ACS Skills Assessment (ICT): Complete Guide for Australia
Updated: 25 June 2026
The ACS skills assessment (ICT) is the mandatory evaluation confirming your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your nominated ICT occupation. The Australian Computer Society is the designated assessing authority for ICT roles. This guide explains which occupations ACS covers, the pathways, document requirements, how the skills date deduction works, and how a positive outcome feeds your points.
Independent guide — not a government service. Australian Visa Online is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Australian Computer Society or the Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm current requirements with the official ACS and immi.homeaffairs.gov.au sources before applying.
Quick Facts: ACS Skills Assessment (ICT)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Assessing authority | ACS — Australian Computer Society |
| Occupations covered | ICT/computing occupations under their ANZSCO codes |
| Used for | Subclass 189, 190, 491, 482/TSS, 186, and other skilled visas |
| Main pathways | Post Australian Study, Temporary Graduate, Skills (qualification-based), and RPL |
| Outcome | Suitable / not suitable, plus a "skills met" date for points |
| Validity | Typically 2 years from the date on the result letter |
| Fees | See the official ACS site and our visa fees schedule |
What Is the ACS Skills Assessment?
The ACS skills assessment is an independent review of your computing/ICT qualification and your employment history, judged against Australian standards for your nominated ICT occupation. ACS is the body the Department of Home Affairs recognises for the ICT occupation group, so for most software, systems, networking, and ICT management roles, your assessment must come from ACS rather than from VETASSESS, Engineers Australia, or any other authority.
A positive ("suitable") outcome lets you claim that occupation in your SkillSelect Expression of Interest (EOI) and count your qualifying employment toward your points score. A negative outcome means you either address the gaps ACS identifies, choose a different pathway, or nominate a different occupation.
If you are not yet certain which occupation — and therefore which authority — applies to you, start with our guide to finding your ANZSCO code and the broader skills assessment complete guide.
Which ICT Occupations Does ACS Assess?
ACS assesses the computing and ICT occupations defined by their ANZSCO codes — the same codes used on the skilled occupation lists. These broadly fall into these groups:
| Group | Example occupations | Typical ANZSCO codes |
|---|---|---|
| Software & applications | Software Engineer, Developer Programmer, Software & Applications Programmer | 261313, 261312, 261399 |
| Business & systems analysis | ICT Business Analyst, Systems Analyst | 261111, 261112 |
| Networks & infrastructure | Network Engineer, Systems Administrator, ICT Support Engineer | 263111, 262113, 263212 |
| Databases & security | Database Administrator, ICT Security Specialist | 262111, 262112 |
| ICT management | ICT Project Manager, ICT Manager | 135112, 135199 |
| Web & multimedia | Web Developer, Multimedia Specialist | 261212, 261211 |
This is illustrative, not exhaustive — ACS assesses many more ICT roles. Whether a specific occupation is available to you also depends on which list it sits on. Cross-check your code against the Skilled Occupation List and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), because list placement determines which visa subclasses you can use, not just whether ACS will assess you.
ACS Assessment Pathways
ACS routes applicants through different pathways depending on where you studied and how your qualification relates to ICT. Choosing the wrong pathway is a common, avoidable delay.
| Pathway | Who it suits | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Post Australian Study | Recent graduates of an Australian ICT degree/diploma plus relevant study | Suitability based mainly on Australian study, with reduced experience requirements |
| Temporary Graduate | Australian graduates applying for the subclass 485 visa | A streamlined check tied to a Temporary Graduate visa |
| Skills (qualification) | Applicants with an ICT-aligned tertiary qualification (Australian or overseas) plus work experience | Whether your qualification meets the ICT content standard, then how much of your experience counts |
| RPL — Recognition of Prior Learning | Experienced applicants without a closely related ICT qualification | Whether your work experience and self-described knowledge substitute for a formal ICT major |
The RPL pathway matters because it lets people without a formal ICT degree still qualify, typically by demonstrating a longer track record of ICT employment and documenting their applied knowledge in an ACS-prescribed format. It is more involved than the qualification pathway and is scrutinised closely.
The ICT Content Test and the Skills Date
Two ACS concepts decide whether you pass and how many years of experience you can claim.
1. The ICT content of your qualification. ACS looks at whether your degree or diploma has enough ICT subject matter to count as an ICT "major" or "minor," and whether that content is closely related to your nominated occupation. A computer science degree closely related to a Software Engineer nomination is treated very differently from, say, a business degree with only a few ICT units.
2. The skills date (the deduction). ACS does not always count all of your employment as "skilled." It applies a deduction — a number of years of experience that must pass before your skills are considered to have met the standard. Only employment after your skills met date counts as skilled employment for points. The size of the deduction depends on how closely your qualification matches your occupation:
| Qualification relationship | Effect on experience counted |
|---|---|
| ICT major closely related to the nominated occupation | Smallest deduction |
| ICT major not closely related | Larger deduction |
| ICT minor | Larger still |
| Non-ICT qualification / RPL | Largest deduction before skilled employment counts |
This is the single biggest surprise for ICT applicants. You may have, for example, eight years of experience but find that only part of it sits after your skills met date and therefore counts toward points. Because skilled-employment years drive a large share of a points score, the deduction can change which visa subclass is realistic for you.
For the current fee and how long the assessment takes, rely on the official ACS site and our visa fees schedule and visa processing times guide — these figures change and should never be quoted from memory.
Documents You Need
ACS is strict about documentation, and weak employment references are the leading cause of delays. Prepare these before you start the application.
Qualifications
- Degree or diploma certificate (certified copy)
- Full academic transcript listing every subject and grade
- Course completion documentation if the certificate is pending
Employment evidence (for each role you want counted)
- A reference letter on company letterhead, signed by a supervisor or HR
- The letter must state your job title, your specific duties and responsibilities, the start and end dates (month and year), the hours per week, and whether the role was full-time or part-time
- Supporting proof such as payslips, tax documents, an employment contract, or a service certificate
- If a past employer no longer exists, a statutory declaration explaining the situation, backed by whatever payslips and tax records you can produce
Identity
- Certified passport copy
- Evidence of any name change (marriage certificate, deed poll) if your documents are not consistent
For RPL applicants
- The ACS-prescribed RPL knowledge document describing how your work experience demonstrates the required ICT body of knowledge
A reference that merely confirms "employed as a developer from 2019 to 2024" is not enough. The duties must clearly map to your nominated ICT occupation, or ACS may discount the role.
The Assessment Process, Step by Step
- Confirm your occupation and code. Identify the correct ANZSCO occupation and verify ACS is the assessing authority for it. See our ANZSCO code guide.
- Choose the right pathway. Decide between Post Australian Study, Temporary Graduate, the qualification-based Skills pathway, or RPL.
- Create an ACS account and start the application on the official ACS portal.
- Upload your documents. Qualifications, transcripts, employment references, and identity evidence, all certified where required.
- Pay the fee (see the official ACS site for the current amount).
- Assessment and possible follow-up. ACS reviews your file and may request additional information; respond promptly to avoid restarting the clock.
- Receive the outcome letter stating whether you are suitable, your assessed occupation, and your skills met date.
How a Positive ACS Outcome Feeds SkillSelect
A "suitable" ACS result is the key that unlocks the points-tested skilled visas:
- Nomination: You can name that ICT occupation in your SkillSelect EOI for subclasses such as 189, 190, and 491.
- Skilled employment points: Only employment after your skills met date counts. ACS effectively tells the points system how much of your experience is "skilled."
- Qualification points: Your assessed qualification supports the education points you claim.
- List eligibility: Whether a state can nominate you, or whether an employer-sponsored route is open, depends on your occupation's placement on the SOL or CSOL.
In short, the ACS letter does two jobs at once: it proves you are qualified for the occupation, and it sets the clock that determines how many years of experience you can actually claim.
Outcome Validity and Common Pitfalls
ACS results carry a validity period (commonly two years from the result date). Your assessment must still be valid when you are invited to apply, so if you expect a long EOI wait, watch the expiry and reassess if needed before it lapses.
The most common reasons ICT applicants run into trouble:
- Vague employment references that don't describe duties matching the occupation.
- Choosing the wrong pathway — for example, attempting a qualification pathway when an RPL is the realistic route.
- Underestimating the deduction, then building a points strategy on experience that ACS won't count.
- Qualification mismatch — assuming any IT-adjacent degree assesses for any ICT occupation.
- Expired assessments discovered only after an invitation arrives.
For the wider picture across every authority — not just ICT — see the skills assessment complete guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which occupations does ACS assess?
ACS assesses computing and ICT occupations under their ANZSCO codes — software engineers, developer programmers, ICT business and systems analysts, network and systems administrators, database administrators, ICT security specialists, ICT project and ICT managers, web developers, and many related roles. If your occupation is ICT-classified, ACS is almost always your assessing authority rather than VETASSESS or another body.
Do I need an ICT degree to pass the ACS skills assessment?
Not necessarily. The qualification pathway suits people with an ICT-aligned tertiary qualification, but experienced applicants without a closely related ICT degree can use the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway. RPL relies on a longer record of ICT employment plus a structured document mapping your work to the required ICT knowledge, so it is more demanding to prepare.
What is the ACS "skills date" or deduction?
ACS applies a deduction — a number of years of experience that must pass before your skills are treated as meeting the Australian standard. Only employment after that skills met date counts as skilled employment for points. The deduction is smaller when your qualification is an ICT major closely related to your occupation and larger for less-related qualifications or RPL applicants.
How long is an ACS skills assessment valid?
An ACS result typically remains valid for two years from the date on the result letter. Your assessment needs to be valid when you are invited to apply for your visa, so if you anticipate a long wait in the SkillSelect queue, track the expiry date and obtain a fresh assessment before it lapses if necessary.
How much does the ACS skills assessment cost and how long does it take?
Fees and processing times change, so confirm both on the official ACS website. For budgeting your overall application and understanding wait times across the process, see our visa fees schedule and visa processing times guide rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
Is the ACS assessment the same as my visa points score?
No. The ACS assessment is one input. It confirms your occupation is suitable and sets your skills met date, which determines how much of your experience counts. Your final points come from combining that skilled employment with age, English, qualifications, and other factors in SkillSelect. A positive ACS result is necessary but is not, by itself, your points total.
