{"id":585,"date":"2026-01-08T12:08:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T12:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rplforaustralia.com\/blog\/?p=585"},"modified":"2026-01-09T12:40:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:40:33","slug":"latest-updates-in-acs-skills-assessment-you-must-know-before-applying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rplforaustralia.com\/blog\/latest-updates-in-acs-skills-assessment-you-must-know-before-applying\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest Updates in ACS Skills Assessment You Must Know Before Applying"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ACS skills assessment is essential for IT professionals who are willing to\u2002immigrate to Australia through the skilled stream. The ACS is responsible for\u2002the ACS migration skills assessment. It assesses whether your skills and qualifications are equivalent to the Australian standards required for working in the ICT sector. In 2026, applicants should monitor for updates on the wait. In this blog, you will learn about the new rules in\u2002relation to the ACS skill assessment and the\u00a0ACS migration skill assessment.<\/p>\n

Why is the ACS Skills Assessment Important for Migration? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The ACS migration skills assessment<\/strong><\/a> is the pathway for many skilled visas. A positive\u2002outcome means that your skills matched the nominated occupation. It contributes points\u2002to your Expression of Interest (EOI). It’s not possible to apply for visas such as the\u2002subclass 189, 190 or 491 without it. ACS is guided by\u2002SFIA to provide impartial assessments.<\/p>\n

Early 2026 Key Holiday Closure and Processing\u2002Delays<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The ACS Conference is from 19 December 2025\u2002to 5 January 2026. No results are released during\u2002this period, not even for complete applications. After reopening,\u2002additional delays of up to 4 weeks are expected, which are on top of the normal processing times. Apply early to\u2002avoid problems with visa deadlines.<\/p>\n

When the office reopens on 5 January 2026, additional delays of up\u2002to 4 weeks are expected. The\u2002usual timeframe for an ACS skill assessment is 8-12 weeks.<\/p>\n

New\u2002ICT occupations were added to the ACS list<\/strong><\/h2>\n

ACS broadened its occupations\u2002in late 2025. Ten\u2002new roles joined the list, now 35 in total. These are Data Scientist, Cyber Security Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Penetration Tester,\u2002etc., and some jobs in data and security.<\/p>\n

These are additions\u2002to the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Applications for new codes will be available\u2002beginning in 2026. That allows for more routes for professionals in expanding\u2002disciplines.<\/p>\n

Recent Changes in ACS Occupation Alignment Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the major changes in the Australian Computer Society ACS skills assessment process is that there is a more detailed occupation matching. ACS is now more thorough in checking whether your job duties really match and are consistent with the ANZSCO occupation you have selected.<\/p>\n

Some applicants previously were able to pass by simply loosely matching the tasks. But now, ACS requires that your day, to, day activities closely correspond to the \u00a0ANZSCO<\/a><\/strong> description. In case your duties only partially align, ACS<\/strong><\/a> can either decrease the assessed work experience or give a negative decision.<\/p>\n

This update is having an impact on applicants who are under the ACS migration skill assessment, more particularly on \u00a0ICT Business Analysts<\/a><\/strong>, Developers, and Managers. You need to demonstrate undoubtedly how your job relates to your selected occupation.<\/p>\n

Changes To Work\u2002Experience Deductions in the Treatment of Assessment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another significant change in the ACS\u2002skill assessment is related to experience deductions. ACS\u2002has a \u201cskills level requirement\u201d period for which they don\u2019t consider your work experience as skilled.<\/p>\n

If you have an ICT major degree,\u2002ACS can waive two years of experience. For a non-ICT\u2002or partial ICT degree, the deduction is from four to six years. Recent\u2002updates state that ACS treats these deductions more stringently and uniformly now.<\/p>\n

This is relevant under the ACS\u2002migration skill assessment<\/a> <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>points calculation. Many applicants lose points because they misunderstand how much experience ACS will actually count.<\/p>\n

Changes to RPL Pathway\u2002Expectations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The RPL path is still available, but the\u2002ACS is now requiring more evidence. If you are applying without a formal ICT degree, your RPL report must demonstrate depth, complexity and\u2002progression within your work.<\/p>\n

ACS assessors now require detailed explanations of projects, the use of problem-solving, and justification of technology. General descriptions or plagiarized content may end\u2002up in rejection. This development is making the preparation for RPL critical for a successful ACS skills\u2002assessment.<\/p>\n

Stricter Employment Reference Letter Review<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Employment reference letters<\/a> <\/strong>have always played a major role, but ACS nowadays gives them a lot more attention. According to the updated guidelines, the letter of reference should contain:<\/p>\n