ACS Assessments? HHHEEELLLLLPPP!!

[The Manns]

My OH is in IT and if anyone can shed any light on the ACS Assessments that would be great!

What is involved? Are there individual ones for each area of expertise? Any info from anyone who has already done this would be much appreciated.

Thanx a million.

The Manns.

[carolans]

Hi The Manns,

Just asked DH what he had to do for his application 3 years ago - he can't remember everything but believes he selected the job code that best suited his experience and applied on that basis. Also I think I read somewhere that ACS may change your job code if they think you're experience is more relevant under another code.

I remember there was lots of certified copies required of certificates from degree and IT training courses, degree transcripts, company-headed reference letters, pay slips (?) - but some of that may have been for our application for STNI through Victoria.

One thing I do remember is that the ACS assessment is only valid for a year - we had to pay for a further copy with an updated date as we didn't apply for our visa until last year.

I know that there are two types of ACS assessments, not quite sure of the difference, but I think one requires alot more work. I'm sure someone on here will reply soon with more useful info.

Good luck

Zoë

[julieportsmouth]

Hi The Manns,

hubby and I are going through the visa process at the mo and have had back a positive skills assessment from the ACS. He was at one time a member of the British Computer Society but that made no difference apparently!! Basically, we looked at the occupations list on the DIAC website and found the job code that was most relevent to his experience and applied to them on that basis. Luckily he was able to apply under a "on demand" occupation code with his experience. We had to get all his certificates and qualifications copied and certified by solicitor ( cost about £25) and send them off with the application form. We did use a migration agent who checked it all for us first (it was all ok ) the form was fairly straightforward and they also required cert copies of passport and birth certificate. He needed job references to prove his experience for that job role for 6 years of which 12 months out of the last 4 years must be relevent to that occupation. I can't remember exactly how much it cost but I think it was $300 or thereabouts and came back within about 6 weeks. Hubby says there is loads more info on the ACS website about the criteria for a successful skills assessment. Hope this helps!!!

Julie

[Cane Family]

Hi

I have just submitted mine and it took me a month to complete I was assisted by an agent who specialised in this area and with out him I could not have completed it on my own (personal choice) In a nut shell you have to show how you learnt what you know and NOT what you know and how you do it. That was the hardest part.

Depending on you level of education there are various levels to complete, I have no degree so I had to do the RPL version you lose 2 years from your experience.

Check out the ACS website, also if you want help from an agent please see the following link Ptlabs Consulting There is some useful info there also.

Regards
Steve

[Col-and-Sara]

Hi,

I passed my ACS assessment as a systems designer in Dec 07. Luckily I had a relevant degree and 7 years post qualification experience in IT. From what I can remember I had to:

1. Fill in the application form with payment details
2. Enclose certified copies of all qualification certificates and course transcripts
3. Enclose certified copy of passport
4. Enclose a detailed copy of CV
5. Enclose detailed employer references
6. Send all of the above to the ACS

When the ACS assesses you they determine the relevance of your experience. For example, my first job as a Business Analyst was classed as 80% relevant so they multiplied 3 years by 80%. My second job was only considered to be 60% relevant so 4 years was multiplied by 60%. This is how they work out how many years ‘relevant’ experience you have.

Most of the assessment process was as I expected apart from the employment references, which needed more detail than a normal reference. I prepared the references myself (each 2 pages long) to ensure they included the specific details required by the ACS. I explained to my referees that I’d prepared the references to meet the strict ACS requirements to save them the time and trouble of having to do them. All they had to do was sign and return the references. It took a total of 43 days from sending off the application to getting the result confirmation letter.

If you follow the guidance on the ACS website you shouldn't go far wrong: http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm?action=show&conID=skillguidelines

Good luck
Colin

[darren@mandy]

is it possible to give me the name of the agent you used. thanks darren.

[Cane Family]

Who me? If so here you go. In my opinion he is really good, I am also doing the visa application with him.

What are you skilled in?

Follow the link below for ptlabs

Ptlabs Consulting

[mandisfam]

Hi Cane Family, hope you don't me asking but how much did your ACS application cost???? My husband is in IT too, without an degree so figure he would have to do similar yourself for ACS application.

There seems to be a lot of IT people heading Brisbane way, do you know something that we don't????

Thanks and all the best
Mandisfam

[Cane Family]

i know nothing my brother is there and we have decided to go same place, different area.

Thew cost of the actual application to ACS $400 you would have to contact Peter at Ptlabs for a consultant cost, sorry i cant help more

Regards

[cantwait]

Hi

My OH has completed a successful assessment as a Systems Designer and had no degree so he had to do the RPL Section. We used an agent, Thinking Australia, who are helping with our overall visa application. You can also get help from www.RPLHelp.com. You can see successful examples for just a couple of pounds each. We used this website, and had the help of our agent who checked through it. They sent it back to us and asked for more info, which we did. We had a positive assessment back from the ACS within 9 weeks. Make sure you put FULL dates on things. The ACS asked us for another reference because we put the month and year that employment started, and they asked us for the actaul date as well.

Good luck