If you plan to work as an IT Professionals Australia, you’ll need an ACS (Australian Computer Society) Skill Assessment. This assessment is vital for immigration and checks if your IT skills meet Australian standards. In this blog, we’ll talk about how much it costs to get an ACS Skills Assessment processing, how long it’s valid, and the types of Skills Assessment. The ACS charges fees for this service, and the cost depends on your situation.

Types of ACS Skills Assessment

When considering moving to Australia, knowing how the Australian Computer Society (ACS) can assess your skills is essential. ACS makes sure your qualifications and work experience match Australian standards.

1. Skills Assessment

The regular Skills Assessment is the usual choice for those aiming for IT jobs in Australia. It evaluates if your qualifications and work experience meet Australian standards for your chosen job.

2. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) Assessment

If you don’t have formal qualifications, but you’ve worked a lot in IT, you can go for an RPL assessment. This type of assessment focuses on your work experience and asks for detailed information.

3. Fast-Track Assessment

If you need your assessment done quickly, there’s the fast-track option. But, fast-track assessment costs more than the regular assessment. Remember that these fees can change. Check the official ACS website or contact ACS for the latest and most accurate fee information.

Essential Documents of Your ACS Skills Assessment Processing

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is in charge of evaluating ICT skills and expertise. To begin the skill assessment process, you must submit an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) Report to ACS. This report should detail your skills, experiences, and qualifications while selecting the proper ANZSCO Code for your skilled migration.

It’s essential to ensure you have the following documents to fasten the time for your ACS skills assessment processing:

1. Personal Documents

You should provide scanned, color copies of your passport to ACS. These should include identity pages displaying your name, address, and other relevant details. If you’ve undergone a name change, provide proper documentation supporting this change in your submitted report.

2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume

Your Curriculum Vitae or Resume is a crucial document for the skill assessment. Your letter should have all the details about your education and job experience. It should describe what you did in line with the job you picked from the list. Ensuring clarity in your documentation will ease a smoother assessment process.

If the assessor needs help understanding your documents, they might ask for more information to clarify things.

3. Qualification Documents

Include all your professional qualifications from your academic journey, including diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and any other relevant training certificates. Ensure that these documents get scanned in high resolution. Additionally, provide transcripts, mark sheets, and any other relevant certificates. Be sure to state the degree you earned, where you earned it when you completed it, and the grades you received for each subject.

4. Work Experience

Work experience plays a pivotal role in determining your processing time. Record your work history with a clear timeline. Include documents like salary slips, appointment letters, and offer letters.

List all your qualifications, including diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and relevant certificates. Explain your job duties, weekly hours worked, and where you worked. Include any extra details needed by the assessing authority.

5. Third-Party Statutory Declaration

An authorized person and their job title and tasks must confirm specific documents. The statement should encompass:

An Employment Certificate

A Leaving Certificate (if the applicant is no longer employed)

Proof of Payments, including tax records, payment summaries, and group certificates

Payslips

Insurance or allowance documents with both the applicant’s and employer’s names

Bank statements reflecting salary records from the employer

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Validity of ACS Skills Assessment

This ACS Skills Assessment processing is valid for only 24 months, right from the date of assessment approval. The standard processing time for the assessment ranges from 5 to 8 weeks. If the assessing authority has issues with your documents, it may slow down your application process.

If your visa expires less than 12 weeks from the date of your application, you may request priority or fast-track processing. To do so, you must provide proof of the visa deadline. This assessment can include documents such as:

Visa stamps displaying the deadline on your passport

Visa entitlement verification

Cost of ACS Skills Assessment

The cost of an ACS Skills Assessment processing varies depending on the specific visa category or assessment type. As of 2023, the fees are as follows:

ACS Skills Assessment	Cost (AUD)
Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa	$585
Post Australian Study	$560
Skills (general application)	$605
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)	$605
Review Application	$420
Appeal Application	$420

Reference: Migration Skills: Individual Applicants | ACS

The skills assessment fee covers eight assessment episodes for one application. An assessment episode can be either qualifications or employment documents. So, you can mix qualifications and work records as long as you stay within eight episodes per application. If you send more than eight qualifications or work records, there’s an extra charge of $50 for each extra episode. These fees are in Australian dollars (AUD).

The ACS Skills Assessment processing fee covers eight assessment episodes in one application. These episodes can include qualifications and employment documents. For example, you can submit three qualifications and five employment episodes, making eight in one application.

The payment procedure for the ACS Skill Assessment is simple. You can make payments using a credit card or a bank transfer. ACS accepts major credit card types, including Visa Card, MasterCard, and American Express.

It’s crucial to stay informed that ACS fees are subject to adjustments, which may vary over time due to changing circumstances. So, it’s advisable to remain updated on the current fee structure by referring to ACS’s official information channels.

ACS Skills Assessment Processing Status

Following the guidance provided by the Australian Computer Society (ACS), you can access your dashboard to track the current status of your assessment report. This transparency allows you to stay informed about the progress of your application.

Applying for ACS Skills Assessment Priority Processing

It would be best to meet specific criteria to request priority processing for your ACS Skills Assessment processing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for this service:

1. Check Eligibility

Before you begin the application process, it’s essential to verify your eligibility for priority processing on VETASSESS’s official website. Make sure you understand all the application procedures and requirements.

2. Online Application

You must submit all priority processing applications through VETASSESS’s online portal. Paper-based applications do not qualify for this service.

3. Payment

To start the priority processing request, you’ll need to pay a fee of $806 (excluding GST). You can make the payment as you progress through the application process.

4. Complete Application

Ensure that your application is complete before submission. This application involves attaching required documents and meeting eligibility criteria for priority processing.

5. Processing Time

VETASSESS aims to complete the assessment in ten business days after approving the priority application. Make sure to provide all necessary info and pay on time.

6. Documentation

Check VETASSESS’s website for application details, criteria, and required documents.

7. Responsibility

You must take full responsibility for your application. Incomplete documents may cause delays beyond VETASSESS’s control.

8. Non-Qualifying Applicants

Those who must meet priority processing criteria will undergo assessment under standard service timelines.

Renewal of ACS Skill Assessment

The ACS Skills Assessment processing evaluation becomes invalid after the initial 2-year validity period expires. You must renew your ACS Skills Assessment if your skill assessment expires before you start the visa application process. The renewal process involves updating your work experiences.

Applicants can reuse their submitted transcripts and degrees for their renewed skill assessment. To hurry this process, provide your old assessment reference ID. This assessment facilitates a faster renewal procedure.

If you’ve received a positive skills assessment before and want to renew it, you can use VETASSESS’s renewal applications. This assessment allows you to update your assessment, adding new qualifications or work experiences that weren’t assessed before.

Here are the key points to note for renewing your complete skills assessment:

Re-Evaluation

They’ll check your original assessment, considering any professional growth or extra work experiences when renewing. This evaluation might include meeting point test requirements or extending the date, with or without new qualifications or employment.

Validity

A positive skills assessment outcome is valid for three years from the date of issuance. It’s essential to keep track of the end date and start the renewal process before it expires.

Application Process

To renew, use the online application portal. Log in to your account to start.

Visa Requirements

Confirm with the immigration department if you need a renewed assessment for your visa. Visa rules can change, so stay updated.

Remember, once your assessment report expires, you can’t renew it. So, plan to keep your assessment valid for immigration.

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Conclusion

Obtaining an ACS Skills Assessment is a critical milestone for anyone seeking to move to Australia and pursue a career in the IT industry. It fundamentally validates your IT skills and qualifications within the Australian context. Understanding the costs and how long your assessment stays valid is crucial for planning your migration journey.

Please remember that this guide’s fees and validity details were accurate during the last update. It’s essential to check the ACS website for the latest fees and assessment validity information on ACS skills assessment processing. If you’re uncertain, consulting a migration agent with expertise in Australian immigration, like CDRAustraliaVIP, can provide valuable help for a smooth migration process.