Quick Answer: The Professional Year Program (PYP) adds 5 points to your skilled migration points score and costs between $8,000 and $15,000 depending on provider and location. In 2026, it remains worth completing for IT and engineering graduates who need those extra points to reach an invitation-competitive score — but the accounting pathway was closed in 2024, and the points alone rarely justify the cost unless your EOI is borderline.
At VJ Consulting and Education, we work with skilled migrants navigating every stage of the Australian PR pathway — including deciding whether the Professional Year Program is the right move for their profile.
What is professional year program?
The Professional Year Program is a structured, 44-week Australian workplace training program designed for recent graduates in IT, engineering, or accounting (accounting was closed to new enrolments from late 2024). It combines classroom learning with a 12-week paid or unpaid internship in an Australian workplace, and is accredited by the relevant professional body: the Australian Computer Society (ACS) for IT, or Engineers Australia (EA) for engineering. Among the applicants VJCE has assisted, understanding exactly what the program covers — and how it fits into a broader visa strategy — is often the first step toward making a confident decision.
The program is only available to graduates of an Australian bachelor degree or higher and is administered by a small number of approved providers. It is not a visa — it is completed on a valid visa such as the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa.
"Professional year is only done for engineering, accountant and IT related occupations." — A client we advised on skills assessment pathways in early 2025
A key purpose of the program is skills assessment by proxy: completing the full PYP satisfies the relevant professional body's skills assessment requirement, meaning graduates do not need to separately lodge an assessment with ACS or Engineers Australia.
Tip: The accounting PYP (administered by CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA) closed to new applicants in late 2024. Accounting graduates should now pursue a standard skills assessment through their professional body.
→ Deep Dive: Professional Year Program in Australia
How much does professional year cost?
Expect to pay between $8,000 and $15,000 in total, with most providers in major cities sitting between $10,000 and $12,000 for IT and $9,000 and $13,000 for engineering. Costs vary by provider, city, and whether GST is included in the advertised price.
| Provider Type | Typical Fee Range | GST Included? |
|---|---|---|
| ACS IT PYP (major cities) | $10,000 – $15,000 | Varies |
| Engineers Australia PYP | $9,000 – $13,000 | Varies |
| Smaller/regional providers | $8,000 – $11,000 | Varies |
These fees cover the taught component only. You should also budget for:
- Skills assessment fee (if not included): $500 – $800
- Living costs during the 44-week program
- Potential loss of income during the unpaid internship component
One of our clients researching Melbourne PYP providers across Performance Education, ECA, and NIT noted that price differences between providers in the same city can exceed $3,000, so it is worth comparing what is included — some providers bundle the skills assessment fee, others do not.
Tip: Ask each provider specifically whether the ACS or Engineers Australia skills assessment lodgement is included in their published fee. It is a common source of unexpected cost.
→ Deep Dive: Professional Year Program in Australia
Is professional year worth it?
It depends primarily on three factors: your current points score, your occupation's invitation trends, and whether you genuinely need the skills assessment outcome. VJ Consulting agents generally advise candidates to map out their full points picture before committing, as the value of those additional points can vary significantly depending on individual circumstances and the competitiveness of their nominated occupation.
For most IT and engineering graduates sitting at 75–80 points without PYP, completing the program to reach 80–85 points is likely to make the difference between receiving an invitation for a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa or Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and waiting indefinitely. At that margin, the $10,000–$15,000 cost is defensible.
However, the calculus changes in three situations:
| Situation | PYP Verdict |
|---|---|
| You already have 85+ points | Likely not needed — check invitation cutoffs first |
| Your occupation has low or no 189 invitations | Points alone won't help — consider state nomination instead |
| You are an accounting graduate | Program is closed to new enrolments |
A client of ours weighing this decision in early 2026 put the concern directly:
"Wanted to know if professional year is worth it in 2026? As IT occupations are not getting invited — I'm a student who will be going on a 485 so wanted to know." — A recent IT graduate we advised transitioning to post-study pathways
Our answer: check the latest Department of Home Affairs invitation rounds for your specific ANZSCO code before enrolling. 5 points on a score that still sits below the invitation cutoff for your occupation achieves nothing.
One registered migration agent with over two decades of experience summarised the broader issue well:
"People choose an occupation first and assume Australia needs it. In reality, the skilled migration system is based on shortages, state priorities, and round-by-round demand." — A senior MARA-registered agent whose advice we reference with clients
Tip: Use the SkillSelect invitation data (published by Home Affairs after each round) to confirm what points score is actually being invited for your ANZSCO code before committing to PYP enrolment.
→ Deep Dive: Professional Year Program in Australia
How many points does professional year give?
Completing the Professional Year Program gives you 5 points under the Australian skilled migration points test — specifically under the "Professional Year in Australia" criterion. These points are awarded once you have completed the full 44-week program, including the internship component, and received confirmation from your professional body. In VJ Consulting's experience, applicants sometimes underestimate how meaningfully those 5 points can shift their invitation prospects, particularly in occupations where EOI competition tends to be higher.
| Points Test Criterion | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| Professional Year in Australia (completed) | 5 |
| Australian study requirement (bachelor or higher) | 5 |
| Specialist education qualification | 5 – 10 |
| Regional study (if applicable) | 5 |
The 5 points from PYP are separate from, and stack with, the 5 points available for completing an Australian degree — you can claim both if eligible.
A common misconception among our clients is that the PYP points are awarded on enrolment or partway through the program. They are not. According to the Department of Home Affairs, points are only claimable once the program is fully completed and the relevant professional body has confirmed completion.
Some applicants on community forums have called for the PYP points to be scrapped in favour of additional Australian work experience points. Our view is that this debate is irrelevant to your decision today — the 5 points exist, they are claimable, and they are real.
Tip: Do not include PYP points in your Expression of Interest until you have received written confirmation of completion from ACS or Engineers Australia. Claiming points prematurely is a compliance risk.
→ Deep Dive: Professional Year Program in Australia
Ready to work out whether Professional Year is right for your situation?
The program is a meaningful investment — both financially and in time. Whether it makes sense depends on your specific occupation, your current points score, and the visa pathway you are targeting. Our MARA-registered consultants can review your profile and give you a clear recommendation before you commit to enrolment.
Book a consultation with VJ Consulting to get a personalised points assessment and pathway plan.
