The following terms and conditions apply to NAATI tests and other applications such as recertification and Recognised Practising applications.
Application requirements
- NAATI reserves the right to amend or cancel a test at any time.
- The test will be recorded (in writing, audio or video, depending on the test type). These recordings will remain the property of NAATI and will not be made available to the candidate.
- Candidates must ensure that the information provided in their application form is correct to the best of their knowledge.
- By completing an application, candidates acknowledge that they have read and understood the NAATI Privacy Policy, which explains:
- how and why NAATI collects, manages and uses their personal information
- to whom NAATI may disclose their personal information
- how they can access and request correction of their personal information which NAATI holds
- how they can complain about a breach of the Australian or New Zealand Privacy Principles by NAATI.
- Candidates must read and understand the NAATI Identity Verification Policy, which explains how their identity will be verified on the day of their test.
- If the fees for a candidate’s application have been paid by an organisation or sponsor, NAATI may provide information to that organisation about the outcome of the application if requested by the organisation or by the candidate.
- NAATI will use candidates’ personal information to process their applications, verify their eligibility, administer their tests, and to assess and record the outcomes of their applications.
- If NAATI does not collect a candidate’s personal information, NAATI will not be able to provide its products and services to that candidate.
- NAATI reserves the right to confirm any of the information required if necessary.
- NAATI reviews its tests and processes from time to time. This may result in changes including, but not limited to, recertification requirements, testing conditions, test formats, language availability and assessment criteria.
- NAATI is required to verify practitioner credentials. If a candidate is successful in passing a certification test, NAATI will disclose their name, NAATI credentials, expiry dates, practitioner number, photograph and country of residence via the online Verification Tool. Certified practitioners cannot opt out of the Verification Tool.
- In the NAATI Online Directory, NAATI will also disclose their name, NAATI credentials and contact details. Practitioners can opt out of the Online Directory via myNAATI.
- If a candidate is successful in a certification test (not including prerequisite or knowledge tests), they will need to behave ethically and meet recertification criteria to maintain their certification.
- Comments from examiners provided with certification results are not a complete list of examiners’ observations. The feedback provided is a select list of examples to support and justify why a band has been awarded.
Candidates who have an impairment, temporary illness or special circumstance which may affect their performance may apply for reasonable test adjustments. Circumstances may be physical (e.g. hearing, visual, motor skills), psychiatric (e.g. anxiety), medical (e.g. diabetes) or a learning disability (e.g. dyslexia).
NAATI is committed to equity of access for candidates and careful consideration is given to all requests within the limitations of the test requirements.
There is no possibility of special consideration being given to test results. In no circumstances will rubrics be adjusted to account for any perceived disadvantage or for certification to be awarded without testing.
To apply for reasonable test adjustments:
- Complete your NAATI application through myNAATI.
- Once you have been made eligible for testing, email NAATI to request a reasonable test adjustment. Your request should contain:
- Your application reference number.
- A professional evaluation of your condition (no more than one year old for a medical condition), which includes:
- a clear diagnosis and information on your condition
- the impact of your condition in test settings
- advice from your health practitioner on what adjustments are necessary for you in test settings.
- Specific recommendations for NAATI on what reasonable adjustments should be considered for your test.
Please submit your request as soon as possible. NAATI is unable to provide solutions without understanding the unique circumstances of individual candidates. If you submit a request within 5 weeks of your test, your test may need to be rescheduled.
Passing the following tests does not provide a NAATI credential to work as a translator or interpreter: – Credentialed Community Language (CCL) tests – Community Language Aide (CLA) tests – Intercultural Competency tests – Ethical Competency tests – Certified Specialist Interpreter knowledge tests
Taking the test
Candidates are expected to be courteous and professional in their dealings with NAATI staff.
During the test, candidates must follow all instructions given by any NAATI officer and the guidelines set out in the Candidate Instructions provided to candidates via email. If a candidate does not follow instructions, NAATI may refuse to test them or invalidate their test.
Abusive, threatening or violent behaviour towards NAATI staff or other candidates will not be tolerated.
All test materials are, and remain at all times, the property of NAATI. NAATI provides each candidate with the test material for the sole purpose of taking the test. NAATI is not defined as an agency in the Freedom of Information Act and is therefore not subject to it. NAATI’s test materials are therefore not obtainable under the Act. NAATI does not release copies of test materials or copies of candidate responses to those test materials.
Candidates are not permitted to make copies (paper or electronic) of any test material, reproduce the test or communicate the test content to a third party.
NAATI may contact candidates to request permission to use their test performance for purposes other than its original purpose, such as examiner skill maintenance or research with external parties. If a candidate agrees to this use of their test performance, they may be entitled to compensation.
If a candidate is ill and decides to sit a test, their test will be marked on the same basis as everyone else’s. There will be no additional consideration.
In cases where a candidate appears to be visibly ill upon arrival at a test venue, they may be asked to leave for the safety of others. It is the candidate’s responsibility to promptly notify NAATI if illness may impact their test day. If candidates who have initially booked an in-person test become unwell and are unable to attend, we will do our best to accommodate their request to switch to an online test, subject to our test cancellation policies.
We recommend that candidates who are concerned about COVID-19 or other contagious viruses choose the online testing option. While masks are allowed in and around our testing venues, candidates may not wear them during test performances.
If a candidate arrives late to their test, the test supervisor will advise them whether they can be admitted to the test.
If testing of other candidates has started, a late candidate will not be tested.
Candidates who arrive late and cannot be admitted to the test, or who do not attend the test at all, will not receive a refund of their test fee.
Test candidates who sit an online test are responsible for ensuring their devices and equipment meet the system requirements advised by NAATI. You will find these requirements listed in the candidate information or instructions about the test.
NAATI staff cannot provide technical support for devices or equipment owned by a test candidate.
If a test cannot be completed due to a candidate’s devices or equipment not meeting the system requirements, the test may be cancelled with no refund offered.
Cheating and disqualification
Penalties available to NAATI include (but are not limited to):
- invalidating the test and preventing the candidate from sitting a NAATI test in the future
- invalidating the test and preventing the candidate from sitting a NAATI test for a set period of time
- invalidating the test and offering the opportunity to reschedule or receive a refund
- withholding the test results.
Candidates may be immediately disqualified from the test without a refund of the test fee and their test result withheld if:
- they attempt cheating
- If NAATI suspects that a candidate has gained an unfair advantage by breaching the test conditions either directly or indirectly, or has assisted another candidate to do so, NAATI will outline the allegations and proposed actions to the candidate in writing.
- The candidate will have a right of reply.
- NAATI will investigate allegations of cheating, consider the candidate’s response and make a decision about the appropriate course of action, based on the outcome of NAATI’s investigation.
- there is compelling evidence that they had prior knowledge about test materials
- anyone is present in the test room who is not permitted to be there
- they use any communication or recording function of electronic devices
- they use any resources and/or tools prohibited for use during the particular test type (candidates should refer to the information specific to the test type for more details). Example of prohibited tools include but are not limited to:
- machine translation
- CAT tools
- captioning software.
- their behaviour and/or language are unruly and/or aggressive to NAATI staff
- they fail to follow instructions by supervisors after their first warning
- they leave the venue or online platform before their test session is complete
- they breach the confidentiality of test materials, including but not limited to
- making copies (paper or electronic) of any test material
- taking screenshots
- recording performances
- keeping any notes they took during the preparation time or the test
- reproducing the test materials
- communicating the test content to other candidates or a third party.
- they pretend to experience technical issues
- they use or keep with them electronic device(s) that are prohibited for use, e.g. mobile phones, smartwatches and Bluetooth headphones
Online tests
Candidates are required to turn off the prohibited devices in front of their computer camera during registration time.
In person tests
Candidates are required to turn off the prohibited devices when they check in for their test and to place the devices in their bag.
Candidates may be immediately disqualified from the test without a refund of the test fee and their test result will not be issued if:
- they are found smoking in the test venue
- they disturb other candidates
- after completing their test, they leave the test venue and re-enter the venue, including the waiting area and bathrooms, while the test session continues
- after completing any part of their test, they talk to other candidates who are yet to complete the test
- their behaviour and/or language are unruly and/or aggressive to other candidates.
Rescheduling and cancellation policy
Reschedule policy
Tests can be rescheduled up to (and including) 3 days prior to the test date.
- There is no cost to reschedule.
- Candidates are responsible for rescheduling their own test via their myNAATI account. You will need to reject your test session in myNAATI and then select another test date.
It is not possible to reschedule a test within 2 days of the test session unless the candidate provides evidence of hospital admission, serious injury or an accident. This is because we “lock in” the test sessions to enable planning and preparation.
If you have been admitted to hospital, or suffered a serious injury or accident, you must provide evidence to info@naati.com.au by 8am (Canberra time) on the test day at the very latest. The medical certificate or hospital admission must state the nature of the illness.
If your test is within the next 2 days and you can no longer attend for another reason, you will need to cancel your application (see below) and apply again.
Cancellation policy
If your test is more than 2 days away
You will be eligible for a refund of 75% of your test fee if you cancel a test more than 2 days before the test date.
Follow the instructions on applying for a refund through myNAATI: Refunds – NAATI
If your test is within the next 2 days
- To cancel a test scheduled within the next 2 days, you must email us at info@naati.com.au with your customer number so that we can cancel your test for you. You cannot reject your own test session in myNAATI if your test is scheduled within the next 2 days and there are no refunds applicable.
- You will not receive a refund if you cancel a test within 2 days.
If you do not complete your test on your scheduled test date, this is considered a cancellation and no fees will be refunded.
Reschedule policy
- Candidates are able to reschedule their own tests up to (and including) 3 days prior to the test date via their myNAATI portal.
- Rescheduling is not possible within 2 days of the test and is considered a cancellation.
Cancellation policy
Reschedule policy
- Candidates are able to reschedule their own tests up to (and including) 15 days prior to test date via their myNAATI portal.
- For rescheduling of in person tests between 8 and 14 days candidates are required to contact info@naati.com.au.
- Rescheduling is not possible within 7 days of the test and is considered a cancellation.
Cancellation policy
If your test is more than 14 days away
- You will be eligible for a refund of 75% of your test fee if you cancel a test more than 14 days before the test date.
- Follow the instructions on applying for a refund through your myNAATI account.
If your test is within the next 14 days
- To cancel a test scheduled within the next 14 days, you must email us at info@naati.com.au with your customer number so that we can cancel your test for you. You cannot reject your own test session in myNAATI if your test is scheduled within the next 14 days.
- You will not receive a refund if you cancel a test within 14 days.
If you do not attend your test on your scheduled test date, this is considered a cancellation and no fees will be refunded.
- In some circumstances both online and in-person test sessions may be rescheduled without penalty or receive a 75% refund up to the day of the test if the following criteria are met:
- NAATI has been notified by 8am on the morning the test and evidence is provided of:
- serious injury / hospital admission
- bereavement
- hardship / trauma – e.g. victim of crime / traffic accident
- other potentially communicable illness as confirmed by medical certificate (in-person tests only). The provided medical certificate must state the nature of the illness
- NAATI has been notified by 8am on the morning the test and evidence is provided of:
- Excessive reschedules, cancellations or non-attendances by a candidate may result in NAATI cancelling a candidate’s test place or acceptance to future testing if it is suspected that there is not a genuine reason or desire to sit the test.
Assessment and results
NAATI is committed to fair marking of all candidate tests. Its processes are designed to ensure that a candidate’s results are a true representation of their performance during the test. NAATI will issue results (via email) within a set period:
| Certification and Knowledge tests | EC/IC tests | CCL tests | CLA tests |
| Within 8-10 weeks of the test date | Within 8-10 weeks of the course round closure | Within 4-6 weeks of the test date | Within 4 weeks of the test date |
This is the time needed to ensure that a test is marked fairly. NAATI will not respond to requests for test results within this period.
Results are issued as soon as they are received from examiners and checked. This means that some candidates may receive their results sooner. Sometimes, one candidate may receive their results before another candidate who sat the test on the same day. This happens because the tests are allocated to the examiners randomly.
Candidates cannot lodge a new application to sit a test of the same test type and in the same language, until their results have been issued.
Individual examiner comments cannot be used as the basis of a complaint or review, as they are not a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s test.
NAATI reserves the right to conduct an alternative test if for any reason (e.g. technical issues) it is not satisfied with the original test conditions or procedures. In such cases, the candidate will not be charged a fee to sit a retest.
In some circumstances, NAATI will offer candidates the opportunity to take a supplementary test, resitting certain test tasks if they fail to achieve the required level of performance. As these circumstances vary according to the test type a candidate has applied for, candidates should consult the relevant set of Candidate Instructions for details.
If a candidate is unsuccessful in their test, they may be able to apply for a paid review via myNAATI, in which the test will be remarked. Where a candidate is able to apply for a review, they will be charged a fee for this service.
If a candidate has applied for a review, they cannot apply to sit a new test of the same test type and in the same language until the review outcome has been issued.
If a candidate applies for a test review the following terms and conditions apply:
- Paid reviews are not available
- for prerequisite tests (intercultural competency and ethical competency)
- for knowledge tests (certified specialist legal interpreter or certified specialist health interpreter)
- for CCL tests, if the result is a clear fail (<58)
- where the test has been marked by the entire language panel as part of NAATI’s quality assurance and auditing processes.
- Certification test candidates whose test will be marked in this way will be notified in advance.
- Candidates must apply for a test review no more than 30 days from the date their test result is issued. To do this, they must complete an application for review and pay the required fee.
- Candidates can only access this process once for each test sat.
- A test review may take up to eight weeks.
- A test review provides no guarantee of the upgrading of a candidate’s result.
- A test review will combine results by all examiners, including the review examiner. This may result in a reduction of the test result.
- All test materials remain the property of NAATI. NAATI does not allow the viewing, return, or release of test materials.
- The result of the review is final and NAATI will not enter into any discussion or correspondence about the outcome of the test review.
Using the NAATI website
Terms and conditions for using the NAATI website are available in Using the NAATI Website.
