Complete Guide on the ACS Skill Assessment.

Many top-level professionals are attracted to Australia, thanks in large part to the country’s thriving ICT industries. As an ICT professional, your role is crucial, and one of the main requirements for you to contribute to this industry in Australia is the ACS Skill Assessment.

The process, overseen by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), is designed to guide and support you, ensuring that your skills and experience meet the Australian rules for ICT occupations. This helpful guide will teach you about every aspect of the ACS Skill Assessment.

 

 

What is the ACS Skill Assessment?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) carries out the ACS Skill Assessment to assess if an information and communication technology professional has the required experience and background for the jobs listed on the Skill Occupation List (SOL).

For anyone hoping to secure one of these skilled migration visas as an ICT professional, the urgency and importance of passing this assessment cannot be overstated.

• Skilled professionals can work and settle in Australia with the Skilled and Independent Visa.
• The Skilled Nominated Visa is known as Subclass 190.
• The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

A positive assessment ensures that the skills you have are similar to those needed for your chosen profession, so you may now apply for the visa.

Why is the ACS Skill Assessment Important for ICT Professionals?

The ACS Skill Assessment is essential for ICT professionals because it becomes the cornerstone of migrating to Australia. It is a comprehensive evaluation that confirms your qualifications and work experience in the ICT field, ensuring that you are well-prepared to contribute to Australia’s ICT industry. Here are the reasons this part of the process is so crucial.

You are qualified and have experience to practice in the ICT area in Australia.

1. Confirms Your ICT Qualifications and Work Experience Meet Australian Standards

The ICT industry in Australia demands high skill standards, and the ACS reviews whether individuals meet these standards.

The qualification awarded will ensure that you have gained the necessary ICT skills, whether a Bachelor’s or a Master’s.

The information and knowledge in your qualification will be relevant to the occupation you select.

Your past work duties and tasks are comparable to the job you have chosen using ANZSCO.

Thanks to this assessment, your skills learned abroad are considered and recognised locally. If you cannot prove your skills, the Australian government cannot vouch for your ability to do ICT jobs in the country.

2. Determines Your “Deemed Date”—Which” Impacts Work Experience Recognition

Deemed date is an important term you should know in ACS results.

At this point, your work experience is considered for skill-based migration to Australia. It is calculated using the date when you first reached the minimum skill and qualification needed for your sponsored job.

Time spent in Australia until the deemed date does not increase your eligibility for any migration points.

The experience you acquire after setting your application date is included in your work experience points.

3. Is a Prerequisite for Lodging an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect

Before you can claim a skilled visa, you have to submit an EOI using the SkillSelect system. Here, people apply based on their job qualifications, English proficiency, and experience.

To be allowed to submit an EOI, you need to have received a valid assessment of your skills in your chosen occupation.

Before lodging an EOI, you must have a positive ACS assessment, which means going through the skills assessment step first.

In addition, because points score your EOs, the ACS helps you add up your correct points to prove your work experience.

4. You must have this to be nominated by a state or region.

Typically, when you apply for state nomination, you need a valid positive skills assessment from the ACS to be considered for a state-sponsored visa (Subclass 190) or a regional visa (Subclass 491). The government of each state or territory determines which occupations are needed and lists them. A state or region can only nominate you if you can demonstrate your merits, which the ACS assessment helps to do.

Often, the government of each state or territory determines which occupations are needed and lists them. A state or region can only nominate you if you can demonstrate your merits.

You qualify to do the job based on your abilities and qualifications.

The state has matched your ACS assessment to the occupation you are interested in.

In addition, you fulfil the extra requirements (for example, being a citizen of the state, achieving minimum English scores, or belonging to a particular group).

5. You must use a passport when applying for a visa.

After you are invited to submit a visa application, you need to enclose your ACS assessment certificate and other necessary documents.

The Department of Home Affairs uses the result of the Australian Citizenship Test.

Ensure all the information about your education and jobs is correct.

Ensure that you have thoroughly scrutinised your main points.

Ensure that your credentials and skills are essential and consistent with the job.

A visa can be denied if your ACS assessment is not recent, does not pass muster, or is not fit for use.

What are the Types of ACS Skill Assessment?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has set up four different ways to assess qualifications. The other pathways are designed for people with varying qualifications and job experience.

There is a fully detailed explanation here for every ACS Skill Assessment type:

1. Temporary Graduate—Subclass 485

Target Audience:

Recent graduates of Australian universities who wish to use the Graduate Work Stream to get a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

Requirements:

I need to have earned a university qualification (bachelor’s or higher) and be majoring in ICT in Australia.

The course should be relevant to the job you are applying for in ICT.

Expertise in the field is enough for this classification.

Purpose:

This evaluation is made only for a 485 visa and is not relevant for permanent skilled visas (for example, visa Subclasses 189, 190, and 491).

2. Post-Australian study

Target Audience:

People graduating from Australian academic institutions may seek a permanent resident visa rather than just a 485 visa.

Requirements:

You should hold an Australian qualification in ICT that is similar to the occupation named in your nomination.

Two ways to comply with this rule are to

I have finished at least 1 year of relevant work after completing my studies, OR

Have taken part in an ACS Professional Year Program (PYP) in ICT during the last 4 years.

Purpose:

This category is chosen if you want to apply for permanent residency after obtaining experience or a PYP.

3. Evaluating Skills (General)

Target Audience:

All those with qualifications in ICT from Australia or abroad who want to apply for a skilled migration visa (189,390, or 491).

Requirements:

I need more work experience if my studies are not closely related to what I am doing.

Qualification: Minimum Years of Experience

The ICT Major is Related to Bachelor Studies for 2 Years

ICT + Any Other Degree = 4 years

The ICT Minor can be combined with closely related studies; it requires 5 years.

Fail (use RPL for the credit you can get)

Definitions:

ICT Section: One-third or more (33%) of your courses are on ICT topics.

Similar Connection: The skills and topics covered in the course are related to the chosen occupation.

Purpose:

This is the main route for people with a background in IT and related experience. For Skilled Migration, the assessment is part of the process.

4. Recognition of prior education (RPL)

Target Audience:

Those interested in the ICT field who have worked as technicians and lack official ICT certificates have gained a lot of practical experience.

Requirements:

If you do not have an ICT qualification, you must have worked for 6 years in the ICT field.

If you haven’t completed any tertiary studies, you must have worked for 8 years in the ICT sector.

The Recognition of Prior Learning Report must contain the following:

Two accounts of your practical knowledge and how you resolve issues in ICT.

An overview of the knowledge and abilities gained through working experience.

Purpose:

It creates a path to employment for professionals who didn’t learn in college, those changing their careers, or those with outdated skills.

What are the Required Documents for ACS Skill Assessment?

Collecting the correct documents is necessary for a successful assessment. Below is an explanation of each important document’s purpose and why it is needed.

1. Passport bio page

It is considered your official ID when using the system. Your passport’s bio page displays your full name, birthdate, nationality, and passport number. The ACS uses it to ensure your identity is correct. See that the scan is recognisable, unharmed, and still gives both the photograph and signature (as long as a signature exists). When your passport has expired, you have to provide a valid ID issued by the government.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You should include a summary of your qualifications, job history, and skills in your CV or résumé. You should use this to explain your experience related to the nominated occupation. The CV should provide information about job titles, work periods, job duties, and applied technologies.

While you don’t earn points for it, your CV tells the assessor what you have achieved and evaluates your work experience.

3. Educational certificates and transcripts

Be prepared to hand in proof of completion (in the form of diplomas or degrees), along with their transcripts, for the qualifications required. The transcript should give information about what was learned, the results, and when the learning finished.

The documents tell the ACS if your course included a major or minor in ICT and if your occupation relates closely to the qualification. For a qualification to be considered valid, you must provide a certificate and a transcript.

4. Employment Reference Letter

It is important to include a formal letter of reference from your employer with your job experience. Be sure these letters are signed by a manager or someone from HR, use company letterhead, and note your work title, job start date, end date, job description, and any technologies involved. Your references have to show that your job responsibilities are consistent with the ANZSCO code assigned to your nominated occupation. If the letter is not detailed or precise, it might end sadly for the writer.

5. RPL Report Form 

Those following the RPL pathway are required to complete and submit an RPL application form. These reports will describe how you used what you learned about ICT in real-life applications. In assessing these reports, they are examined using SFIA and must commonly include, for each role, your tasks, responsibilities, and your technical participation. You must admit your work is your own, or it might lead to you being banned from any further assessments.

6. Payslips, tax documents, or bank statements

You should present two kinds of proof for each job you applied for. Use payslips, tax assessment notices, or bank statements that regularly show your salary to provide support for the application. They confirm that someone worked there, for real, and received pay. Should you not have proof to present to them, the ACS could either decline your employment evidence or categorise it as unsuitable.

7. Translation Requirements

You are required to present certified English translations of your originals if the originals are not English. Canadian government documents should be translated and submitted by accredited translators, and the original and translated versions must be sent together. Not translating certain documents into English properly might lead to delays or the documents being rejected.

Conclusion

Taking the ACS Skill Assessment is the first thing you should do to become an ICT professional in Australia. Even though the process may look tough, preparation, documents, and advice from a lawyer will help you overcome it.

A good outcome during the ACS inspection gives software engineers, systems analysts, and network specialists access to many potential jobs in the thriving Australian IT industry.

Make sure your application is properly prepared and accurate so that you have a solid base for migrating.

FAQs

 

1. What is the validity period of the ACS skill assessment?

The validity of the ACS skill assessment is normally 24 months from the date of issuance.

 

2. How much is it to take the ACS skill test?

The cost of the ACS skill assessment is determined by the assessment pathways, including

• Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485): AUD 605
• Post Australian Study: AUD 1,100
• General Skills Assessment: AUD 1,450
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): AUD 605

 

3. Can I reapply for ACS?

Yes, you can reapply for an ACS skill assessment if your assessment expires.

 

4. Do I need IELTS for ACS skill assessment?

No, IELTS is not required for the ACS skill assessment.