Sir Charles Gairdner.
- SA Health — Royal Adelaide, Flinders.
Subclass 186 / 494 / 482
Major employers: state public-health systems, private hospital networks (Ramsay, Healthscope, St Vincent's, Healthe Care, Mater), and specialist cardiology providers (Sydney Heart Clinic, GenesisCare cardiology arm — formerly Sydney Adventist cardiology, MIA Group / I-MED Cardiology, Sonic HealthPlus cardiology).
Step 5 — Score / Step 6 — Submit
Use points calculator. Lodge via SkillSelect.
Tools
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs
- VETASSESS
- Australasian Sonographers Association
- ASUM — Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine
- Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)
- ANZSCS — Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac Sonography
- Office of MARA
Next step
Want to map your cardiac technician profile against 189 vs 190 vs 491 vs 186 vs 494 vs 482? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.