This is the 2026 TRA skills assessment guide for ANZSCO 394299 — Wood Trades Workers nec. For visa pathway selection see the 394299 pathway guide; for cost / timeline see the case study. For state nomination see the comparison; for invitation patterns see the invitation rounds trends.
TRA pathway summary
394299 routes through TRA.
| Program | Who it's for | Components | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSAP (Offshore) | Offshore visa applicants | Technical interview + Practical | 4-6 months |
| TSS Skills Assessment | Onshore (substantive visa) | Documents + practical demonstration | 8-12 weeks |
| JRP (Job Ready Program) | Onshore 485 with Australian Cert III | 4 stages over 12 months | 12-18 months |
Cost: ~AUD 4,000-4,500.
Benchmark qualification
Australian benchmark (varies by sub-specialty):
- Cert III in Timber and Composites Machining (MSF31318) — broad wood trades.
- Cert III in Furniture Making (MSF31313) with specialty evidence.
- Specialist alternatives:
- Cooperage apprenticeship — premium wine/whisky cooperage tradition. - Luthier training (musical instrument making). - Wooden boat builder apprenticeship (overlap with 399111). - Heritage / conservation training.
Overseas qualifications that map (varies by sub-trade)
| Country | Qualification |
|---|---|
| UK | NVQ Level 3 Wood Machining, City & Guilds Wood Occupations, Building Crafts College specialty programs, Worshipful Company of Coopers (cooperage), Newark School of Violin Making (luthier) |
| Germany | Holzmechaniker, specialty trades — Geigenbauer (violin maker), Böttcher (cooper), Bootsbauer (boat builder — wood) |
| France | CAP specialty (Tonnelier — cooper, Luthier, etc.), Compagnons du Devoir apprenticeship |
| Italy | Diploma specialty (Liuteria Cremonese for violin making, Bottaio for cooperage) |
| Scotland / Ireland | Cooperage apprenticeship (Speyside / Ireland whisky industry) |
| USA | Specialty trade school records + 3+ years apprenticeship (Roberto-Venn School for luthier; Kentucky Cooperage training) |
| NZ | Specialty wood trade apprenticeship records |
Required documents
- Qualification certificate with transcripts.
- Detailed CV mapped to 394299 — every employer, dates, specialty trade focus, equipment.
- Employment reference letters on specialty workshop letterhead.
- Identity (passport bio page).
- Payslips / tax records.
- Photographic portfolio — 15-20 specialty trade examples (instruments, barrels, wooden boat components, marquetry, heritage restoration).
- Specialty equipment records (tradecraft-specific).
- Industry / heritage body memberships.
- WHS / OHS — sharp tools, dust, machinery (sub-trade specific).
- English test — Vocational English minimum for OSAP.
Employment evidence — what TRA wants by sub-trade
3 years post-qualification trade employment. Reference letters must specify by sub-trade:
- Cooperage — "Constructed wine / whisky barrels in oak (American / French / Hungarian); shaved staves on bilge / shaved croze; assembled with iron / steel hoops; toasted barrel interior (light / medium / heavy toast); fitted heads; tested for leaks via water test. Annual output [X] barrels."
- Luthier (musical instruments) — "Constructed acoustic / classical / electric guitars; selected and prepared tonewood (Sitka spruce / cedar / redwood tops, mahogany / rosewood / maple back and sides); hand-cut joinery (mortise / wedged tenon for neck); applied French polish / lacquer / oil finishes."
- Wooden boat components — "Manufactured wooden mast / spar / boom (Sitka spruce / Douglas fir laminated); steam-bent planking (oak / mahogany); cabin / interior wooden components; copper-fastened clinker planking for traditional dinghies / launches."
- Marquetry / specialty veneer — "Designed and constructed marquetry panels using sliced / quarter-cut / fiddleback veneers (walnut / cherry / maple / exotic species); hand-cut with marquetry scalpel / chevalet de marqueterie; applied with hide glue / PVA / vacuum press."
- Heritage / conservation — "Restored heritage building wooden components (architraves, skirtings, doors, joinery); matched period species and finishes; preserved original construction techniques."
- Specialty milling — "Operated specialty saw mills for furniture / craft timber; managed defect cutting for figured / curly / burl stock; supplied specialty timber to furniture / instrument / cooperage industries."
Generic "did wood trades work" wording does not pass TRA review. Detail by specialty sub-trade, techniques, equipment.
OSAP — what to expect
Phase 1 (technical interview, 1-2 hours via video): wood trades theory specific to your sub-specialty; tool/equipment knowledge; safety; quality control.
Phase 2 (practical at RTO test centre, 1-2 days): demonstrate specialty trade competency.
Vendor / industry certifications by sub-trade
- Coopers: Worshipful Company of Coopers (UK) records.
- Luthiers: Roberto-Venn School / Newark School certificate; American Federation of Violin Makers.
- Wooden boat: International Yacht Restoration School (USA), Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy (UK).
- Marquetry: École Boulle (France) records.
- Heritage: National Trust apprenticeship records.
English requirements
TRA OSAP: Vocational English minimum (IELTS 5.0 overall).
Home Affairs visas: Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band).
Common pitfalls
- Choosing 394299 when more specific 394X code fits better. Always check first.
- Trying VETASSESS. TRA is the pathway.
- Hobby-only background. TRA requires documented commercial / professional employment.
- No portfolio. Essentially required.
Tools
Authoritative sources
- Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
- TRA OSAP
- Home Affairs visa pricing
- Australian Woodworkers Association
Next step
Need a MARA agent to plan your TRA OSAP submission? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with Global Select.