Interprets specifications, technical designs and flow charts, builds, maintains and modifies the code for software applications, constructs technical specifications from a business functional model, and tests and writes technical documentation.

Skill Level

1

Alternative Titles

• Applications Developer
• ICT Developer
• ICT Programmer

Specialisations

• Communications Programmer (Systems)
• Database Developer
• Database Programmer (Systems)
• Network Programmer
• Software Developer
• Software Programmer

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Developer Programmer is Australian Computer Society (ACS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Four application types available for Migration purposes
  • Pathway A – Temporary Graduate (TG)
    • For graduates that have completed an Australian Bachelor degree or higher. This is a qualification only skills assessment and can only be used to apply for a subclass 485 visa
    • Your degree must be an ICT major and closely related to your nominated occupation. You are not required to have worked in the field.
  • Pathway B – Post Australian Study (PAS)
    • For graduates that have completed an Australian Bachelor degree or higher and would like a skill assessment for migration purposes in general. Relevant ICT employment or completion of an ACS Professional Year program is required.
    • You will require an Australian bachelor’s degree or higher with a major in ICT which is closely related to the nominated occupation (ANZSCO) plus one of the following requirements for a suitable skills assessment:
      • 1 year of relevant work experience completed after the completion date of the relevant Australian degree, or
      • Completion of an ACS Professional Year Program
    • Pathway C – Skills
      • This is a general skills assessment application to assess tertiary ICT qualifications and ICT employment
      • You will require a Qualification comparable to AQF Bachelor Degree or Higher with an ICT Major +2 years experience in the last 10 years; OR
      • Qualification comparable to AQF Bachelor Degree or Higher with an ICT Minor + 5 years experience in the last 10 years; OR
      • Qualification comparable to AQF Diploma or Vendor Certification + 5 years experience in the last 10 years
    • Pathway D- Recognition of Prior Learning
      • For applicants who hold qualifications with insufficient or no ICT content, or applicants who do not hold any ICT qualifications.
      • You will require Non ICT Qualification comparable to AQF Diploma or Higher + 6 years relevant work experience; OR
      • No tertiary qualification – work experience only + 8 years relevant work experience

Did you know?

For the skills pathway, if your degree/diploma is not closely related to your occupation or your work experience is not in the last 10 years, you will be required to show more relevant work experience. (e.g. 4 years instead of 2 years)

design, develop, test, maintain and document program code in accordance with user requirements, and system and technical specifications.

Tasks

• researching, consulting, analysing and evaluating system program needs
• identifying technology limitations and deficiencies in existing systems and associated processes, procedures and methods
• testing, debugging, diagnosing and correcting errors and faults in an applications programming language within established testing protocols, guidelines and quality standards to ensure programs and applications perform to specification
• writing and maintaining program code to meet system requirements, system designs and technical specifications in accordance with quality accredited standards
• writing, updating and maintaining technical program, end user documentation and operational procedures
• providing advice, guidance and expertise in developing proposals and strategies for software design activities such as financial evaluation and costings for recommending software purchases and upgrades

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience and/or relevant vendor certification may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Occupations in this Group

• 261311 Analyst Programmer
• 261312 Developer Programmer
• 261313 Software Engineer
• 261314 Software Tester
• 261399 Software and Applications Programmers nec