ACS assessments

[Traveller]

Yahooooo - we have movement

My status changed from "in process" to "with assessor" this afternoon - what does that mean????

I decided to check for a second time today (I find myself doing that a lot these days ) and there it was .....along with a long registerd post number - So now I'm excited and confused, anyone got a clue whether that means the result is in the post, or is it there just to freak a person out????

[KimH]

If it has a registered number it means it is on its way home to you!!

Call the SA post office and check with them about getting a SA tracking number. Once you have that it should only take a few days to get to you although we hounded the post office and went in and collected it even before they could write out that little white slip!!

The ACS seems to be moving through applications very quickly at the moment so guess we got lucky!! You can see how quickly ours went from our signature below.

Let us know when you get the results so we can have a glass of wine for you!!

Kim

[Traveller]

If it has a registered number it means it is on its way home to you!!

Call the SA post office and check with them about getting a SA tracking number. Once you have that it should only take a few days to get to you although we hounded the post office and went in and collected it even before they could write out that little white slip!!

The ACS seems to be moving through applications very quickly at the moment so guess we got lucky!! You can see how quickly ours went from our signature below.

Let us know when you get the results so we can have a glass of wine for you!!

Kim

Will do & thanks for your response Kim!

Just phoned the post office, they say it's not on their system yet which means it hasn't eneterd the country quite yet......so they can't give me an RSA tracking number - It was 7 weeks for my assessment until this point (ack received 3 March) so I can agree they do seem to be moving through the apps quicker

Edited April 23, 2008 by Travlr

[psxkim]

Hi,

Just got my "With Assessor" as well status today....

I applied for 2231-79 Nec (Oracle) - Oracle DBA on 3 March and took 52Days/ 7.4 Weeks.

The waiting was killing me and have no idea how I going to handle the VISA wait.

Any ideas on contacting ACS to find out what the acutal result is, instead of waiting for the letter?

Well one step closer and good luck to all the guys waiting, ACS does seem to be pushing things along.

Regards,

Kinesh

[Traveller]

Hi,

Just got my "With Assessor" as well status today....

I applied for 2231-79 Nec (Oracle) - Oracle DBA on 3 March and took 52Days/ 7.4 Weeks.

The waiting was killing me and have no idea how I going to handle the VISA wait.

Any ideas on contacting ACS to find out what the acutal result is, instead of waiting for the letter?

Well one step closer and good luck to all the guys waiting, ACS does seem to be pushing things along.

Regards,

Kinesh

All I'm going to say is...typical DBA

Kinesh from what I understand it's a bad idea to try to get hold of someone at ACS, just dig deep mate and hang in there - your result letter will be with you within a week. I understand though and what a let down, so there's progress and yet you have no clue what that progress is....

Hopefully we can all celebrate together and we'll all be seasoned waiters by the time BIG wait is over

[psxkim]

All I'm going to say is...typical DBA

Kinesh from what I understand it's a bad idea to try to get hold of someone at ACS, just dig deep mate and hang in there - your result letter will be with you within a week. I understand though and what a let down, so there's progress and yet you have no clue what that progress is....

Hopefully we can all celebrate together and we'll all be seasoned waiters by the time BIG wait is over

Hi.

Just a note I applied as a DBA, but I am not an out and out DBA. I just had to prove 12 months DBA skills in the past 4 years.

Yep, I agree on not contacting ACS and waiting. Spoke to my agent as well and he also said hang in there till Monday or Tuesday and he will let me know.

But, I am gonna celebrate prematurely while my wife is with me this weekend.

"seasonal waiters" - this is ultimate test on anyone's patience, but hey, one step closer.

Thanks guys...knowing that you are not alone in this, does bring about some comfort.

[sunshine123]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question - I've been reading through the posts on this thread, and I am still unsure whether a MCSE (2000 and 2003) will be recognized as an equivalent in order to get through a straight assessment with ACS (not RPL)?

My husband has about 11 years of relevant experience now in addition to the above qualifications (and others) - so we are wanting to submit to ACS.

He also has ITIL, CCSP, Security +, MCSE 2003 Security and VCP.. (not sure if that helps any )

Thanks for any advice!

[Leigh MC]

Hi 'Noonan'

Someone else earlier on the thread seemed to think that the MCSE is recognised as an equivalent in Aus, which puts my mind at ease, cos my boyfriend doesn't have a degree, but has about 19 years of IT experience, also with other 'smaller' diplomas obtained along the way.

I don't know anything about IT, but sounds like he has enough experience to get the straight ACS skills assessment.

Leigh

[sunshine123]

Hi 'Noonan'

Someone else earlier on the thread seemed to think that the MCSE is recognised as an equivalent in Aus, which puts my mind at ease, cos my boyfriend doesn't have a degree, but has about 19 years of IT experience, also with other 'smaller' diplomas obtained along the way.

I don't know anything about IT, but sounds like he has enough experience to get the straight ACS skills assessment.

Leigh

Hi LMC, thanks - it's quite a costly excercise - and it's difficult if you're not sure if you're 'ok' or not!

But we would certainly like to avoid the RPL if we can.

How about references from a current employer? He can't ask anyone there for a ref. because they will absolutely flip out if they hear he's maybe leaving!

[Leigh MC]

Hi LMC, thanks - it's quite a costly excercise - and it's difficult if you're not sure if you're 'ok' or not!

But we would certainly like to avoid the RPL if we can.

How about references from a current employer? He can't ask anyone there for a ref. because they will absolutely flip out if they hear he's maybe leaving!

Ja - I've also wondered about that one! Is there not someone else that he works with, who he could trust to write the reference for him? Instead of a boss I mean...

I know I have friends in the places I've worked, who would definitely write refs for me, and I would for them... worth a bash?

Leigh

[psxkim]

Hi,

I was told by my Agent that I didn't need to go the RPL route, as I have an MCSE. I will let you know if everything went ok, once I receive the letter from ACS next week.

Ok, references, I was pretty much open about it to my manager, but when I requested it from HR, I drafted the letter and told them it was for two Prof. Orgs. requiring confirmation of my skills, for acreditation.

So instead of writing two letters, I bumped all of their formats and requirements into one letter to save time. That is one of the sneaky ways to do it.

Regards

[Leigh MC]

Hi,

I was told by my Agent that I didn't need to go the RPL route, as I have an MCSE. I will let you know if everything went ok, once I receive the letter from ACS next week.

Ok, references, I was pretty much open about it to my manager, but when I requested it from HR, I drafted the letter and told them it was for two Prof. Orgs. requiring confirmation of my skills, for acreditation.

So instead of writing two letters, I bumped all of their formats and requirements into one letter to save time. That is one of the sneaky ways to do it.

Regards

Hi psxkim

Thanks for that info... good news then!!!

Leigh

[sunshine123]

Hi psxkim,

Please let us know what happens with our ACS assessment as soon as you find out?

How many years of IT exp do you have?

Hope all goes well for you!

Regards

Sonja

[psxkim]

Hi,

YIPEE, got a postive for 2231-79 (Oracle), meaning I get 60 points.

I have 9 years experience, but the ACS only calculates the experience on professional titles. They didn't take into account the months that I was a operator and only started thed count from the time I was an Adminstrator. They ended up with a calc of 7 years and 9 months.

Another thing is I got my current reference letter last year November and the ACS didn't calculate my employment period till the date I submitted the app, they calculated on the date of the reference letter. Very important, make sure that you current employment reference letter is dated the latest as possible.

Cheers and all the best

[sunshine123]

Hi psxkim,

Congratulations! Thanks for letting us know!

By professional titles - what exactly do you mean?

Also, on the current reference... would a letter of appointment and payslip help? I don't think there is any way my husband can ask anyone for a reference at his current employer - how to go about this? Anyone with a similar experience and success with a letter of appointment?

tHanks!

Sonja

[psxkim]

Hi Sonja,

My take on this is that non-prof. titles doesn't require certification, for eg a Data Capturer, Computer Operator, etc. Whereas Network Administrators, Security Specialists and so on are professional titles. I hope this makes sense.

I was advised to get a letter from HR, I am not too sure if LOA is allowed, but payslips maybe. Anyone else with a similar issue?

I'd tell you husband to draft the letter, detailing the period of employment, full time or part time, his reporting line, skills and responsibilities. Tell HR he requires it for a course or to get credits for a prof. org. (eg PMI, CISA, Microsoft, any IT Institute)

Also that he combined the requirements from two into one letter to make it easier for the HR guys. I did this so some smart ass, didn't head the letter as "CISA: confirmation of MR. Moodleys employment."

You are not gonna specify what you need the letter for in the document, all it is, is a confirmation of employment and skills, so it should not be an issue. It would be different if you had to get a letter stating that I WANT THIS FOR MY VISA. then it will be a hassle.

All the best,

[Leigh MC]

hi

Just to confirm that Letter of Appointment question: I believe it is NOT acceptable as proof of employment. Nor would the payslips be.

You MUST have a detailed reference. It must have very specific details about the work you do for the company, and must have very clear contact details, with the name and address etc of the company, on an official company letterhead. They probably WILL phone the contact for a telephonic reference, so it needs to be above board - you don't want them phoning your boss and he finds out that way that you're leaving!!

I would either be upfront with your boss, or find another trusted colleague who could be a possible contact for references.

Leigh

[sa2auz]

Hi

You need to check out the ACS website and the requirements for references. They are very very sticky. We redid ours 3 times. I think it would be best that you are upfront with your employer tell them you are wanting to apply and that you are not going in the immediate future but would give them 3 months heads up etc, you might be surprised to find that a number of people are also applying but keepign it under their hat. You need exact dates, comfiration that it was a full time job, titles, telephone numbers etc.

If you are not sure on whether you need to do RPL email ptlabs and it does cost but he will say RPL or not. You could always try get a 457 and apply for PR once in Aus.

Good Luck

S

[sunshine123]

Thanks all, yes I didn't think the LOA would 'cut it'.

He will have to take HR into his confidence for the letter.. I wouldn't even reccommend to him to ask a colleague - you never know - and you don't want your boss to find out that way either!

Best way is to be upfront.

Thanks!

[psxkim]

Hi,

I was upfront with my manager about it and just gave HR the roundabout story as I didn't want news to spread.

Has anyone used an affidavit and payslips or tax certificates as an alternate route?

Regards,

[qwerty]

ACS has requested 2 project reports. Can these be emailed to them or must we physically send the reports to them again? We included the authorisation codes for hubby's MCSE, but they just requested them again...not sure why though....they obviously did not read the long letter we included.

[CTFamily]

Hi All

Having read this thread I realised with a heavy heart that my 10 years SAP experience including several certifications means nothing as it is backed with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Human Physiology!

So RPL here I come Are there any SAP consultants who have had to do this?

Thanks

Tracey

[qwerty]

We could email the Project Reports to the case officer...which we did and they sent a reply that they received the documents and will proceed with the assessment based on these documents...please cross your fingers, etc...

[Tobold]

We could email the Project Reports to the case officer...which we did and they sent a reply that they received the documents and will proceed with the assessment based on these documents...please cross your fingers, etc...

I'll be holding thumbs, and crossing fingers, for you. I know what it feels like to wait for that assessment. I look forward to hearing of your success.

[Hennie-Pennie]

Hi Guys. I am trying to help hubby with his skill assessment. He has a Bsc Hon degree in computer science (through PU for CHE). Now here is my predicament. Somehow with the name change of the University they lost the English version of all the year books (containing the description of each subject taken). We have mark sheets ( each subject taken and marks allocated) and employer references for the last 4 years of employment.

Do we need to submit a description of each subject taken or is that a urban legend?

Regards

Henriette