What is Australian Computer Society?
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is Australia's peak professional body for ICT professionals and represents over 50,000 members. As the designated assessing authority for ICT occupations under Australia's skilled migration program, ACS conducts detailed skills assessments that evaluate whether applicants' qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for their nominated occupation.
ACS operates under the legislation governing skilled migration assessments and is recognised by the Department of Home Affairs as the authoritative assessor of ICT skills. The organisation maintains high standards for professional practice and assessment rigour, ensuring that only qualified professionals gain a positive assessment and proceed with visa applications.
The society assesses a broad range of ICT occupations spanning software development, systems administration, network engineering, database management, cybersecurity, and business analysis. Assessments are tailored to the applicant's specific claimed occupation and professional background, using a comprehensive evaluation of tertiary qualifications, professional certifications, and work experience.
Which visas require an ACS skills assessment?
An ACS skills assessment is required for most skilled migration visas in ICT occupations. The assessment is mandatory before you can lodge a visa application for Australian skilled migration in your ICT field.
The ACS assessment confirms that your qualifications and experience align with Australian requirements for your nominated ICT occupation. For points-based visas (189, 190, 491), this assessment enables you to claim points and lodge in SkillSelect. For employer-sponsored visas (482, 186, 494), it verifies your competency for the role your employer is sponsoring you for. Without a positive ACS assessment, your visa application cannot proceed.
How ACS assessment works
The ACS assessment process involves submitting detailed evidence of your qualifications, professional certifications, and work experience. ACS evaluates your documents against the standards for your claimed occupation over 4–8 weeks, and provides a formal assessment outcome.
- Determine your eligible occupation from the ACS-assessed list (typically 50+ ICT occupations available).
- Gather certified copies of all tertiary qualifications, academic transcripts, and professional certifications relevant to your claimed occupation.
- Compile documented evidence of at least 5–10 years of professional work experience in the ICT field, with employment references from each employer.
- Complete the ACS application form and submit all documents via the ACS online portal, along with the application fee.
- ACS conducts a detailed assessment of your qualifications, experience, and professional suitability for the claimed occupation.
- Receive your formal assessment outcome letter, which confirms either a positive (suitable), negative, or conditional assessment result.
- If positive, use the assessment outcome in your visa application (SkillSelect or direct employer sponsorship, depending on visa type).
Assessment pathways
ACS offers multiple assessment pathways depending on your educational background and work experience. The pathway you follow determines which documents you must submit and how ACS evaluates your eligibility.
For applicants with a relevant tertiary degree in ICT or a closely related field (e.g., computer science, IT, software engineering). You must hold at least a bachelor's degree, provide official transcripts and certified degree certificates, and demonstrate relevant work experience (typically 5+ years). ACS evaluates whether your formal qualifications meet the professional standards for your nominated occupation.
For applicants with extensive ICT work experience (typically 10+ years) but no directly relevant tertiary degree. You must provide comprehensive documentation of your professional background, employment references, and a statutory declaration outlining your experience and competency. ACS assesses whether your demonstrated experience and industry knowledge meet the standard for your claimed occupation.
For applicants with some tertiary study in ICT or IT-adjacent fields combined with significant work experience (typically 7+ years). You submit both educational qualifications and professional experience evidence. ACS evaluates the combination of your formal training and demonstrated competency in your field.
Documents required
Documents required vary by pathway but typically include:
- Certified copy of bachelor's degree certificate in computer science, IT, software engineering, or related ICT field.
- Official academic transcripts from your tertiary institution, translated to English if issued in another language.
- Employment reference letters from all employers over your claimed experience period, on official company letterhead with contact details.
- Statutory declaration outlining your professional experience, roles, responsibilities, and technical competencies in ICT.
- Certified proof of work history for each employment period (employment contracts, payslips, tax documentation, or company letters).
- Professional certification documents (e.g., Microsoft Certified, AWS Certified, CompTIA, Cisco certifications), if relevant to your occupation.
- Portfolio or evidence of significant professional projects, publications, or technical contributions (for senior roles).
- Current resume outlining your professional background, qualifications, and key achievements in ICT.
- Proof of Australian residency or sponsorship (where applicable, for state-sponsored visa pathways).
- English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE), if applicable, depending on visa pathway.
All documents must be certified copies and, if originally issued in a language other than English, must be accompanied by official English translations prepared by a certified translator. ACS requires documents to be current and verified through official channels where possible (e.g., direct from your educational institution or employer).
ACS assessment fees
| Application type | Fee (AUD, approx.) |
|---|---|
| Standard Skills Assessment | AUD 540 |
| Assessment with RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) Claim | AUD 540 |
| Reassessment or Review Application | AUD 380 |
| Priority Processing (if available) | Contact ACS |
| Additional Documentation Review | AUD 200 (approximate) |
Assessment outcomes
ACS issues one of three outcomes:
A positive ACS assessment confirms that your qualifications and experience meet the professional standards for your nominated ICT occupation in Australia. This outcome is valid indefinitely for visa application purposes and allows you to claim points for skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491) or proceed with employer-sponsored applications (482, 186, 494). Your assessment letter will be a critical document in your visa application.
A negative ACS assessment means your qualifications or experience are not currently assessed as meeting the Australian standard for your claimed occupation. You have the right to request a reassessment or review within 28 days if you can provide additional evidence or clarification. Alternatively, you may consider applying for a different occupation that better aligns with your background, subject to visa eligibility criteria.
If you disagree with a negative assessment outcome, ACS allows you to request a formal review within 28 days of receiving the outcome letter. You may submit additional documents or clarification to support your case. A different ACS assessor will independently review your application and evidence.
Occupations assessed by ACS
ACS is the nominated assessing authority for the following ANZSCO occupations. Click any occupation to see full visa pathway details.
| ANZSCO | Occupation | List |
|---|---|---|
| 261111 | ICT Business Analyst | MLTSSL |
| 261112 | Systems Analyst | MLTSSL |
| 261113 | Analyst Programmer | MLTSSL |
| 261299 | ICT Professionals nec | STSOL |
| 262111 | Database Administrator | MLTSSL |
| 262112 | ICT Security Specialist | MLTSSL |
| 262113 | System Administrator | MLTSSL |
| 263111 | Computer Network and Systems Engineer | MLTSSL |
| 263112 | Network Engineer | MLTSSL |
| 263113 | Network Professional nec | STSOL |
| 261311 | Web Developer | STSOL |
| 261312 | Multimedia Developer | STSOL |
| 261313 | Software Engineer | MLTSSL |
| 261314 | Software Tester | STSOL |
| 261399 | Software and Applications Programmers nec | STSOL |
| 262114 | Information Security Analyst | MLTSSL |
| 262115 | IT Operations Manager | STSOL |
| 271311 | Network Engineer | MLTSSL |
| 131112 | IT Manager | STSOL |
| 261321 | Applications Programmer | MLTSSL |