Life Scientist (General)

Job titles this occupation covers

If your job title is one of these, this is usually the code it belongs to, whatever your employer calls the role.

• Biologist (General)

Duties

Published for unit group 2345 Life Scientists

• designing and conducting experiments, making observations and measurements, researching information, analysing data, preparing or supervising the preparation of laboratory reports and scientific papers, presenting findings at scientific meetings and conferences, and supervising the work of staff
• studying the forms and structures of bodily organs and tissues by systematic observation, dissection and microscopic examination
• investigating the chemical structure and function of living cells and their isolated components, organs and tissues in humans, animals, plants, and micro-organisms
• examining micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, yeast and their enzymes, and using the knowledge gained to create and develop new, and improve existing, products, materials and processes
• investigating the effects of environmental factors, such as rainfall, temperature, sunlight, soil, topography and disease, on plant growth
• planning and undertaking experiments to study, measure and understand marine animals and plants
• studying the growth and characteristics of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, algae and fungi, and the effects they have on plants, animals and humans to develop medical, veterinary, industrial, environmental and other practical applications
• investigating the interrelationships between animals in their natural surroundings, in captivity and in laboratories

This is what the occupation is, not what a skills assessment requires. The assessing body applies its own criteria on top of this, and those criteria are not published here. Check them with the body itself.

Who assesses this occupation

Last confirmed against the department's list on 30 July 2026.

This occupation reads differently for the 186 and 482

Two editions of ANZSCO are current at once, and the department applies ANZSCO 2022 to the employer sponsored visas while everything above follows ANZSCO 2013.

The definition is identical in both editions, but the published duties are not:

• designing and conducting experiments, making observations and measurements, researching information, analysing data, preparing or supervising the preparation of laboratory reports and scientific papers, presenting findings at scientific meetings and conferences, and supervising the work of staff
• studying the forms and structures of bodily organs and tissues by systematic observation, dissection and microscopic examination
• investigating the chemical structure and function of living cells and their isolated components, organs and tissues in humans, animals, plants, and micro-organisms
• examining micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, yeast and their enzymes, and using the knowledge gained to create and develop new, and improve existing, products, materials and processes
• investigating the effects of environmental factors, such as rainfall, temperature, sunlight, soil, topography and disease, on plant growth
• planning and undertaking experiments to study, measure and understand marine animals and plants
• studying the growth and characteristics of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, algae and fungi, and the effects they have on plants, animals and humans to develop medical, veterinary, industrial, environmental and other practical applications
• investigating the impacts of insects on plants, animals and humans in relation to human health and agricultural production
• investigating the interrelationships between animals in their natural surroundings, in captivity and in laboratories

If you are going for a 186 or a 482, this is the wording that governs you. Everything above governs the points tested routes.

Where this comes from

Definition and duties: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO
Assessing authorities and skilled lists: Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list

Vizard is not a registered migration agent and nothing here is migration advice. It is published government information, organised. For advice on your own situation, speak to a registered migration agent.