Delivery mode
Online only
Test fee
$913
Prerequisites
Yes
Languages
8
Overview
Certified Conference Interpreters transfer highly complex, specialised messages from a source language into a target language. They interpret in situations such as speeches and presentations at high-level international exchanges, like international conferences, summits, meetings and negotiations (e.g. UN summits, bilateral treaty negotiations), across a broad range of domains.
Certified Conference Interpreters typically hold a master’s degree or higher in conference interpreting (or a combination of extensive work practice and professional development) and a recommended minimum two years’ work experience as a conference interpreter in their language combination.
NAATI’s Certified Conference Interpreter (CCI) test is an objective assessment of the skills and competencies needed to practice as a conference interpreter, handling complex interpreting in international settings.
See also: Certified Conference Interpreter (Auslan).
The Certified Conference Interpreter test is currently available in the following languages:
- Arabic
- Auslan
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Russian
- Spanish
Information for applicants
Before sitting the Certified Conference Interpreter test with NAATI, you need to meet certain prerequisites and equipment & system requirements.
Prerequisite pathway options
There are five prerequisite pathways outlined below which explain your options.
The pathway you choose will determine what documents or evidence you need to supply with your application to NAATI, and whether you need to sit any screening tests.
When you are ready to apply, go to the ‘Apply, reschedule or cancel‘ tab for important information.
1 – Completing a qualification endorsed by NAATI
Requirements
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed conference interpreting qualification no more than three years before applying – Master’s degree or higher (comparable to Australian Qualifications Framework [AQF] Level 9).
- Recommended to have at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience in same language combination.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements of this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CCI test. Having at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience is strongly recommended under this pathway, but it is not a requirement.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date.
Finding an Endorsed Qualification to complete
You can find the full list of NAATI Endorsed Qualifications here. If you want to complete one but haven’t yet, you can apply directly to your institution of choice. Once you have completed it, come back to apply to NAATI to sit the test.
2 – Completing a non-NAATI endorsed qualification
Requirements
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a non-NAATI endorsed Conference interpreting qualification – Master’s Degree or higher (comparable to Australian Qualifications Framework [AQF] Level 9).
- Met NAATI’s standard for ethical competency and intercultural competency. This may include sitting a screening test with NAATI.
- Recommended to have at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience in same language combination.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements of this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CCI test. Having at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience is strongly recommended under this pathway, but it is not a requirement.
As your qualification was not endorsed by NAATI, you will need to submit evidence of your English proficiency with your application. Read the requirements here.
Meeting the ethical and intercultural competency prerequisites
We will assess your application (including the subjects that you studied) to determine whether you have met the ethical and intercultural competency prerequisite requirements. If not, we will let you know and will invite you to sit the Ethical Competency and/or Intercultural Competency test/s in addition to the CCI test.
3 – Existing CCI credential
Requirements
- Holds Certified Conference Interpreter in another direction or another language pair.
What do you need to do next?
If you already hold a Certified Conference Interpreter credential in another direction or in a different language, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CCI test. In your myNAATI account, you will select ‘Additional certifications’ instead of creating an entirely new application.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date.
4 – Holding AIIC membership
Requirements
- Holds current AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) membership.
- Met NAATI’s standard for ethical competency. This may include sitting a screening test with NAATI.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements of this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CCI test.
We will assess your application (including your experience and studies) to determine whether you have met the ethical competency prerequisite requirement. If not, we will let you know and will invite you to sit the Ethical Competency test in addition to the CCI test.
5 – Existing CI credential + work practice + professional development
Requirements
- Holds Certified Interpreter in same language.
- Evidence of at least three years’ conference interpreting work experience and at least 50 days (35 booth days) in the language combination as a conference interpreter.
- Completed professional development activities to support advanced practice.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements of this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CCI test. In your myNAATI account, you will select the ‘Additional certifications’ application form.
You will need to upload evidence of your work practice and professional development with your application.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date.
Equipment & system requirements
This test includes the use of videos which can be over 15 minutes long. Please read the specifications carefully below.
If you have booked your test and are concerned about your computer equipment or internet access, please email us at info@naati.com.au as soon as possible to discuss the option of taking the test in a NAATI office.
Equipment & system requirements
| Laptop or computer with the following: |
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| Phone or tablet (in addition to the laptop or computer): |
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| Internet connection: |
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About the test
The Certified Conference Interpreter test (spoken languages) is delivered online only and involves 3 tasks:
- One consecutive interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of a seen speech
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech
Speeches will be based on real-life speeches at international conferences, summits and negotiations at the level of experts communicating with an expert audience. Each speech will come from a different domain and setting, including one from each of the following domains:
- commerce and economics
- science and technology
- diplomacy and politics.
While the test is conducted online, the contexts of the test tasks include both online and in-person conference settings.
There are separate tests for certification in each direction (language other than English [LOTE] into English and English into LOTE). Tests in each language are run every 6 months. You can search for upcoming test dates here.
Read the detailed candidate instructions under the ‘Prepare for your test‘ tab. You can refer to our glossary of certification terms for any terms you don’t understand.
Test assessment & results
Assessment
At least 2 NAATI examiners will independently assess your performance in the test. They will assess each task separately, using assessment rubrics with 5 bands (with Band 1 representing the highest level of performance and Band 5 the lowest). Your task performance will be marked against each criterion, which are the same for all task types, as outlined below.
For each task, NAATI examiners will assess your:
- Transfer competency: Meaning transfer skill, Application of interpreting mode, and Rhetorical skill.
- Language competency: Language proficiency enabling meaning transfer into the target language.
Refer to our language policy to understand how the examiners will assess your use of language in your test.
You need to achieve at least Band 2 for each criterion, and you must pass all three tasks to pass the test.
Results & receiving your credential
NAATI aims to issue results within 8-10 weeks of the test date. We will issue results as they are finalised, so some candidates will receive their results earlier than others even if they sit the test on the same day.
If you have already passed any prerequisite screening tests (Ethical Competency and/or Intercultural Competency), we will issue your credential if you pass this test.
Supplementary testing
You must attempt all tasks and pass at least two interpreting tasks to be eligible to apply for a supplementary test. You must apply for the supplementary test from your myNAATI account within 30 days of receiving your test results. The supplementary test will involve re-sitting only the failed task.
If you pass the supplementary test, NAATI will award you the Certified Conference Interpreter credential in the relevant language direction. If you fail the supplementary test, this means you have failed the test. You can apply for another Certified Conference Interpreter test with NAATI if you want to sit the test again.
How to apply
To apply for the CCI test, you will need to create an account in our customer portal, myNAATI, and submit your application from there.
Please make sure you have read and understood the Terms and Conditions before applying for this test.
Step one: Create a myNAATI account and submit an application.
Step two: You will receive an email once your application is processed by NAATI (generally within a week).
Step three: Select a test date and pay the test fee.
Step one: Create a myNAATI account and submit an application
Applications for certification have to be submitted via our customer portal, myNAATI. If you have not yet created an account, please view our ‘How to register a myNAATI account’ guide.
Once logged in to myNAATI navigate to the ‘Submit an application’ icon on the homepage, then to your chosen credential. If you already hold a NAATI credential, you will select the ‘Additional certifications‘ icon instead.
Follow the prompts to complete your application, and then submit your application. If you have submitted successfully, you will receive a confirmation email. Add info@naati.com.au to your safe senders list to make sure you receive updates about your application.
Step two: NAATI will process your application
Once NAATI has assessed your application, you will be contacted to let you know what will happen next. This will usually happen within a week of applying.
The team at NAATI will let you know if you need to submit more information, such as evidence of English Proficiency, or if you need to sit an Ethical Competency or Intercultural Competency test with NAATI (for an additional fee).
If your application is complete and you have met all of the prerequisite requirements, you will be made eligible to select a test date.
Step three: Select a test date and pay the test fee.
Once you have been made eligible to select a test date, log into your myNAATI account again to select a test date. myNAATI will display the available test dates. If none are available, email us at info@naati.com.au.
When you select a test date, you will be required to pay the test fee.
Test fee summary
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CCI test fee $913 AUD
Each direction
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Cancellation See below
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Supplementary test $220 AUD
Conditions apply: See Test details & assessment tab
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Review of test results $275 AUD
Rescheduling or cancelling your test
Rescheduling your test date
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.
Please note: Rejecting a test session means that you will lose your place in that test session, and it may be quickly booked by another candidate. There is no guarantee you will be able to select the same test date again once you have rejected it.
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 (AET) 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.
Cancelling your test
Please follow the instructions below if you want to cancel your test.
If you decide to sit the test at a later date after cancelling your initial application, you will need to submit a new application. This will include selecting a new test session and paying the full test fee.
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 your myNAATI account.
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.
- You will not receive a refund if you cancel a test within 2 days.
If you do not attend your test on your scheduled test date, this is considered a cancellation and no fees will be refunded.
Candidate instructions
All applicants are required to read the candidate instructions in full before the test. They detail the steps you need to take before your test day, what happens on test day, and how to get support.
Note that you will need to make sure your equipment and systems are suitable for the test (found under the ‘Prerequisites & pathways‘ tab).
Practice test
NAATI has developed a test preparation module to help you get ready for your test and familiarise yourself with the format. The module is available through NAATI Learn and anyone can access it for free.
The module provides you with:
- Access to the NAATI testing platform
- Practice materials
To access the preparation module, click here. You don’t need to create an account. Just select the CCI Preparation Module from the dashboard.
Before sitting the test, it is important that you go through the whole practice test in the CCI Preparation Module. If you experience any technical issues viewing the practice material videos on your computer, check and see if you have met the equipment and system requirements under the ‘Prerequisites & pathways’ tab.
If you have booked your test and are concerned about your computer equipment or internet access, please email us at info@naati.com.au as soon as possible to discuss the option of taking the test in a NAATI office.
These materials are © National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (2023) and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of NAATI.
Support
If you need help before you have booked into a test, email us at any time at info@naati.com.au.
On your test day, NAATI’s Digital Testing team will be available via live chat during your test to assist with any technical issues or you can get help by emailing onlinetesting@naati.com.au.
Useful resources
Frequent questions
Download the handy CCI test factsheet as a PDF or view the answers to some of our frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Next steps
Learn more about the importance of recertification for all NAATI certified practitioners, and the job and professional development opportunities available to you.
Guides
Need help with your application? View our handy guides below to help navigate the application process.
