Skills Assessment Guidelines for Applicants Australian Computer Society Skills Assessments

August 2012

Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Before Applying for a Skills Assessment ..................................................................................................................... 3 Important Note: Choosing a Nominated Occupation ANZSCO code .......................................................................... 3 Introduction Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 3 2. MIGRATION AGENTS ................................................................................................................................................. 4 3. APPLICATION TYPES .................................................................................................................................................. 4 4. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED............................................................................................................................................ 6 Certified Documents .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Translation of Documents .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Uploading Documents Online .................................................................................................................................... 8 5. SKILLED EMPLOYMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Employment References ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Statutory Declarations ............................................................................................................................................. 10 6. SELF EMPLOYED APPLICANTS .................................................................................................................................. 10 7. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................................ 11 QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP A .................................................................................................................................... 11 QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP B .................................................................................................................................... 12 QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP C .................................................................................................................................... 13 GROUP D .................................................................................................................................................................. 13 GROUP E................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Vendor Certification ................................................................................................................................................. 14 8. ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS ....................................................................................................... 15 Academic Documents .............................................................................................................................................. 16 9. APPLICATION INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................. 16 Application Status .................................................................................................................................................... 16 Application Processing Time .................................................................................................................................... 16 Payment Methods .................................................................................................................................................... 17 ACS Member Discount ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Refunds & Withdrawals ........................................................................................................................................... 17 10. ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES ..................................................................................................................................... 18 UNSUITABLE RESULTS .............................................................................................................................................. 18 REVIEW..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 APPEAL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 RE-VALIDATION ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 FALSE INFORMATION & PLAGIARISM ......................................................................................................................... 20 ACS PRIVACY POLICY ................................................................................................................................................... 20 ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY ........................................................................................................................................... 20 LINKS & RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................... 21

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1. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Skills Assessment Guidelines for Applicants This document contains all the information required to submit an ICT skills assessment for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Professionals. Before Applying for a Skills Assessment Applicants must have a clear understanding of their personal visa requirements as set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) or need to obtain professional assistance from a registered Migration Agent (MARA) before applying for an ICT skills assessment. The ACS can only assist with ICT skills assessment information and is unable to provide individual visa or migration advice. The Role of the ACS The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is authorised by the Minister for Immigration to provide ICT Skills Assessments for migration purposes as stated in the Skilled Occupation Lists. Important Note: Choosing a Nominated Occupation ANZSCO code ICT skills assessments will be based on the ACS Skills Assessment Criteria in relation to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code. It is important for the applicant to nominate the most appropriate ANZSCO code which is closely related to their individual qualifications and skilled employment to ensure a suitable skills assessment outcome. It is highly recommended for applicants to research and evaluate the relevance of their qualifications and skilled employment in relation to the ANZSCO code requirements before choosing a nominated occupation ANZSCO code. Please use the following ANZSCO information to evaluate skills suitability: ANZSCO Code Descriptions ANZSCO Description Search Option Australian Skills Recognition Information Result Letter After the skills assessment is completed the ACS will issue the applicant with a result letter via email, which can be submitted to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for migration purposes.

Introduction Summary 1. Before applying for an ICT skills assessment, check your personal visa requirements with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) or a registered Migration Agent (MARA). 2. The ACS is the relevant assessing authority for ICT skills assessments. 3. Research and evaluate the relevance of your qualifications and skilled employment in relation to the ANZSCO code requirements before choosing your nominated occupation. 4. The ACS will issue your skills assessment result letter via email. 5. The result letter can be submitted to DIAC as evidence of your ICT skills assessment.

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2. MIGRATION AGENTS
Migration agents can be appointed by the applicant to submit an ICT skills assessment on their behalf. It is at the discretion of the applicant to enlist the services of a migration agent or not. For detailed information regarding Migration Agents, please refer to: Migration Information. To find a registered migration agent, please see: Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). Applicants who have an application in progress can authorize a migration agent to take over their application by completing the Agent Authorisation Form. If an applicant needs to appoint another migration agent or the agent is no longer required, please advise the ACS in writing via the Agent Authorisation Form.

3. APPLICATION TYPES
The following application types are available for migration purposes: 1. Recent Graduates of an Australian University in Australia 2. Recent Graduates with ICT skilled experience considered 3. General Skills Assessment 4. Recognition Letter - Please Note: this is not a skills assessment 5. Recognition of Prior Learning - (RPL) 1 - Recent Graduates of an Australian University This application is for skilled employment exemption under the Australian study requirement. Please refer to DIAC GSM Booklet - 1119 for more information. The Australian qualification must be a Bachelors degree or higher. The course must be registered on CRICOS as being a total of at least 92 weeks duration and completed in no less than 16 calendar months. The course must have been undertaken while in Australia and have had all instruction conducted in English. Any study used to meet the Australian study requirement must be closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code and undertaken on a visa that allows study in Australia. The assessment result letter will report the applicants ICT Educational Qualifications suitability to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test and skilled migration purposes. 2 - Recent Graduates of an Australian University with ICT experience considered This is the same as the Recent Graduate application but includes the option for the applicant to have their skilled employment assessed as well. Please refer to DIAC GSM Booklet - 1119. The assessment result letter will report the ICT Qualifications and Employment experience suitability to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test and skilled migration purposes. 3 - Skills Assessment This application is a general skills application for applicants with at least a tertiary ICT qualification and at least 2 years Professional ICT experience. The assessment result letter will report the ICT Qualifications and Employment experience suitability to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test and skilled migration purposes.

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4 - Recognition Letter Please note: A Recognition Letter is NOT a skills assessment and a positive Skills Assessment is still required by DIAC. This is for applicants who already hold a skills assessment and require recognition of their ICT qualifications or employment experience to submit to DIAC for Migration purposes. The assessment recognition letter will report on the applicants tertiary ICT Qualifications as comparable to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and Employment skill level in relation to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test purposes only. 5 RPL Assessment (Recognition of Prior Learning) This application is for applicants without an ICT qualification. It provides the opportunity to demonstrate that the applicant has acquired a level of knowledge equivalent to that of a formal tertiary ICT qualification. The assessment result letter will report the ICT suitability to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test and skilled migration purposes. There are 2 categories applicable for RPL applications. 1. Applicants with a degree qualification without ICT content. Applicants require a minimum of 6 years of full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code. Applicants are required to provide proven knowledge of skilled employment through detailed employment references and documentation. Complete the ACS Project Report Form (RPL) 2. Applicants with no tertiary qualifications. Applicants require a minimum of 6 years of full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code. Applicants also require an additional 2 years of ICT skilled employment but in this instance is not required to be relevant to the ANZSCO code. Applicants are required to provide proven knowledge of skilled employment through detailed employment references and documentation. Complete the ACS Project Report Form (RPL) The purpose of RPL is to provide applicants without an ICT educational qualification the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired a level of knowledge equivalent to that of a formal tertiary ICT qualification. Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have acquired a level of knowledge equivalent to that of a formal tertiary ICT qualification by addressing as many of the areas referred to in the document ACS Key Areas of Knowledge they consider are covered by their acquired knowledge. Applicants are also required to provide two project reports. One report must pertain to a project undertaken within the last three years, and the other report to a project within the last five years. Projects may be used for both reports under either of the following conditions: The project has clearly-defined work efforts which took place in parallel, each with its own solution development and design activities and its own deliverables. The project has clearly-defined phases that were executed in succession, each with its own solution development and design activities and deliverables.

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4. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED Certified Documents

All documents must be certified copies of originals. A document is a certified copy when the original document is photo copied or scanned and is signed by a person authorised to certify documents. A stamp is required on the certified copy to signify that it is a true copy of the original document. The following information is required on each page of the certified copy: The words Certified True Copy of the Original. The signature of the certifying person. The name, date and provider or registration number or designation (eg: Police Officer) of the certifying person. Within Australia documents can be certified by: a registered migration agent a justice of the peace or a bail justice an Australian lawyer a member of the police force a sheriff or a deputy sheriff a councillor of a municipality a senior officer of a council a medical practitioner a dentist a veterinary practitioner a pharmacist a principal in the teaching service a manager of an authorised deposit-taking institution a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or the Australian Society of Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants a secretary of a building society a minister of religion authorised to celebrate marriages a public notary a member or former member of either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Documents Certified Outside Australia must be certified by an equivalent of the above authorised list within the country of origin. Legal professionals and embassy officials can provide further information regarding certifying documents outside Australia. The ACS is unable to accept documents if the identity of the certifying officer is unclear or the contact details are illegible.

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Translation of Documents
All documents that are not written in English must be translated and certified. A certified copy of the translated document and the primary foreign document is required. Applications Submitted Within Australia Acceptable translations may be obtained from translators accredited with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters NAATI. Applications Submitted Outside Australia Acceptable translations can be obtained from: A Ministry of Justice or equivalent in the country where the qualification was obtained. The Australian Education International Section (AEIS) at an Australian Diplomatic Mission. Australian High Commission, Consulate or Embassy. Private and Commercial Translators. The Awarding Institution. Overseas Translations Overseas translations must be completed on the letterhead of the organization and include an official stamp with the translators name, signature and contact telephone number printed legibly. Translation Documents Required: Certified copies of all foreign documents Certified copies of all English translations

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Uploading Documents Online

The ICT Skills Assessment will be based on the certified copies uploaded in the Online Application Form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the data entered into the online application form is correct and a true representation of all personal information. An administration charge will apply for re-issuing result letters requiring editing of online information. Preparing Documents to Upload into the Online Application Form: 1. Gather and organise all documents to be assessed. 2. Create paper copies of all original documents. 3. Have all paper copies certified by an authorised person Certified Documents. 4. Scan and Save certified copies in PDF file format. 5. Upload certified copies as PDF files into the Online Application Form.

The Following Certified Copies need to be Uploaded as PDF files: 1. Birth Certificate or Passport. 2. Degree or Award Certificate. Title of Degree or Award Name of University or Awarding Institution Date the Degree or Award was Completed 3. Degree or Award Transcript. Unit or Subject Names and Grades Achieved 4. Employment References. 5. Completed ACS Project Report Form (RPL) if applying for Recognition of Prior Learning application. Please Note: All documentation must be complete and decision ready before submitting an application. A result letter will be issued based on the documentation submitted by the applicant. Additional documentation will not be requested by the ACS for applications able to be finalised as suitable. A review application is required for submitting additional documentation after suitable result letters are issued. Unnecessary documents such as High School Certificates or Self-Written Statutory Declarations cannot be assessed. After submitting the online application form a confirmation Email will be sent with an ACS reference number and password to track the Application Status Online.

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5. SKILLED EMPLOYMENT
Skilled employment will be assessed in relation to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code and must be at a suitable ICT professional level. Please Note: Skilled employment can only be assessed according to the information provided in the employment documentation submitted by the applicant. The following list indicates the details required to assess skilled employment. If these requirements are not presented in the documentation, the employment episode cannot be assessed.

Employment References
Each Employment Reference must contain: Start & Finish Dates of Employment Description of Duties Performed Hours worked - Full time or Part time Country of Employment Company Letterhead and signed by the author The duration of employment requires specific start and finish dates. Stating month and year and a declaration whether the work was full-time or part-time in nature. Full-time work is considered to be 20 hours or more per week. It is important that all references are specific as to the nature of duties performed by the applicant and skills applied on the job. The country in which the employment was performed must be clearly stated in the employment reference. Employment references should describe the duties and responsibilities of the applicant as stated by the employer. Statements must be dated and signed by the employer or a person authorised by the employer. The name, position and contact details of the person making the statement must be clearly indicated. For an example of an employment reference, please see: Employment Reference Example The employment duration is calculated on the, from and to dates on the employer reference. If there is no, to date on the employment reference; the date the reference was written will be used. Please Note: experience can only be calculated until the date of the submission of your application. The to date will be obtained from the employment reference or the submission date of your application; whichever comes first.

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If Unable to Obtain an Employment Reference If an applicant is unable to obtain an employment reference on a company letterhead from an employer, an applicant can submit a third party Statutory Declaration from a work colleague and signed by an authorised witness. Third party Statutory Declarations will be subject to the verification and discretion of the ACS, and noted to DIAC for authentication against fraud and plagiarism. Important Note: Self-references from applicants in the form of a first person statutory declaration cannot be accepted as evidence of employment and cannot be assessed. Statutory Declarations must be from a third party work colleague and signed by an authorised witness to be accepted for assessment. A Statutory Declaration from a work colleague must describe the working relationship with the applicant and supply details of the duties performed by the applicant with relevant dates of employment. It is preferable that the work colleague providing the statutory declaration be at a supervisory level. Statutory Declarations A Statutory Declaration is a written statement declared to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. All Statutory Declarations must be clearly signed by an authorised witness to be accepted for assessment: List of Authorised Witnesses For information and example of a Statutory Declaration please see: Statutory Declaration Other Types of Work Experience Volunteer work can be considered alongside paid work where there is a specific contract in place with a duty statement and references supplied. Post-qualification internships may be considered if this work is at a suitable professional level. Work expressed to be at trainee or junior level is not considered unless the applicant has already acquired a qualification which would have served as a means of obtaining the skills needed to perform the duties. Duties involving the assembling or repairing of computers, computer operator, installing and updating manufacturer-supplied software packages, data entry, clerical and administrative interaction with software-based commercial systems, are not considered to be at a professional level.

6. SELF EMPLOYED APPLICANTS Documented evidence with a high level of detail is required for self-employed applicants. Applicants can submit a formal statutory declaration containing the following specific details: commencement and completion dates of self-employment the occupation of employed and the capacity in which self employed nature and content of the work performed number of staff employed and their occupations business registration certificates covering each period of self-employment a statement on letterhead from an accountant or legal representative certifying the name and nature of the business in which self-employed the exact dates of the self-employed period statements from clients with full details of the work performed and dates.
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7. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Suitable skills assessments fall into three (3) distinct groupings. 1. Group A - refers to application type Skills on the application form. This application is for applicants with a Bachelor Degree or higher with an ICT major and ICT skilled employment. 2. Group B - refers to application type Skills on the application form. This application is for applicants with a Diploma in ICT, a Bachelor Degree with a minor in ICT, or RPL and ICT skilled employment. 3. Group C - refers to application type Recent Graduate on the application form. This application is for Recent Graduates of an Australian University for skilled employment exemption under the Australian study requirement. Applicants require a tertiary qualification of Bachelor or higher obtained in Australia or overseas, with an ICT major closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code. The result letter will report the applicant's ICT educational qualifications suitability to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code for Points Test and skilled migration purposes. Please Note: Applicants need to check their specific requirements with DIAC regarding the criteria set by DIAC relating to recent study undertaken in Australia. Please refer to DIAC GSM Booklet - 1119.

QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP A
Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or higher with an ICT major and ICT skilled employment need to provide documented evidence that they have a qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian qualification in line with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards. Qualifications include: Bachelor (undergraduate) Degree Graduate Diploma Higher Degree level qualification. The qualification must be a major in ICT, and the predominant objective of the course should be to educate individuals to be professionals in ICT. The course should be closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code. Course units will be assessed according to the ICT content and whether units are closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO code. Please refer to ANZSCO Code for current occupation codes and to ANZSCO Code Descriptions for occupation descriptions. Skilled Employment Also required is a minimum of two (2) years full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code within the previous ten (10) years of the Skills Assessment or a minimum of 4 such years if completed earlier. Please Note: If the ICT qualification is not closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code, a minimum of four (4) years of full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code is required.

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ICT Major A major in a Bachelor degree must have a minimum of two equivalent full-time semesters of ICT content. Such ICT content must progress through all years of the program with at least one third of it being at a demonstrably advanced level (final year level). A Graduate Diploma or Master degree that does not require an ICT major degree level qualification or equivalent for entry, being substantially undergraduate in content, must Contain a minimum of three semesters Contain a minimum of twelve units Contain two semesters of full-time equivalent ICT content Be underpinned by an ICT or non-ICT degree level qualification or an AQF Advanced Diploma or Diploma equivalent Have at least one semester of ICT study at a demonstrably advanced level A major in ICT for a Post Graduate Diploma or higher degree qualification that requires a degree-level qualification in ICT or equivalent for entry must have an ICT content of at least one third, all of which must be at post graduate level. Duration of study is expressed for full-time study. Where study is completed at a rate less than full-time, scaling to the equivalent of full-time is applied.

QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP B
Applicants with a Diploma with a major or Bachelor Degree or higher with a minor in ICT and ICT skilled employment need to provide documented evidence that they have a qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian qualification in line with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards. Qualifications include: Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma with a major in ICT. An AQF Bachelor (undergraduate) degree with a minor (sub-major) in ICT. A Graduate Diploma or higher qualification with a minor (sub-major) in ICT. All qualifications should be closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code. Skilled Employment Also required is a minimum of five (5) years of full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code within the previous ten (10) years of the Skills Assessment or a minimum of 6 such years if completed earlier. Please Note: If the ICT qualification is not closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code, a minimum of six (6) years of full time professional ICT skilled employment in a field closely related to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code is required. ICT Major For an AQF Diploma or an AQF Advanced Diploma or overseas equivalent, the ICT content must be at least 50%. ICT Minor For a minor (sub-major) for a Bachelor degree the ICT content must be at least 20%. For a minor (sub-major) for a Graduate Diploma or higher degree qualification that does not require an ICT major degree level qualification or equivalent for entry, a minor (sub-major) must be at least 50%. For a minor (sub-major) for a Graduate Diploma or higher degree qualification that does require an ICT major degree level qualification or equivalent for entry, a minor (sub-major) must be at least 15% and less than 33%.
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QUALIFICATIONS - GROUP C
Applications for this group are for skill assessments submitted to the ACS indicating the applicant is seeking recent skilled employment exemption under the DIAC provisions currently in place for applications meeting the Australian study requirement. Please refer to DIAC GSM Booklet - 1119. Applicants should provide evidence that they have a qualification accredited as comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Qualifications include: Bachelor (undergraduate) degree, or Graduate Diploma, or Higher degree level qualification. The qualification can be obtained from Australia or Overseas and must have a major in ICT in a closely related field to the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code. ICT Major A major in a Bachelor degree must have a minimum of two equivalent full-time semesters of ICT content. Such ICT content must progress through all years of the program with at least one third of it being at a demonstrably advanced level (final year level). A Graduate Diploma or Masters degree that does not require an ICT major degree level qualification or equivalent for entry, being substantially undergraduate in content, must Contain a minimum of three semesters Contain a minimum of twelve units Contain two semesters of full-time equivalent ICT content Be underpinned by an ICT or non-ICT degree level qualification or an AQF Advanced Diploma or Diploma equivalent Have at least one semester of ICT study at a demonstrably advanced level A major in ICT for a Post Graduate Diploma or higher degree qualification that requires a degree-level qualification in ICT or equivalent for entry must have an ICT content of at least one third, all of which must be at post graduate level. Duration of study is expressed for full-time study. Where study is completed at a rate less than full-time, scaling to the equivalent of full-time is applied. References for ICT Professional skilled employment may also be included in the application if applicants wish to have their professional ICT experience taken into consideration.

GROUP D
Applicants assessed as not meeting Group A, B or C requirements will be assessed as unsuitable. Please refer to the Review & Appeal process regarding this result.

GROUP E
Applicants who do not provide sufficient documentation within the specified time frame to enable their skills to be assessed will be assessed as unsuitable. All applications receiving this result are required to submit a new application for any future assessment.

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Vendor Certification
The following vendor certifications are accepted by the ACS and are comparable to an AQF Diploma with an ICT major. Microsoft Certification: To confirm your Microsoft qualification, we require the Transcript ID and Access Code. For more information please go to: https://mcp.microsoft.com/authenticate/validatemcp.aspx. View my section on the left hand side and click the transcript Sharing Code button. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Microsoft Certified Solution Developer. Microsoft Certified Professional Developer. Microsoft Certified IT Professional from 2007. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist from August 2009.

Novell Certification: Certified Lotus Professional or Certified Novell Engineer from 1997. Certified Directory Engineer from Novell. Master Certified Novell Engineer. Certified Novell Instructor.

Cisco Certification
The following list outlines the Cisco Certification accepted by the ACS. Certifications must be valid at the time of submitting the skills assessment and display the validation date. Cisco Professional: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - All tracks. Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP). Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP). Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP). Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP). Cisco Expert: Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) - All tracks. Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE). Cisco Architect: Cisco Certified Architect.

Additional Certifications
CITEC Certified Engineer or Oracle Certified Master from 2004. Certified Information Systems Auditor or Certified Information Security Manager from Information Systems Audit and Control Association from 14 June 2007. Certified Information Systems Security Professional from International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium from May 2008. Examination in Computing or Examination in IT from Australian Computer Society. Graduate Diploma (IT) or HDSE Diploma from Aptech. Certificate or Diploma from British Computer Society. Four or six semester Diploma from NIIT.

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8. ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

For assessment purposes all qualifications held by an applicant will be considered. Accredited and Recognised Degrees "Accredited degree" means a degree awarded by a university to a student who successfully completed a program of study in ICT, in which the program is recognised by the ACS accreditation process. Accreditation is valid for students enrolling until the end of the year specified in the list of Accredited University Courses for each course. Unless otherwise stated, accreditation applies only to the Accredited University Courses conducted at the named campuses and locations. "Recognized degree" means a degree normally awarded by a foreign educational institution, after successful completion of a program of study in ICT, in which the program has been Accredited by the responsible accrediting body in that country, which is a signatory to the Seoul Accord, or Evaluated by the ACS as being equivalent to a degree accredited by the ACS or a signatory of the Seoul Accord. These programs do not appear on the list of qualifications formally recognized under the Seoul Accord.

Through the Seoul Accord, the signatories recognize the equivalence of the preparation of graduates of computing education programs accredited by the signatories for professional computing practice at the entry level. If an applicant's degree falls in one of the categories referred to above the applicant will be assessed as meeting qualification requirements. If an applicant's degree does not fall in one of the categories referred to above, the ACS will use the current Australian Education International-National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition AEI-NOOSR Country Education Profiles (CEP) to establish the educational level of the qualifications held by the applicant. Qualifications other than those listed in the relevant CEP are assessed individually. A Bachelor or higher degree course undertaken by an applicant granted advanced standing, credits or exemptions will only be regarded as undertaken where, in the opinion of the ACS, credits or exemptions are given for equivalent subjects (particularly in terms of ICT content) taken at an equivalent educational level in an institution of equivalent academic standing. No advanced standing, credit or exemption given on the basis of qualifications from overseas will be considered in relation to an Australian Graduate Diploma or higher degree qualifications.

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Academic Documents
Statement of Academic Record Statements of academic record (transcript) need to show the names of all the subjects studied and grades received. Result slips or web results are not accepted as assessable. Please include a legend explaining the grading system to help clarify information where applicable. Qualification Completed but Graduate Certificate not awarded In cases where the degree, diploma or certificate has not been awarded, an applicant is required to provide an official academic transcript which clearly states the applicant has met all of the course requirements and is eligible to be awarded the qualification. Thesis or Research Project Abstract When the qualification includes a thesis or research project, an abstract of the thesis or research project should be included. The abstract should be endorsed by the primary supervisor where possible. The name of the University and the date of the thesis publication/project completion should appear on the front page of the abstract.

9. APPLICATION INFORMATION Application Status

After completing the Online Application, an acknowledgement email will be sent with an application reference number and password. The progress of the application can be tracked via the Application Status Online using the application number and password. Applicants are advised to keep a record of the ACS application number for personal records and to quote in all correspondence with the ACS for quick and efficient access. It is important to include an email address and mobile phone number with the application and for applicants to check their email on a regular basis for ACS correspondence regarding their skills assessment. ACS will update applicants via email and SMS if additional documents or information is required. Please Note: Some web email services place ACS emails in the Junk mail folder.

Application Processing Time

Skills assessments are a matter of assessing specific qualifications and employment against the nominated occupation as required by DIAC which can prove to be a complex and lengthy process. All applications are processed as efficiently as possible depending on the quality of documentation and information provided. All complete and decision ready applications are processed more efficiently than applications that do not meet the guideline requirements and require additional documentation or information. The ACS adheres to a continuous improvement policy in creating more efficient processes to reduce processing timeframes.

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Payment Methods
Preferred Method of Payment is via Credit Card: Cost & Charges Major credit cards acceptable are: Visa MasterCard American Express Alternative payment can be made by cheque, money order or international bank draft made payable to The Australian Computer Society. Payment by these methods will delay processing time by up to 20 working days until clearance of payment is confirmed. Cash The ACS is unable to process cash payments. International Fund Transfers & Direct Deposit account details: Bank: Branch: Branch Number: Account Name: Account Number: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Corner Liverpool & Castlereagh St, SYDNEY, NSW, 2000, AUSTRALIA (BSB) 062 - 017 Australian Computer Society Inc. Council Account 80 - 1049 SWIFT Code: CTBAAU2S

Please include the full name of the applicant in the Remitter Details of the payment advice and a copy of the transfer paperwork or evidence in the application as proof of payment.

ACS Member Discount

Professional members of the ACS can receive a discounted skills application, if the member holds more nd than 12 months membership as a Certified Professional and have the 2 year renewal membership paid in full.

Refunds & Withdrawals

Payment fees are not refundable after preliminary work or formal assessment has commenced, or the formal assessment has been completed.

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10. ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES

The ACS will issue a result letter via email as a PDF file to the applicant with a Suitable or Unsuitable designation at the completion of the skills assessment application. Result letters are valid for 2 years from the date of issue.

UNSUITABLE RESULTS
Applicants assessed as not meeting the ACS Skills Assessment Criteria will be assessed as unsuitable. Applicants who do not provide sufficient documentation within the specified time frame, to enable their skills to be assessed, will be assessed as unsuitable. Please refer to the Review & Appeal process for detailed information regarding unsuitable results.

REVIEW & APPEAL

A formal Review and Appeal process is in place for applicants that wish to review or appeal assessment results. Applicants are required to submit a Review or Appeal application to have results formally actioned. Review and Appeal applications can only be submitted within 60 days of the result letter issue date. A new application is required after the 60 days have elapsed. The ACS is committed to the highest quality standards in conducting assessments with integrity and professionalism in providing a formal appeal and review process for all assessment outcomes.

REVIEW
A Review application can only be submitted within 60 days of the result letter issue date. Reasons for Reviews: If the applicant requires to be assessed under a different ANZSCO code after completing a skills assessment and receiving a suitable result letter. Update the result letter with additional documentation or information not included in the original application. Full review of skills assessment. Review Details: Reviews will be assessed by one or more Senior Assessors. A review fee is payable for all review assessments. Please upload additional documentation and information to support the review application. A review cannot be completed if the result letter has already been used for Migration purposes. To submit a Review, please go to the Online Application Form and use the Linking to an Earlier Application option. Please Note: After 60 days of the result letter issue date, a review is no longer possible and a new application is required.
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APPEAL
An appeal application can only be submitted within 60 days of the result letter issue date. Reasons for Appeals: The applicant disagrees with the result for an unsuitable assessment The applicant disagrees with a formal notification of the assessment outcome Please Note: No new information or documentation can be submitted for appeals. Please use the Review application for submitting additional documentation or information. Appeal Details: The appeal fee will only be refunded if the appeal is successful in favour of the applicant. Appeals can only be processed within 60 days of the result letter issue date. An appeal cannot be completed if the result letter has already been used for Migration purposes. To submit an Appeal, please go to the Online Application Form and use the Linking to an Earlier Application option. Please Note: After 60 days of the result letter issue date, an appeal is no longer possible and a new application is required. Please include detailed reasons why you believe the original outcome is not appropriate. Only one appeal can be made per case.

RE-VALIDATION
A re-validation application is for cases where the result letter due date is about to expire or has expired before the application for a visa can be lodged. Please note: if the previous skills assessment application was received before 1st of July 2010, a new skills assessment application is required. To apply for a re-validation please provide: Copy of previous result letter or the reference number. Verifiable independent evidence of your identity and date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport. Verifiable independent evidence of change of name (if applicable). This would include a Marriage Certificate or a Deed Poll notice. Re-validation payment. To submit a Re-validation, please go to the Online Application Form and use the Linking to an Earlier Application option.

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FALSE INFORMATION & PLAGIARISM

Misleading and false documentation is viewed as a major breach of ethical behaviour and all skills assessments containing false information or plagiarism will be reported to DIAC for fraud investigation. It is the responsibility of the applicant to clearly indicate when the work of others has been drawn upon. Derived information must be indicated regardless of whether it is exactly copied, paraphrased or adapted. Original ideas, methods, illustrations, diagrams and words from other people should be clearly distinguished. Failure to quote and reference the original information source constitutes plagiarism. Assessments with misleading and false documentation will be terminated without refund and the outcome recorded as unsuitable.

ACS PRIVACY POLICY

Please refer to the ACS Privacy Policy.

ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY
The ACS is authorised as a relevant Assessing Authority for ICT skills occupations as listed on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL). The ACS is designated by the Minister for Immigration in accordance with Regulation 2.26B (1) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Commonwealth Regulations) (the Regulations). Regulation 2.26B (2) of the Regulations provides the Authority for ACS to determine, at its sole discretion, the standards against which the skills of a person are assessed as being suitable for their nominated occupation.

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LINKS & RESOURCES

Australian Computer Society Skills Assessments ACS Membership ACS Accreditation Australian Visa and Migration Information Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) SkillSelect Information on Nominated Occupation ANZSCO codes ANZSCO Code Descriptions ANZSCO Description Search Option Australian Skills Recognition Information Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Information on the Demographics of Australia Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Government Websites Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE)

Information on Migration Agents Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)

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SKILLS ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS

Authors Berny Martinez Version History Date 20 August 2012 Document Version Revision History (reason for change) Author /Reviser Berny Martinez

Approvals Date approved Version Approved By Date in force Date of Next Review

Custodian title & e-mail address: Responsible Business Group: Distribution: Content Security:

Professional Assessments Manager berny.skills@acs.org.au Professional Standards, Learning & Development General (no restriction on distribution) Unclassified

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