Quick answer
ACS Skills Assessment: the short answer
The Australian Computer Society assesses ICT occupations for skilled migration. It reviews your qualification's ICT content and closeness to your nominated ANZSCO code, then deducts two to six years of experience as the 'skill-met date'. Applicants without a relevant ICT qualification submit an RPL report instead of a CDR.
Who the ACS assesses
The ACS is the assessing authority for ICT occupations under ANZSCO 261xxx, 262xxx and 263111, among others. That includes some occupations whose titles sound like engineering:
- 261313 Software Engineer — ACS, despite the title
- 263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer — ACS
- 261111 ICT Business Analyst, 261311 Analyst Programmer, 261312 Developer Programmer — ACS
By contrast, 263311 Telecommunications Engineer and 263312 Telecommunications Network Engineer are assessed by Engineers Australia. The boundary is a genuine trap; check it before you pay anything.
The skill-met date — the ACS rule that surprises everyone
The ACS does not simply count your years. It first assesses your qualification, then deducts a fixed number of years of experience as "required to meet the suitability criteria". Only employment after that deducted period is assessed as skilled.
| Qualification situation | Typical deduction |
|---|---|
| Bachelor or higher, ICT major, closely related to the nominated occupation | 2 years |
| Bachelor or higher, ICT major, not closely related | 4 years |
| Bachelor or higher, ICT minor, closely related | 5 years |
| Non-ICT qualification, with an RPL | 6 years |
A candidate with eight years of experience and a non-ICT degree therefore has two assessed skilled years, not eight — which changes their points score materially. Model the effect in our points calculator before you commit to a timeline.
The RPL report
Recognition of Prior Learning is the ACS pathway for applicants whose qualification does not carry the required ICT content. The RPL is not a CDR. It has its own structure:
- Key Areas of Knowledge — you demonstrate knowledge across the ACS Core Body of Knowledge areas.
- Two project reports — each describing an ICT project you worked on within the last five years (and one within the last three), showing how you applied that knowledge.
Projects must be distinct, technical, and written in the first person. The ACS runs plagiarism detection; copied or purchased text produces an unsuitable outcome and can trigger a ban.
Our RPL report writing service covers both sections and maps them to the Core Body of Knowledge.
Documents and fees
The ACS requires your passport, qualification certificates and complete transcripts, and employment references stating dates, position and detailed ICT duties. Employment claims without duty descriptions are routinely disregarded.
Fees are published on the ACS website and revised periodically — a skills assessment, an RPL application and a review each carry their own charge. Confirm the current figure before paying.
Common causes of an unsuitable outcome
- Submitting a CDR instead of an RPL.
- References that confirm employment but never describe ICT duties.
- Two RPL project reports covering the same system or the same period.
- Claiming experience that predates the skill-met date as skilled.
- Nominating an occupation whose ANZSCO duties do not match the references.
Verify before you act
Migration rules, occupation lists, fees and processing times change. This guide was last reviewed on 10 August 2026. Always confirm current requirements with Engineers Australia, the ACS or the Department of Home Affairs before lodging anything, and seek advice from a registered migration agent (MARA) for immigration matters.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ACS accept a CDR?
No. A Competency Demonstration Report is an Engineers Australia document. The ACS requires an RPL report where your qualification does not meet the ICT requirement, and no report at all where it does.
What is the ACS skill-met date?
It is the date from which your employment counts as skilled. The ACS deducts two to six years of experience depending on how closely your qualification matches your nominated ICT occupation; only employment after that point is assessed as skilled for points.
How much is the ACS skills assessment fee?
The ACS publishes its fees on its own website and revises them periodically, with separate charges for a skills assessment, an RPL application and a review. Confirm the current amount on the ACS site before paying.
Who assesses a Software Engineer for Australian migration?
The Australian Computer Society. ANZSCO 261313 Software Engineer is an ICT occupation despite the title, and Engineers Australia will not assess it.
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