sandy2810

Hi,

Just wanted someone to clarify on RPL requirement. I intend on applying for ICT Security Specialist (262112). I have around 5-6 years of Information Security experience with a Bachelors degree in Commerce. I also have MCSE and CCNP which as per the ACS site is considered as ICT major in Diploma and with 5 years experience in the same field I would not need to file RPL. However my agent is insisting on having the RPL submitted. As we all know filing RPL is a tedious task and I would like to avoid this if not required.

Kindly advise.

old.sparkles

A diploma or higher with no ICT component requires an RPL approach. Submitting just the vendor certificates should be skills only. If you use this approach, you may need to submit the degree for assessment separately if you wish to claim the points for a degree. ACS summary is here - https://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets...teria-2014.pdf

Depending on whether or not your vendor certs are considered closely related to your occupation will depend on whether or not you need 5 or 6 years experience to be deemed skilled. You cannot claim points on experience used to deem you skilled.

sandy2810

As per the ACS Summary of Criteria, My Qualification falls under "Diploma Advanced Diploma Associate Degree" because I have MCSE and CCNP, additionally I also have more than 5 years exp in the same field, so considering this I don't think I need RPL.
What are your views on this. Am I right?

old.sparkles

If you use the vendor certificates only, you need either 5 or 6 years experience depending on whether or not they are closely related to your occupation and this is a skills assessment not requiring RPL. This will not assess your degree but you will be able to claim 10 points for a diploma qualification. Not sure how you would get the degree assessed if you want to claim 15 points for that.

You should really be having this discussion with your agent though. Are they MARA registered? If you are not happy with the advice they are giving you, why are you using (and I assume paying) them?

sandy2810

Currently I am in process of collecting docs for ACS submission. I have chosen State sponsored path for my PR. The process is stuck with ACS Skills assessment for now, as my MARA registered agent is insisting for RPL submission with the only reason that my Bachelors degree is Non-ICT related.
Seems like my agent is not understanding my case properly but since I have already paid them the amount, it leaves me with no option but to challenge their advice.
I know people on this forum are knowledgeable and hence was relying for advice here.

old.sparkles

Perhaps your agent is suggesting this route as you need the 15 points from the degree. With both routes you will use up all your experience on the skills assessment, so with only a diploma qual assessed, you would need 8's on IELTS to bring your points up.

sandy2810

From what I understand this RPL is used only to get positive ACS skill assessment result, correct me if wrong. If this 15 points is based on the RPL submission then it would make sense to submit it.

old.sparkles

The 15 points is for a degree comparable to an Australian one. If you do RPL with the degree I think they would judge the degree to see if it's comparable for you to claim points. Otherwise you would get 10 for a diploma equivalent on the vendor certs and standard skills assessment. Max age points is 30, and you have no experience points. With the degree assessed and state sponsorship, you would only need 7's on IELTS to reach the points requirement if you get max age points. With only diploma points, or if you are not on max age, you will need all 8's. Have you taken IELTS yet?

sandy2810

No I have not done my IELTS yet. So basically it boils down to that 15 points for the degree. How confident are you that RPL will be used for assessing my Non ICT degree, coming back to my previous explanation RPL will only be used for skill assessment unless you sure that they use to access the degree as well. My age group falls under 34-39 and I also have my brother in Australia as a citizen, that gives me additional 5 points I guess.

old.sparkles

Having a brother in Australia does not get you any points.

Falling in the age group 33 - 39 means that you only get 25 points for age.

If you look at the criteria for non-ict degree, you need RPL - https://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets...teria-2014.pdf bu as you know you can use the vendor certs for straight skills assessment.

Looking at the booklet - http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1119.pdf - points can be awarded for a degree if it is of recognised standard (page 24). Not sure how to get overseas recognised without sending it to assessing body, but your agent might. You should sit down and discuss the options. Perhaps they can explain why they want you to do RPL and not skills.

spouse of scouse

Thank you very much Old Sparkles, for taking the time and the trouble to provide such comprehensive information on a volunteer basis.

Well somebody had to say it.

old.sparkles

Thanks SoS

JonEthan

Hi Sandy,

Not sure if this is too late for you, but let me just share my experience.

I have more than 15 years experience in IT after finishing a 2year IT diploma course. I don't have a bachelors' degree. But in 2012, I worked on getting MCSE certified.

I didn't take the RPL route and I got a positive assessment from ACS.

However, the letter was somewhat confusing. It says only employment after I completed my MCSE equate to my ANZSCO code, which means only 2 years of my 15 year experience is counted. But then, they listed down all my past employment and counted all 15 years. Here's how it looks like:

The following employment after February 2012 is considered to equate to work at an appropriately skilled level and relevant to 261312 (Developer Programmer) of the ANZSCO Code.

Dates: 10/97 - 09/05 (7yrs 11mths)
Position: xxx
Employer: xxx
Country: xxx

Dates: 09/05 - 06/12 (6yrs 9mths)
Position: xxx
Employer: xxx
Country: xxx

Dates: 06/12 - 10/13 (1yrs 4mths)
Position: xxx
Employer: xxx
Country: xxx


Anyway, I've already received PR, so I guess all good.

Note that this is not an advise but merely a sharing of experience.

Cheers,
Jon

old.sparkles

You should be careful of sharing experiences though that could be misleading. The PR visa you have is not points tested, and you merely had to prove that you were skilled. For points tested visas, only skilled employment is counted for points, which is that experience after the deeming date on an ACS skills assessment.

Yes all employment is listed, but points can only be claimed on the experience after that date.

JonEthan

ahh, good point. Got too excited to "help" with the little knowledge I have. Good thing this board has people like you. Cheers!