Overview

Course Objectives

The Computer Professional Education Program enables students to achieve the following objectives:

• Ability to develop a risk management plan for projects including the impact on social, business and ecological environments.
• Skills to ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Skills to ensure compliance with appropriate professional codes of ethics, standards and practice.
• Ability to analyse user requirements and provide advice on scope and options for operational improvement.
• The knowledge of specific technical specialisations and their application.

Professional Recognition

Australian Computer Society Professional Certification for ACS Members.

Eligibility

Academic

• Be a graduate of an ACS accredited degree in ICT (or equivalent) with at least 18 months relevant work experience
• Be a graduate of an Australian bachelor degree or equivalent overseas qualification with a minimum of five years relevant experience with the last two years at least at level 4 (of 7) of the Skills Framework for the Information Age
• Be a graduate of an Australian diploma (AQF 5/6) in ICT or equivalent overseas qualification with a minimum six years relevant experience
• Hold one of the following vendor certifications – MCSE, MCSD, CLP and CNE gained from 1997, and CDE, Master CNE, CNI, CCE and OCM gained from 2004, and MCPD and MCITP gained from 2007, with a total of not less than six years relevant experience post-Certification, with the last two years at least at level 4 (of 7) of the Skills Framework for the Information Age

English Language Competency

All applicants must have English Language Competency. Non-native English speakers must achieve a TOEFL score of 577 (or a score of 233 in the computer based TOEFL) or IELTS score of 7.

Work experience

Students must also, at least at the time of enrolment, be in ICT-related employment.

How to Apply

This course is restricted. Students are required to apply and be approved by the Australian Computer Society before they can enrol in units through OUA.

Note: Unit offerings are subject to enrolment numbers. See Special Requirements for further information.

Applications for the Computer Professional Education Program are due by Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment. 

Please complete the application form below.

1. Read information requirements

   • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

   • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

     Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

     If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

     Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

   • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

     If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Australian Computer Society directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

   • Next steps:

     After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

     Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

     If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

2. Prepare supporting documents

   • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

     1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
     2. Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
     3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
     4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
     5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
     6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
     7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

     A "certified" copy is a copy bearing the recognised mark of a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Oaths or declarations, Public Notary or a Solicitor.

   • Create an electronic copy of your attachments:

     For each certified document, scan and save it on your computer. Save your curriculum vitae to your computer, then get ready to upload all documents in the form.

   • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Special Requirements

For all units in the Computer Professional Education Program students must be in relevant ICT-related employment so that they can apply theory in their day-to-day activities and also for assignment purposes.

All units in this program have a minimum number requirement before the units can run. For core units the minimum number of students is 10 and for elective units the minimum number of students is 7. You will be notified within two weeks of the start of the session if your unit has not fulfilled these minimum enrolment requirements. For further information please contact ACS.

Study Materials

Units in this program use fully online study materials. All interactions, educational content, learning activities, assessment and support services are integrated and delivered online.

Award Requirements

Although this is a restricted program, individual units are available to all students with a relevant bachelor's degree. Please refer to Eligibility for more information and complete an Application Form.

To complete the Computer Professional Education Program, you must undertake three core units and one elective unit.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

Students may apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) for subjects within the ACS Computer Professional Education Program.  ACS policy is that a maximum of 50% (two units of the course) will be allowed for RPL credits. 

To apply for RPL a student must complete and submit the Recognition of Prior Learning Application Form and pay a fee specified by the ACS covering the cost of assessing the application.

For more information visit: CPE Program RPL.

Registering in this Course

Once a student has completed the four subjects required for the ACS Computer Professional Education Program, they will be notified by the ACS to attend an award ceremony at their local ACS branch.  There is no graduation fee or application form required.

Course Structure