ACS RPL Pathway for ICT - Requirements, Reports and Fee
Last updated: 5 November 2026
The ACS RPL pathway is a migration skills assessment for IT, data science and cyber security professionals who have no relevant tertiary qualification. It needs 6 years of relevant work experience, two project reports and professional currency evidence. The application fee is $625. ACS runs it, not an RTO.
Key takeaways
The ACS RPL pathway is for experienced applicants without relevant tertiary qualifications. The General Skills pathway is for applicants with ICT qualifications.
You need 6 years of relevant IT work, with recent experience active or within the last 2 years, at 20 hours or more a week.
You submit two project reports, one from the last 2 years and one from the last 4 years, plus at least two forms of professional currency evidence.
ACS says the reports must be your own work and not outsourced to a writing or editing agency.
The fee is $625. You cannot add documents after you submit.
What is the ACS RPL pathway?
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the assessing authority for many ICT occupations. It offers four assessment pathways. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway assesses your practical IT, data science or cyber security experience instead of a tertiary qualification.
The pathway does not assess any tertiary qualification. ACS decides whether your experience and knowledge meet the standard for your nominated ANZSCO occupation.
This is not the same as RPL from an RTO. An RTO issues a vocational qualification. ACS issues a skills assessment outcome. Read RPL vs skills assessment and which authorities accept RPL for the wider picture.
Who is eligible for the ACS RPL pathway?
ACS sets these requirements on its RPL pathway page:
6 years of relevant IT work experience
Your most recent experience active, or within the last 2 years before you submit
Professional IT employment of at least 20 hours a week
Other points from the ACS FAQs:
Work of less than 20 hours a week is assessed as unsuitable.
Work that was a requirement of your qualification does not count.
If two jobs overlapped, the overlap counts once toward your total.
ACS cannot give pre-assessment advice. It can only advise after a formal assessment.
If you hold an ICT qualification, the General Skills pathway may suit you better. Check the pathway before you start.
What documents does the ACS RPL pathway need?
ACS lists five groups of documents.
Proof of identity. Two forms of photo ID, plus proof of any name change.
Two RPL project reports. You complete them in the ACS RPL Form. See the next section.
Professional currency evidence. At least two forms of evidence that show your skills are current for your nominated occupation. It must be completed within the last 2 years.
Evidence of work experience. Employer documents showing your employment dates and duties, plus payment evidence that matches the skill level of your role.
Translations. Documents not in English need a translation.
The professional currency evidence page lists three categories:
Training and certification, such as vendor certifications. Only certain vendor certifications are accepted. See the ACS vendor certifications page.
Professional artefacts, such as publications, code, scripts, applications, awards or patents
Professional development and industry engagement, such as memberships, workshops or speaking
ACS can reject both the project reports and the currency evidence if they do not meet the standard.
What do the two project reports need?
The ACS project report rules are specific.
One report covers a project from the last 2 years. The other covers a project from the last 4 years.
Each report describes one career episode and shows how you applied your IT knowledge at work.
Each project is relevant to your current or recent employment.
Each report has enough detail to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.
If you work in a non-project role, you describe your work experience and the challenges you faced.
Use the ACS Recognition of Prior Learning Form and the ACS Core Body of Knowledge (CBOK) for guidance.
The reports must be exclusively your own work. ACS says they must not be outsourced to any third-party service, such as a writing or editing agency. ACS may use software to check for similarity to published material and other applications.
It may ask you to resubmit a report for plagiarism screening. Reference any quote or paraphrased content, and declare anything you did not create.
How much does the ACS RPL pathway cost and how long does it take?
Fee: $625, payable when you start your application (ACS)
Start window: you can start with proof of ID and payment, then submit within 90 days
Processing: 4 to 6 weeks when ACS needs no extra documents
Appeals: a level 1 appeal within 60 days of your outcome letter, and a level 2 appeal within 30 days of the level 1 outcome
You cannot add documents after you submit, so check every requirement first. After you submit your identity documents and payment, you can authorise a registered migration agent to complete the application for you.
For other costs in the RPL journey, see the RPL cost and timeline guide.
How is it different from RPL from an RTO and the other ACS pathways?
ACS RPL pathway. An ACS migration skills assessment based on 6 years of experience, two project reports and currency evidence. It does not issue a qualification. You do not need an RTO qualification to use it.
RPL from an RTO. An RTO assesses your evidence and issues a vocational qualification. It is part of the training system, not the ACS process.
General Skills. For applicants with ICT qualifications and professional ICT work experience.
Post Australian Study. For international students with an Australian bachelor's degree or higher in an IT, data science or cyber security major, plus at least one year of relevant Australian IT work or the ACS Professional Year.
Qualification Only. For an Australian diploma or associate degree in an IT, data science or cyber security major, used for the Temporary Graduate 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream.
The ACS assessment pathways page has the full rules for each.
What mistakes do ICT applicants make with the ACS RPL pathway?
Choosing RPL when the General Skills pathway fits because you hold an ICT qualification.
Paying a writing agency for the project reports. ACS says the reports must be your own work.
Using projects outside the time frames. One must be from the last 2 years and one from the last 4 years.
Submitting currency evidence that is older than 2 years or unrelated to your occupation.
Counting part-time work under 20 hours a week, or work you did as part of a qualification.
Submitting with documents missing. You cannot add them later.
Assuming ACS assesses every ICT occupation. TRA's Assessment Standards Policy lists ICT Customer Support Officer (313112), ICT Support Technicians nec (313199) and Hardware Technician (313111) among TRA's occupations. Check your occupation on the ACS occupations page first. See RACC's guide on ICT Support Technician 313199.
Relying on an old third-party guide. Check the time frames and fee on ACS's own pages.
How RACC can help
RACC Australia is a registered migration and education agency in Melbourne (MARN 1572961). RACC is not an RTO, and it does not assess skills or issue ACS outcomes. RACC does not write project reports for you.
A registered migration agent can check which ACS pathway and ANZSCO occupation fit your experience, review your evidence plan and manage the application. Book a consultation before you start, because you cannot add documents after you submit.
See also RACC's guides on ICT occupations and PR invitations and how to apply for PR as an ICT Project Manager.
This page is general information and not migration advice. Rules and fees change, and your outcome depends on your own circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ACS RPL pathway?
It is an ACS migration skills assessment for IT, data science and cyber security professionals with ample experience but no relevant tertiary qualification. ACS assesses your experience through two project reports, professional currency evidence and employment evidence. It does not issue a qualification.
Who can apply for the ACS RPL pathway?
You need 6 years of relevant professional IT work, with your most recent experience active or within the last 2 years. The work must be at least 20 hours a week. If you hold a relevant ICT qualification, the General Skills pathway may fit better.
How many project reports does ACS RPL need?
Two. One must cover a project from the last 2 years and the other a project from the last 4 years. Each describes a specific career episode. If you work in a non-project role, you describe your work experience and the challenges you faced.
Can someone else write my ACS RPL project reports?
No. ACS says the reports must be exclusively your own work and not outsourced to a third-party service such as a writing or editing agency. ACS may screen reports for plagiarism and can reject the reports and currency evidence if they do not meet the standard.
What is professional currency evidence for ACS RPL?
It is at least two forms of evidence that show your skills are current for your nominated occupation, completed within the last 2 years. Examples include vendor certifications, professional artefacts such as code or publications, and professional development such as workshops or speaking.
How much does the ACS RPL pathway cost and how long does it take?
The application fee is $625, payable when you start. You can begin with proof of ID and payment and submit within 90 days. ACS says assessment takes 4 to 6 weeks when it needs no extra documents. You cannot add documents after submission.
Should I choose General Skills or RPL?
Choose General Skills if you have an ICT qualification and professional ICT experience. Choose RPL if you have professional ICT experience and no tertiary qualification. ACS cannot confirm an outcome before a formal assessment, so check each pathway's requirements first.
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