ABF Officer (BFORT) vs Airport Screening Officer: which career suits you?
Both work at airports, but they are different employers and powers. Border Force officers are APS employees of the Department of Home Affairs with customs and immigration powers, trained through BFORT. Aviation screening officers work for the screening authority or its contractor at the security screening point under the aviation security framework, with on-the-job training and a nationally recognised screening qualification. ABF hiring is slower and needs an AGSVA clearance; screening officer hiring is quicker and needs an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC).
ABF Officer (BFORT) vs Airport Screening Officer at a glance
| ABF Officer (BFORT) | Airport Screening Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Australian Border Force Officer Recruit (BFORT) | Aviation Security Screening Officer (Australian Airports) |
| Questions | Cognify: 3 timed mini-games (Gridlock, Numbubbles, Proof It). Emotify: 3 parts (Matching Faces, Emotional Ties, Emotions in Action). Illustrait: a behavioural job-fit questionnaire. Criteria Corp does not publish item counts | No national entry exam. Employers set their own online assessments (commonly attention to detail, visual search and situational judgement) and do not publish their format. After training you must pass Home Affairs accreditation testing for each screening function you perform |
| Time | Cognify 15 minutes in total; Emotify about 20 minutes. Video interview answers and the written task are timed per question with an on-screen countdown | Not published by employers or Home Affairs |
| Passing score | No published pass mark. Criteria Corp sends results to the ABF and Home Affairs emails you whether you progress. If unsuccessful you can practise the assessments and reapply in the next recruitment round | Not published. Accreditation testing must be passed every year for each screening function or power you use |
| Format | Unsupervised online assessments. Use a computer with mouse and keyboard, a stable connection, Chrome or Safari, a working camera and microphone, and a quiet, well-lit room with a plain background. Practice games and practice video questions are offered before the live tests | You may train and sit accreditation testing on a Visitor Identification Card under supervision, but you cannot make independent screening decisions until you hold an ASIC and meet every Scheme requirement |
| Cost | No fee to apply or test | Usually no fee to apply. The Cert II TSP is often provided by the employer; if you self-fund, registered training organisation fees vary. ASIC issuing bodies charge an application fee, which some employers cover |
| Languages | English | English |
| Where | Online, at home, on the Criteria Corp platform: capability testing (Cognify, Emotify, Illustrait), then a one-way video interview with a written and a verbal task. Later: medical, fitness, Employment Suitability Clearance and security clearance | Employer recruitment (online application, aptitude or screening assessment, interview); ASIC background check by AusCheck; Certificate II in Transport Security Protection through a registered training organisation; Home Affairs accreditation tests run by approved accreditors on the Department's platform |
| Level | Border, Corrections & Security | Border, Corrections & Security |
What each exam covers
ABF Officer (BFORT)
- The Job and Eligibility
- Cognitive Ability (Cognify)
- Emotional Intelligence (Emotify) and Illustrait
- Written and Verbal Task
- Medical, Fitness and the Employment Suitability Clearance
- Video Interview, STAR and the APS Values
- Application Strategy and Timeline
- BFORT Training and the First Year
Airport Screening Officer
- The Job and Eligibility
- Attention to Detail and Visual Search
- X-ray Image Interpretation and Prohibited Items
- Screening Rules: Powders, Liquids, Aerosols and Gels
- ASIC Background Check, Medical and Fitness
- Interview and Customer Service Judgement
- Application Strategy and Timeline
- Cert II TSP, Accreditation and the First Year
Which should you take?
Both work at airports, but they are different employers and powers. Border Force officers are APS employees of the Department of Home Affairs with customs and immigration powers, trained through BFORT. Aviation screening officers work for the screening authority or its contractor at the security screening point under the aviation security framework, with on-the-job training and a nationally recognised screening qualification. ABF hiring is slower and needs an AGSVA clearance; screening officer hiring is quicker and needs an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC).
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FAQ
What is the difference between ABF Officer (BFORT) and Airport Screening Officer?
Both work at airports, but they are different employers and powers. Border Force officers are APS employees of the Department of Home Affairs with customs and immigration powers, trained through BFORT. Aviation screening officers work for the screening authority or its contractor at the security screening point under the aviation security framework, with on-the-job training and a nationally recognised screening qualification. ABF hiring is slower and needs an AGSVA clearance; screening officer hiring is quicker and needs an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC).
Which is harder, ABF Officer (BFORT) or Airport Screening Officer?
ABF Officer (BFORT): cognify: 3 timed mini-games (gridlock, numbubbles, proof it). emotify: 3 parts (matching faces, emotional ties, emotions in action). illustrait: a behavioural job-fit questionnaire. criteria corp does not publish item counts in cognify 15 minutes in total; emotify about 20 minutes. video interview answers and the written task are timed per question with an on-screen countdown. Airport Screening Officer: no national entry exam. employers set their own online assessments (commonly attention to detail, visual search and situational judgement) and do not publish their format. after training you must pass home affairs accreditation testing for each screening function you perform in not published by employers or home affairs. The longer exam covers more ground, but the harder one is the one further from your daily work. Take both free practice tests to see where you stand.
Can I hold both ABF Officer (BFORT) and Airport Screening Officer?
You can usually apply to more than one agency at the same time, and many candidates do. You can only work in one full-time role at once, though, and each agency runs its own tests, checks and merit list, so plan your preparation around the test you'll sit first.
How do I prepare for ABF Officer (BFORT) and Airport Screening Officer?
Start with the free practice test for each, then study by topic. Premium is per exam (A$89 a month each), so most people start with the exam they'll sit first and add the second when they're ready.
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Exam details are summarized from the recruiting agency's published information as of November 2026. Confirm with the recruiting agency before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.