ACS Skill Assessment 2023: Everything you need to know

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the leading association for information and communications technology (ICT) professionals in Australia.  

For those considering migrating to Australia to work in the ICT industry, the ACS skill assessment is a crucial part of the success. Therefore, it becomes important to understand the requirements and guidelines to outshine the assessment process.  

Nevertheless, there's no need to be complicated about this! In this blog, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty aspects of the ACS Australia Skill Assessment process.  

The ACS is responsible for conducting the migration skill assessments for the ICT professionals seeking migration to Australia under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program.  

The ACS skilled assessment is designed to evaluate your qualifications, work experience, and skills according to the ACS ANZSCO code and the ACS Core Body of Knowledge (CBOK).  

Eligibility for ACS Skill Assessment 

To be eligible for the ACS skill assessment, you must have:  

• A qualification in ICT or a closely related field.  
• A minimum of one year of post-qualification, relevant work experience.  
• Provide evidence of their skills, qualifications, and work experience.  

Selecting the Appropriate Assessment Pathway 

There are four assessment pathways available for the ACS skill assessment, depending on your qualifications and work experience:  

1. Temporary Graduate (TG) Pathway 

The TG pathway is for applicants who have recently completed an Australian ICT qualification and have a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) in the Graduate Workstream.  

2. Post-Australian Study (PAS) Pathway 

The PAS pathway is for applicants who have completed an Australian ICT qualification and have relevant work experience in Australia.  

3. General Skills Assessment Pathway 

The General Skills Assessment Pathway is for applicants with ICT qualifications from countries other than Australia and who have relevant work experience.  

4. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Pathway 

The RPL pathway is for applicants without formal ICT qualifications but with substantial work experience in the ICT field.  

Suitability Criteria for ACS Assessment 

Applicants must meet the ANZSCO requirements for their nominated occupation in the ACS degree assessment, which typically include:  

• A relevant degree or diploma.  
• A minimum number of years of relevant work experience.  
• Vendor certification, if applicable.  
• ACS Core Body of Knowledge (CBOK) topics.  

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the qualifications and requirements of the ACS Australia skill assessment. These include:  

Vendor Certifications 

Applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained the necessary vendor certifications. These certifications must be relevant to the applicant’s field of ICT, for example, ACS ICT business analyst.  

Accredited Australian ICT Qualifications 

Applicants must demonstrate that they have completed an accredited Australia ICT qualification. This qualification must be relevant to the applicant’s field of ICT.

Tertiary Qualifications ICT Content Assessment 

If your qualification is not from Australia, ACS will assess the ICT content of your tertiary qualification and determine its relevance to your nominated occupation. 

The following documents are required as part of the ACS documents checklist:  

1. Identification Documents 

Applicants must provide a certified copy of their passport or birth certificate. 

2. Educational Documents 

These include certified copies of degree certificates, transcripts, and vendor certifications. 

3. ACS Employment Reference Letter 

An employment reference letter must contain details of the applicant's role, responsibilities, and duration of employment. It should be on company letterhead, signed, and dated. 

4. Payment Evidence for ACS 

Applicants must provide evidence of payment for their ACS Skill Assessment, such as a receipt or bank statement. 

5. Statutory Declaration and Affidavit 

For any claims that cannot be substantiated by official documents, applicants must provide a statutory declaration or affidavit. 

Here are some important tips and guidelines to outshine in the ACS skill assessment process:  

• Develop a strong resume highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Use engaging and confident language. 
• Prepare some stellar examples of your work and key achievements that demonstrate your skills in action.  
• Research the key skills and responsibilities required for the role so you can speak directly to them. 
• Practice your interviewing techniques, including discussing your skills, providing concrete examples, and asking good questions. 
• Be ready to complete written tasks or skill assessments to prove your competency. These could include short essay questions, work samples, presentations, etc. 
• Demonstrate a growth mindset by showing how you keep your skills up to date through continuous learning. Use phrases like "I actively work to expand my knowledge..." 
• Show your enthusiasm for the work and company. Let your passion shine through. Say something like "I am deeply passionate about..." or "I am committed to excellence in..." 
• Ask thoughtful questions that show your interest and enthusiasm. For example, "What skills would be most important for someone in this role to develop further?" 
• Be authentic and let your personality shine through. Highlight what motivates and excites you about the potential role. 
• Follow up after the assessment to reiterate your interest and skills. Thank the interviewers for their time. 

ACS Skill Assessment is an essential step for anyone looking to migrate to Australia and work in the ICT industry. While the process may seem complex, understanding the eligibility criteria, requirements, and assessment pathways can make the process much more manageable. 

To increase their chances of success, applicants should ensure they follow all guidelines and provide all required documentation. However, if you still feel overwhelmed, please contact our experts at CDR for Engineer to get more insight and ACS references.  

Also, read 📖:  A Complete Guide on the CDR pathway to migrate to Australia ✈️ 

Read Next

Skill Assessment

How to write a Professional Career Episodes for Transport Engineer

Are you a transport engineer relocating to Australia? Are you struggling in preparing your perfect career Episodes? If your answer is yes, this article is just written for you....

Thursday, November 17th, 2022 Continue reading >>