Inside ACS certification
In a tech industry that moves at the speed of light, what does it take to stand out? Bessie Holland, Skills Manager at ACS, unpacks the why, what, and how of ACS certification.
With a deep knowledge of skills assessments, Bessie has steered countless tech professionals through the skills landscape. Whether you’re on the brink of mid-career acceleration or turning experience into recognition, Bessie’s knowledge is your inside track to understanding ACS certification.
What exactly is ACS certification, and why should tech professionals care about it?
Bessie Holland: Great question! Think of ACS certification as the professional seal of approval for a tech professional. Sure, degrees and vendor certificates show your technical expertise, but ACS certification tells the world you’ve demonstrated your capabilities, your experience holds water, and you operate with a solid footing in ethics and ongoing learning. It’s industry-wide recognition on top of certifications tied to vendors or technologies.
So, there are different types of certification? What are they, and how do they differ?
Bessie: We’ve got two core pathways: Certified Professional (CP) and Certified Technologist (CT). Both are technology-agnostic, which means we’re not looking at whether you’re a Java guru or a Python whiz but assessing your overall proficiency, your professional practice, and your alignment to international standards of competence.
Certified Technologist is aimed at emerging professionals who can demonstrate solid technical capability and are building breadth in the field.
Certified Professional is for seasoned practitioners who’ve taken on leadership roles, complex projects, and have proven the application of their skills in a broader business context.
Both require you to commit to continuing professional development each year.
What’s the certification assessment based on? Exams? Degrees? Experience?
Bessie: Here’s where it gets real. There are no formal exams. Instead, we look at your experience, qualifications, and professional practice contextualised through SFIA, the Skills Framework for the Information Age. You submit your CV, your formal qualifications, and evidence of real-world work projects. Two referees usually back that up.
Essentially, we conduct a peer-review style assessment, which means an individual’s skills and capabilities are independently validated. That’s what gives ACS-certified members credibility.
What are the real-world benefits once someone is certified?
Bessie: Oh, there are plenty! First off, it gives you a competitive edge. In a crowded job market, being a Certified Professional or Certified Technologist signals that you’re serious about your career and your craft. Employers see it as a benchmark of integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous learning.
There’s also growing evidence that certified professionals tend to have stronger career trajectories, from salary negotiation to leadership roles. Plus, certification opens doors internationally as it’s recognised beyond Australia, which is a big deal if career mobility is on your radar.
Certification plays into postgraduate study, too. Some of your education partner programs offer certified professionals academic credit for their certification, helping fast-track degrees or reduce workload.
Does getting certified actually future-proof a career? Or is it just another badge to collect?
Bessie: Even if you treat certification as a badge, it’ll stand out next to your LinkedIn endorsements. But if you use it as a lever to frame your expertise, advocate for your contributions, and embed yourself in a culture of professionalism, then yes, ACS certification genuinely future-proofs your career.
I think about this way, in an era of rapid change where emerging technologies are being deployed across industries for the first time, who do you trust? The professionals validated by the tech association that upholds the industry standards and has a 60-year history of maximising the benefits of technology, is where I’d start.
For someone on the fence, what would you say to nudge them toward applying?
Bessie: If you’ve built real capability through years of hard-won experience, don’t let it sit in the shadows. Certification basically says, “Hey, this is what I bring to the table, and here’s the proof.” That’s powerful in negotiations, networking, and in building trust with clients, employers and peers alike.
My advice? Take the leap. Explore the pathways, pull together your evidence, and apply. You might be surprised how that one decision becomes a turning point in your professional journey.
If Bessie has inspired you, head over to the ACS certification web page and explore Certified Professional (CP) and Certified Technologist (CT) pathways. It’s never been easier to turn your experience into verified professional recognition, so why wait? Apply today and take your tech career up a notch.
