Many people think that to become a secondary teacher, you need a high points score, IELTS 7788, or PTE 8. But that's not necessarily true. Our client, a secondary teacher applicant, was invited for a 190 visa with 60+5 points. The score wasn't high, but the pathway was precise. In the current environment, 60+5 is not considered a competitive score. However, secondary teaching is a shortage occupation, and combined with state nomination policy advantages, there is still an opportunity. The student took two crucial steps.
1. Waiving the language requirement for the AITSL secondary teacher skills assessment:
This student did not force themselves to take IELTS 7788. Instead, they completed the AITSL skills assessment through the TRBWA (Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia) pathway, waiving the 7788 language requirement. This prepared them to quickly find a job and accumulate work experience for state nomination.
2. South Australia's Outer Regional Stream – no need to compete on high points:
Because the student had previously successfully found a full-time job in a small town, they followed the process step by step to gain one year of relevant work experience closely matching their nominated occupation. This enabled them to meet the submission requirements for the Outer Regional Stream and successfully receive an invitation.
Many times, skilled migration is not just about "points," but about planning the PR pathway in advance. It is becoming increasingly clear: those who truly succeed are often those who planned ahead.
Many students get stuck on the 7788 requirement, finding a job, or figuring out which state's nomination suits them. But as long as the direction is right, you can totally avoid many detours.
States like South Australia, which favour genuine employment and regional contribution, have always been relatively friendly to applicants with local work experience.
So instead of staring anxiously at high points scores and 189 invitations, it's better to figure out what pathway suits you best.
