Updated ACS Skill Assessment Fees & Validity
For ICT professionals looking to migrate to Australia, the ACS Skills Assessment is a crucial component of the process. The assessment is managed by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), who compare your qualifications and professional experience with national Australian standards to ensure you are competent for skilled migration in ICT occupations. Whether you are an international graduate, a recent graduate from an Australian university, or a professional ICT employee with no formal ICT education, there is an assessment pathway available from ACS for your profile.
For ICT professionals, understanding the ACS Skill Assessment Fees and payment processes, the validity period, and the more recent updates can enhance preparation and potentially improve chances of success. Migration policy changes occur regularly, and it is important to keep up to date with the latest fees, eligibility, processing options, and application procedures.
This guide serves as a resource to support your application, whether you are preparing to apply in the upcoming weeks or are acquiring information about the process.
What is ACS Skills Assessment?
The ACS Skills Assessment is an assessment process by the Australian Computer Society to determine if your education and work experience are at the Australian standards for ICT occupations in the ANZSCO code.
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Here’s what you need to know:
- The ACS is the assessed authority for ICT occupations for skilled migration to Australia.
- This is the assessment you will need to submit if you are applying through a skilled migration visa subclass such as 189, 190, 491, etc.
- The assessment outcome will determine how many points you will be able to claim for your education and experience for the General Skilled Migration (GSM) points system.
Key benefits of the ACS Skill Assessment:
- Recognizes both formal and informal ICT qualifications.
- Supports Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for non-ICT graduates.
- Provides a pathway for recent Australian graduates.
- Enables faster migration processing through priority services.
ACS Migration Skill Assessment Pathways for ICT Professionals
ACS has four International Migration Skills Assessment pathways depending on your qualifications and experience:
- Post-Australian Study Pathway
For graduates of an ICT course in Australia. It includes applicants who may need to provide additional documents, such as a Professional Year Program certificate. - General Skills Pathway
For applicants with ICT qualifications obtained through an overseas or Australian institution, and suitable and relevant work experience. - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
For applicants who do not hold formal ICT qualifications but have suitable and relevant ICT work experience. Applicants must complete an RPL report and provide proof of work history. - Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) Pathway
Pathway for applicants applying under the temporary graduate visa in the Australian study stream.
Each of these pathways has unique documentation requirements and assessment procedures.
[Learn More: ACS Skills Assessment Complete Document Requirements]
ACS Skill Assessment Fees
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has different fees depending on the type of assessment pathway you are applying through. These fees provide for evaluating your qualifications, work experience, and ICT knowledge. Whether you are using it as a recent graduate, as an experienced professional, or as someone without formal ICT qualifications, knowing the exact fee structure helps avoid delays and confusion.
The following outlines the different ACS Skill Assessment Fees based on the pathway selected:
Assessment Pathway | Assessed On | Application Fee (AUD) |
Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) | Australian diploma or associate degree holders. Vendor certificates can also be assessed depending on the ANZSCO code. | $605 |
Post-Australian Study | Australian bachelor’s degree or higher, with at least 1 year of work experience or completion of an ACS Professional Year Program. Vendor certificates are optional. | $1,100 |
General Skills Assessment | For applicants with overseas or Australian ICT qualifications and at least 2 years of work experience. An optional vendor certification review based on ANZSCO. | $1,450 |
For those without formal ICT qualifications but with a minimum of 6 years’ work experience. Requires RPL form and project reports. | $605 | |
Level 1 Appeal | If you wish to challenge the outcome of your assessment. Fees may be refunded if the appeal is successful. | $500 |
Level 2 Appeal | A second review of Level 1 is unsuccessful. Refundable upon positive outcome. | $600 |
How to Pay Fees for ACS Skill Assessment?
The ACS payment is the first step in your application process. Once you have selected your application pathway on the ACS Migration Skills Assessment portal, you will be required to pay the necessary fees, which essentially unlock the application portal for you, allowing you to upload supporting documents and submit your application. You can pay your fees through any of the following methods:
- Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- PayPal
Make sure you pay your fees before you begin to upload supporting documents.
Australian Computer Society MSA Refund Policy
The ACS provides a limited refund policy in certain situations:
- If the applicant withdraws the application before an assessment commences
- If a technical issue occurs, or if duplicate transactions occur.
Once the assessment process has commenced, fees will generally not be refunded. Refunds are assessed on a case-by-case basis and will solely remain at the discretion of ACS. It is important to check your application before you make your payment.
Explore the Updates from the Australian Computer Society
ACS has recently introduced significant improvements to its Migration Skills Assessment platform. These updates aim to streamline the user experience and offer more efficient processing:
- Accelerated Results: With the enhanced platform, applicants can expect decisions as early as 15 working days under certain conditions.
- Multi-Code Applications: You can now apply for up to three different ANZSCO codes in a single submission at one standard fee.
- User-Friendly Portal: The dashboard interface is more intuitive, offering real-time updates and step-by-step guidance.
- Better Documentation Support: Built-in tips and guidance during upload help reduce rejection risks due to documentation errors.
These upgrades are designed to make the application experience faster, smoother, and more transparent.
ACS Skill Assessment Validity for Migration
When applying for skilled migration to Australia, your ACS Skills Assessment is crucial to assessing your educational qualifications and why you claim to have work experience in the ICT sector. After you obtain a positive ACS Skills Assessment, it is valid for up to 24 months (2 years) from the date of your assessment. That is a fact recognised by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and your assessment must fit into the timelines of your Expression of Interest (EOI) and visa application.
A valid ACS skills assessment is a required document when lodging for a visa, as part of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program (Subclass 189, 190, or 491 visas). Therefore, it is hugely important to be aware of the validity period of your assessment and how you manage it to ensure the process runs smoothly, to avoid delays or rejections.
Key Points to Remember:
- 24-Month Validity: Your assessment is valid for a maximum of 2 years from the date of issue. This date is recorded in your assessment letter and must be within the time required for your visa application.
- Assessment Must Be Current: At the time of submitting your EOI on SkillSelect or lodging your visa, your ACS assessment will need to be within the 24-month duration. Expired assessments, unfortunately, will be rejected, and this will lead to your visa application being refused.
- Re-application Required Upon Expiry: If your assessment has expired when you try to lodge your visa, you will reapply for a fresh ACS Skills Assessment, using the same application process and paying the full application fee again. You will need to resubmit your documents and documentation for any new employment or additional qualifications gained.
- Early Visa Planning Is Recommended: To avoid missing out on your ACS assessment being valid, you are advised to start your visa process soon after you receive a positive result; this gives you a good quantity of time to gather your other documents, lodge your EOI and keep up with any invitations received, without worrying about the duration of your assessment.
- Keep a Record of Issue Date: Write the date issued in your calendar or file tracking system, and set the reminder for 12 months before it expires, for any necessary renewals or document updates.
- Validity Doesn’t Equal Visa Guarantee: A valid ACS Skills Assessment is only part of the selection criteria process! You will still need to satisfy the points test, the health and character checks, and the state/territory or nomination requirements if required.
By managing the validity dates on ACS Skills Assessments, you can be strategic about your migration journey in Australia and save yourself the costs and hassles associated with reapplying. If you need assistance with a reassessment, an updated documentation request, or indeed an ACS appeal, the team at CDRforAustralia.com will be with you all the way!
ACS Skill Assessment Priority Processing
If you are in urgent need of your skills assessment being processed, then you can use the ACS Priority Processing service.
Here are some things you should know:
- Processing Time: Priority applications are generally processed within 15 Business Days.
- Eligibility: Evidence for urgency must be provided (must meet the conditions supporting urgent circumstances, such as visa deadlines or job offers)
- How to Request: You must submit the priority request form along with evidence to support the urgency of the application for your skills assessment.
- Additional Fees: Priority processing is an extra fee, and that fee is non-refundable to the applicant if the application is unsuccessful.
The priority service can be very advantageous to candidates under strict conditions or who are in a competitive situation.
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Why Should You Choose CDRforAustralia for Your ACS Migration Success
Applying for an ACS Skill Assessment can be a daunting task, particularly if you are unsure about the process, there are changes to the process and fees, or you are a recent graduate or an established ICT practitioner, and you are overwhelmed by the process. We understand that every case is unique, and our expertise can help you through almost anything ACS-related, as well as other IT migration processes.
At CDRforAustralia, we offer:
- Personalized guidance based on your chosen pathway
- RPL writing and documentation assistance
- Professional reviews of your resume and evidence of work experience, and qualifications
- Assistance with document formatting, translations, or just making sure everything is ready for submission.
Let our team ensure that your ACS application is compliant, complete, and compelling, so that you are one step closer to living your Australian dream. Contact us today and start your journey with confidence.