COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH THERAPISTS NEC | ANZSCO 252299

WHAT IS A COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH THERAPIST (NEC)?

ANZSCO Unit Group 2522, Complementary Health Therapists, covers practitioners who use natural, traditional, or non-conventional therapeutic methods to improve or maintain a patient's health and wellbeing. Several roles in this group already have their own specific codes, including Acupuncturist (252211), Homoeopath (252212), Naturopath (252213), and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (252214). ANZSCO 252299 is the catch-all code for complementary health therapists whose specific discipline is not separately listed, and commonly covers practitioners such as hypnotherapists, music therapists, drama therapists, dance therapists, and play therapists.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Assessing a client's health, wellbeing, and therapeutic needs through consultation and case history
• Developing and delivering individualised treatment or therapy plans using the practitioner's specific therapeutic modality
• Monitoring client progress and adjusting treatment approaches as needed
• Advising clients on lifestyle, self-care, and complementary strategies to support their wellbeing
• Referring clients to general practitioners or other health professionals where appropriate
• Working independently or as part of a multidisciplinary health or wellness team
• Maintaining accurate clinical records in line with Australian healthcare and privacy standards
• Keeping up to date with continuing professional development relevant to the practitioner's therapeutic discipline

SUBCLASS 482 FOR THIS OCCUPATION - CSOL LIST

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024, bringing in a new occupation list. The Core Skills Occupation List, known as the CSOL, consolidated the previous strategic skills lists into a single list covering several hundred occupations across professional, trade, and technical fields.

Complementary Health Therapists nec sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 252299, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a Core Skills stream 482 visa. Depending on the offered salary, well-paid nominations may also be considered under the Specialist Skills stream, which carries a higher income threshold but faster processing. Which stream applies depends on the offered salary and the specific role, so it's worth confirming with a migration agent before a nomination is lodged.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

A nominated occupation has to genuinely match the work an applicant will actually be doing for their sponsoring employer. Because 252299 is a residual, nec code, the Department and VETASSESS both look closely at whether the nominated duties are genuinely similar in nature and skill level to the other occupations in Unit Group 2522, and are not better described by a different, more specific ANZSCO code elsewhere in the classification.

Complementary Health Therapists nec sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which lines up with a Bachelor degree or higher qualification, or an overseas qualification assessed as comparable, in a field highly relevant to the practitioner's specific therapeutic discipline.

ANZSCO requirement for this occupation: "Bachelor degree or higher qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1). Registration or licensing may be required."

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills (or Specialist Skills) stream in this occupation, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 252299, with a salary at or above the relevant income threshold and the market rate for the role
• At least one year of full time equivalent relevant work experience within the past five years
• English requirements as outlined below, unless an exemption applies
• A clear health examination through an approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for twelve months or more

The visa can be granted for a period of up to four years (up to five years for Hong Kong passport holders), and a partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. Salary and income thresholds are indexed annually, so it's always worth confirming the current figure before an employer lodges a nomination.

SALARY THRESHOLDS - CSIT, SSIT, AND AMSR EXPLAINED

Three separate salary concepts apply to a nomination in this occupation, and all three need to be satisfied at once - employers must pay whichever figure is highest.

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) - the minimum guaranteed annual earnings for a Core Skills stream nomination under Subclass 482, and for Subclass 186 nominations. The current CSIT is AUD $79,423, up from AUD $76,515.
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) - the higher minimum guaranteed annual earnings that applies to the Specialist Skills stream of Subclass 482, relevant where a role in this occupation is well remunerated and the employer prefers the faster Specialist Skills processing pathway. The current SSIT is AUD $146,576, up from AUD $141,210.
• Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) - the rate an equivalent Australian worker would be paid in the same role, location, and industry, based on enterprise agreements, awards, job advertisements, or remuneration survey data. The AMSR has no fixed dollar figure; it is assessed case by case.

These thresholds are indexed each year against Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), so the applicable figure depends on when a nomination is lodged, not when it's decided. Existing visa holders and nominations lodged before an indexation date are not affected by a later increase. It's always worth confirming the current threshold with a migration agent, or on the Department of Home Affairs website, before a nomination is lodged.

SUBCLASS 482 SID VISA COST

On top of meeting the relevant income threshold, applicants and their employer need to budget for the government charges that apply to a Subclass 482 application.

*Figures shown are the base Visa Application Charge only, current at time of writing and reviewed annually by the Department of Home Affairs. Additional charges may apply, including the employer's $330 nomination fee per position and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, along with health examinations, police checks, and English testing where required. These figures do not include the second instalment charge that applies to some dependants, or any professional or agent fees. Always confirm current charges with your migration agent or the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION - SUBCLASS 482

VETASSESS (Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services) is the relevant skills assessing authority for Complementary Health Therapists nec (ANZSCO 252299), assessed under its Group A occupation category.

A skills assessment is not required for every Subclass 482 applicant. It is only mandatory where required under the Department of Home Affairs' mandatory skills assessment requirements, which apply to specified occupations and passport countries. Applicants should confirm current requirements for their passport country before lodging.

The VETASSESS Group A assessment generally requires:

• A qualification assessed as comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework Bachelor degree or higher, in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation
• At least one year of post-qualification, highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken within the last five years, at a minimum of 20 hours per week
• A positive assessment for both the qualification and the employment component, as VETASSESS requires both to reach a successful outcome
• Because this is an nec code, documentary evidence that the role is genuinely similar in nature and skill level to other occupations already classified within Unit Group 2522

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• Academic transcripts and qualification certificates from a highly relevant program of study
• Employment reference letters outlining job title, duties, employment dates, and hours worked
• Evidence of any professional association membership or modality-specific certification already held
• Payslips, taxation records, or other evidence supporting claimed employment

Providing complete and well-prepared evidence helps VETASSESS assess an application efficiently and may reduce processing delays.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR THIS OCCUPATION - EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many applicants already working in Australia on a 482 visa, it's the natural next step. The Direct Entry stream is the relevant pathway for applicants who haven't yet worked long enough with their employer to qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the 482, a grant under the 186 gives the applicant and their family permanent residency from the day it's approved, with no further visa renewals needed.

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full time, ongoing position in this occupation
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt from the skills assessment and experience requirements
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, with limited exemptions
• Competent English, at an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Health and character clearances

This is a noticeably higher bar than the 482, both on English and on work experience, which is one reason many applicants use the 482 as a stepping stone before applying for the 186.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION - SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS is mandatory for almost every Direct Entry 186 applicant in this occupation, and it needs to be current at the time the visa application is lodged.

Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience on top of the assessment itself, it helps to start gathering employment evidence, reference letters, and qualification documents well before applying, since both VETASSESS processing and document preparation take time.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Every skilled or employer sponsored visa in Australia comes with an English language test, and the score required depends on which visa is being applied for. For applicants in this occupation looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a lot of applicants off guard.

For the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, applicants generally need Competent English, which works out to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0, or an accepted equivalent test result.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream, the standard is higher. Competent English here means an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0.

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from formal English testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English. Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement, so if a score is getting old, it's worth sitting the test again before applying rather than finding out partway through processing.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH THERAPISTS

Most of the specific disciplines captured under this nec code are self-regulated professions in Australia, sitting outside AHPRA's national registration scheme. There is generally no single government-mandated licence to practise, and the title itself is usually not legally protected - but membership with the relevant professional association, and modality-specific certification or training accreditation, is the accepted industry standard most employers and clients expect.

• Recognised bodies vary by modality, and can include associations such as the Australian Hypnotherapists' Association, the Australian Music Therapy Association, and other discipline-specific professional bodies
• Overseas-qualified applicants are generally assessed by the relevant association against its accreditation criteria for equivalence of qualification and clinical or supervised practice hours
• Many associations require proof of professional indemnity insurance and compliance with a code of conduct to maintain membership
• Ongoing Continuing Professional Development is generally required to maintain active membership and practice standing
• Professional association membership is separate from both the VETASSESS migration skills assessment and the visa application, and can generally be pursued in parallel or after arrival

While association membership is not always a legal prerequisite to practise, holding it - or actively working toward it - is the accepted benchmark most clinics and employers look for, and strengthens a candidate's standing when applying for sponsored roles.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Earnings vary considerably by therapeutic discipline, location, and whether a practitioner works on a salaried or private-practice basis. Practitioners who build an established client base, hold advanced certification, or own their own practice tend to earn at the higher end of the range.

WHY THIS OCCUPATION IS IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Growing patient and client demand for complementary and integrative therapies alongside mainstream healthcare
• Increasing recognition of complementary therapies in mental health, rehabilitation, and allied health settings
• A relatively small domestic training pipeline for several specialised disciplines under this code
• Expanding private health insurance rebate coverage for some complementary therapies, supporting client uptake
• Growing demand for these services in regional and outer-metropolitan areas
• Ongoing interest in holistic, person-centred approaches to wellbeing across the general population

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS OCCUPATION IN AUSTRALIA

Australian wellness clinics, allied health practices, and multidisciplinary health centres can sponsor overseas applicants in this occupation through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer-sponsored visa pathways when suitably qualified Australian workers are unavailable. With training pathways for several of these disciplines limited in Australia, employer sponsorship has become an important way for clinics to recruit experienced overseas practitioners and build their therapeutic teams.

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the employer sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents ensure your organisation meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

We help healthcare and wellness employers with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas applicants under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Employer nomination applications and salary benchmarking against CSIT, SSIT, and AMSR
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored employees

If your clinic or practice is looking to sponsor a Complementary Health Therapist in Australia, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, allowing you to focus on client care while we take care of your migration requirements.

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HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia under a residual, nec occupation code means demonstrating very clearly that your qualifications and duties genuinely fit within ANZSCO Unit Group 2522, navigating a VETASSESS skills assessment, understanding a self-regulated professional recognition environment, and comparing two employer sponsored visa pathways with different English and experience thresholds. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic handle this every day, and we can help you get it right the first time.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Confirming ANZSCO 252299 correctly matches your qualifications and duties
• Preparing a complete, decision-ready VETASSESS skills assessment application
• Structuring your employment references so they meet the assessing authority's requirements
• Coordinating your professional association membership timeline alongside your visa application
• Comparing the 482 and 186 pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to grant

Frequently Asked Questions - Employer Sponsorship for Complementary Health Therapists