ACS Skills Assessment — ICT Migration
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the assessing authority for most ICT occupations under Australia's General Skilled Migration program. A positive ACS assessment is required to claim ICT-related points and to lodge an EOI for the Subclass 189, 190, or 491 in an ACS-assessed occupation.
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
WIDEN does not assist with the ACS skills assessment in any way. ACS handles the application, the evidence review, and the decision. WIDEN's role is the migration side — confirming the visa pathway that uses an ACS outcome (189, 190, 491, 482, 186), the points test, EOI strategy, and how your ACS outcome interacts with the rest of the migration application.
ACS pathways
- Post Australian Study — for graduates of an Australian ICT qualification, with relevant requirements around the qualification and any employment.
- Skills — the standard pathway for applicants with an ICT-major qualification obtained outside Australia, plus skilled ICT employment.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — for applicants without a formal ICT qualification (or with a non-ICT qualification) but with substantial ICT employment. Requires an additional RPL report demonstrating ICT knowledge equivalent to an AQF Bachelor.
- Temporary Graduate — assessment specifically for the Subclass 485 visa pathway.
What ACS looks for
ACS assesses whether the qualification is ICT-major / ICT-minor / non-ICT, whether the qualification is comparable to an AQF level, and whether your skilled employment matches the ANZSCO description of your nominated occupation. ACS deducts a 'skill requirement' period from your employment depending on the qualification pathway — only the remaining years are claimable for points.
Evidence checklist
- Identity documents (passport bio page)
- Qualifications — degree certificate(s) and full academic transcript(s)
- Detailed employment reference letters on company letterhead — job title, dates, hours, location, duties (mapped to ANZSCO)
- If a reference letter is not obtainable: third-party statutory declaration plus supporting evidence (payslips, contracts, tax records)
- For RPL pathway: an RPL report with two project descriptions and the "Key Areas of Knowledge" section
Frequently asked questions
Which ICT occupations does ACS assess?
ACS assesses most ICT occupations on the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation lists — software engineers, developers, ICT business analysts, systems analysts, network and systems administrators, cybersecurity specialists, database administrators, ICT project managers, and many others. The ANZSCO code of your nominated occupation determines which ACS pathway applies. Confirm your occupation is in ACS's published list before lodging.
What are the ACS assessment pathways?
ACS has several pathway types depending on your background: Post Australian Study (for graduates of an Australian ICT qualification), Skills (for applicants with an ICT-major qualification from outside Australia), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for those without a formal ICT qualification but with substantial ICT employment, and Temporary Graduate pathway for those applying for the Subclass 485. Each pathway has different evidence and experience requirements.
How much skilled employment do I need to claim points?
ACS deducts a 'skill requirement' period from your employment to determine the years that can be claimed for points purposes. The exact deduction depends on whether the qualification is in a closely related ICT field, an ICT-minor field, or non-ICT field, and where the qualification was obtained. ACS's current published policy is the authoritative source — check it before assuming a number of claimable years.
What does the ACS application cost?
ACS publishes its current fees on its website. Indicative ranges (subject to change): application for skills assessment is typically in the mid-hundreds AUD; RPL pathway with the additional report is materially higher. Verify the current fee with ACS before lodging.
How long does an ACS assessment take?
ACS publishes current processing times on its website. Straightforward applications often complete within several weeks; complex applications, RPL pathways, or those requiring additional information take longer. Plan for the published timeframe plus contingency.
What evidence does ACS need from employers?
Reference letters from each relevant employer covering: your job title, exact start and end dates, hours per week, location, salary (where required), and a detailed description of the actual duties you performed (mapped to ANZSCO-level duties for your nominated occupation). The letter must be on company letterhead, signed, and dated. Statutory declarations may be required where reference letters cannot be obtained — ACS's rules on this should be checked carefully before substituting.
Can ACS issue a negative assessment? What then?
Yes — common reasons include the qualification not being assessed as ICT-major, employment not being assessed at the required ANZSCO skill level, insufficient detail in reference letters, or claimed periods overlapping with full-time study. ACS allows a review of the decision within a defined timeframe. The right response depends on the reasons given in the assessment letter.
Speak with WIDEN
Related
General information only. Fees, processing times, and eligibility criteria for ACS change. Verify current details at www.acs.org.au/msa before relying on this page.
This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022). WIDEN does not issue skills assessments — ACS does. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Code, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). PI insurance held under the Migration Agents Regulations 1998. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.