Civil Engineer, ANZSCO 233211: code, lists, and assessment

Civil Engineer (233211) is ANZSCO code 233211, skill level 1. Civil Engineers plan, design, and oversee the construction and operation of infrastructure: dams, bridges, pipelines, water and gas supply schemes, sewerage systems, airports, and similar projects. Registration or licensing is typically required.

Who assesses it

The assessing authority for Civil Engineer varies by state and circumstance. Assessment requirements for engineers in Australia can also involve state or territory registration bodies, depending on the visa pathway and the employer’s location. The occupation page carries the current authority details, sourced from ABS and Home Affairs. Check there before lodging any skills assessment application.

Which lists it sits on

Civil Engineer (233211) appears on two Australian skilled occupation lists, as published by the Department of Home Affairs:

• Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL): opens pathways including the subclass 189 and 190 skilled visas, among others.
• Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL): relevant to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and related pathways.

Both lists are at the Home Affairs Skill Occupation List page. Being on a list opens a pathway. It is not itself a guarantee of any visa grant or assessment outcome.

2024 shortage rating: Jobs and Skills Australia rated Civil Engineer as S (in shortage) on the 2024 Occupation Shortage List. A shortage rating and list membership are separate things. An occupation can be in shortage and on the MLTSSL, or in shortage and off every list, or on a list and not in shortage. Read both sources independently.

New Zealand: Civil Engineer (233211) sits on Tier 1 of the NZ Green List (effective 26 March 2025). Tier 1 is the Straight to Residence pathway for New Zealand immigration. The NZ Green List operates separately from Australian occupation lists. Check the Immigration New Zealand page for current eligibility criteria, as the list can be updated.

Near-miss codes

The Civil Engineering Professionals group (2332) contains several similar codes. Two common near-misses:

• 233212 covers Geotechnical Engineers, who focus specifically on soil, rock, and subsurface conditions rather than the full range of civil infrastructure.
• 233213 covers Quantity Surveyors, who manage project costs and contracts rather than design or construction oversight.

If your work sits mainly in one of those specialisations, check the specific code. The ABS description is the deciding text.

Find your code

Browse all ANZSCO 2022 occupations to confirm the right code for your work. The correct code matters: a mismatch between what you claim and what an assessing authority reads in your CV can delay or affect an assessment outcome. If you are unsure which code fits, the CV matcher can match your CV to the closest codes and show its reasoning. For advice on which visa applies to your situation, speak with a registered migration agent.