A competency demonstration report (CDR) is a significant document that paves the way for Australian immigration. As it is of utmost importance for migrating to Australia or obtaining engineering employment opportunities there, it must be made with the utmost care. It is an account for an applicant’s engineering knowledge, skills, and experience within their engineering practice area for the nominated occupational category. For a successful CDR skills assessment, migrants must write and submit an impressive report that follows all the norms and procedures to yield successful outcomes. The assessor, Engineers Australia (EA), only approves the report that best expresses applicants’ knowledge and competency and aligns with all the stated guidelines. In this blog, our professional writers will share their experience in making CDR for Engineers Australia in accordance with MSA booklet guidelines.
Read Related Tips ⇒ Where To Find Latest Engineer Australia skill assessment booklet?
However, a CDR often finds applicants in trouble, and thus they seek professional support to overcome the complications. Well, CDRAustralia.Org offers a one-stop CDR making assistance to help candidates craft a comprehensive and compelling report that complies with EA’s norms and procedures. We stand as a trusted ally for engineers seeking professional guidance in CDR preparation. With a deep focus on clarity, coherence, and compliance, our team of experts goes above and beyond to present each client’s achievement in the best possible way, enhancing their chances of success.
We combine creativity with technical prowess to prepare a competency report that captivates and convinces the EA for a successful skills assessment. Moreover, this guide will help candidates take reasonable steps in preparing a competency report for skill assessment.
Steps Need To Be Followed To Prepare A CDR For Engineers Australia

- Before getting started, be familiar with the Engineers Australia guidelines outlined in the migration skills assessment (MSA) booklet by reading it thoroughly.
- Prepare personal documentation, including a Prime Identification document, a current passport-style photograph, a name change document, and a curriculum vitae (CV).
- Applicants must nominate their preferred occupational category from the outline categories: professional engineer, engineering technologist, engineering associate, and engineering manager.
- To substantiate their English language competency, they must prepare English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or PTE ACADEMIC).
- Prepare academic certificates, official academic transcripts, and any other relevant academic documents.
- If candidates base their career episodes on their gained engineering experience, they must prepare the documentary evidence of employment.
- Write three career episodes, a summary statement, or a CPD statement for skills assessment.
Read Related Tips ⇒ What Are the Common Reasons For Engineers Australia’s Negative Skill Assessment?
Key Elements In Making A CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) For Australia
As a CDR is a comprehensive piece of writing, it consists of three core elements: three career episodes, a summary statement, and a CPD listing.
Three Career Episodes (CEs):
A career episode is the key and lengthy part of the application that displays the applicant’s engineering education and experience in the nominated occupation. All three career episodes must showcase a distinct period or aspect of engineering activities. They must emphasise how an applicant applied their engineering knowledge and expertise in the nominated occupation. Each episode’s narrative must be in essay form, between 1000 and 2500 words. To write a career episode, applicants must keep the points in mind:
- Make in Australian Standard English and in their own words, as this will act as evidence of their communication skills to the assessor.
- Write in the first person pronoun, for example, “I planned”, “I investigated”, “I resolved”.
- Number each career episode and the paragraphs (such as CE 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and so on)
- Frame each career episode in a structured format (introduction, background, personal engineering activity, and summary).
- Explain by answering the question “What I did and How I did it?”, demonstrating their personal experience and contribution to the project.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD):
A CPD listing must be in tabular form and must not exceed a single A4 page. It must state how the applicant has taken proper steps to keep themselves up to date with the latest developments within their engineering practice after completing the undergraduate qualification. A CPD listing must be in a format that contains the title, date, duration, venue, and organiser of activities.
Summary Statement (SS):
A summary statement showcases the analysis outcome of career episodes. Applicants must cross-reference the particular paragraph in career episodes where the competency elements occur. They must download and complete the most appropriate summary statement template relevant to their chosen occupational category.