Delivery mode
Online only
Test fee
$198 + $220
Prerequisites
Yes
Languages
7
Overview
Certified Specialist Legal Interpreters (CSLI) are experienced and accomplished interpreters who are experts in interpreting in the legal domain. They have completed training and undertake continuous professional development in specialist legal interpreting.
CSLIs are highly competent language users, who understand specialised terminology and have extensive knowledge of the legal domain. CSLIs have a sophisticated understanding of their role in legal settings, for example as officers of the court. They have a full and detailed knowledge and understanding of how culture and language interact, and the relevant codes of ethics and professional standards in the legal domain.
While CSLIs may work in the same institutions as Certified Interpreters, they are competent to interpret complex, highly specialised, expert-to-expert communication in those institutions. For example: sentencing remarks by a judge, expert witness statements or testimony, or presentation of legal arguments
NAATI’s Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter test is an objective assessment of the skills and competencies needed to practice as a specialist interpreter in the legal domain in Australia.
See also: Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter (Auslan).
Candidates must hold a Certified Interpreter certification to be eligible to sit the Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter test.
- Arabic
- Auslan
- Cantonese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Spanish
Information for applicants
Before sitting the Certified Specialist Legal 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.
Candidates must hold a Certified Interpreter certification (in addition to meeting the other prerequisite requirements) to be eligible to sit the Certified Specialist Health Interpreter test.
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
- Holds Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination.
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in legal interpreting) no more than six years before applying – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF [Australian Qualifications Framework] Level 7 or comparable).
- Provides evidence of at least two years’ interpreting work experience in the 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 CSLI 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 for the CSLI Knowledge Test. Once you have passed the Knowledge Test, you will be eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Interpreting Test.
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 (including overseas)
Requirements
- Holds Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination.
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in legal interpreting) – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
- Provides evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements of this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CSLI 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 for the CSLI Knowledge Test. Once you have passed the Knowledge Test, you will be eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Interpreting Test.
3 – Existing CSLI credential in another language
Requirements
- Holds Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter in another language pair.
What do you need to do next?
If you already hold a Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter credential in another language, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CSLI test. In your myNAATI account, you will select the ‘Additional certifications’ application form.
You have already met all the prerequisite requirements, including the CSLI Knowledge requirements.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Interpreting Test.
4 – Work practice + professional development
Requirements
- Holds Certified Interpreter credential in the language combination.
- Provides evidence of at least six years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Completed 50 hours professional development activities in the area of specialisation over four years to support advanced practice.
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements for this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CSLI test. In your myNAATI account, you will select the ‘Additional certifications’ application form.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Knowledge Test. Once you have passed the Knowledge Test, you will be eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Interpreting Test.
5 – Work practice + legal qualifications
Requirements
- Holds Certified Interpreter in same language.
- Provides evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Holds legal qualifications at Bachelor’s degree level of higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
What do you need to do next?
If you meet all the requirements for this pathway, you can apply to NAATI to sit the CSLI test. In your myNAATI account, you will select the ‘Additional certifications’ application form.
If your application is complete, you will be made eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Knowledge Test. Once you have passed the Knowledge Test, you will be eligible to select a test date for the CSLI Interpreting Test.
Equipment & system requirements
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.
Equipment and system requirements
You will need the following to sit this test:
| 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 Specialist Legal Interpreter test (spoken languages) has two components:
- Legal terminology and general legal knowledge
- Knowledge of the Australian legal system and processes
- Ethics, culture, and the role of the interpreter in the legal context
- Advanced interactional management
- Research and preparation
The Knowledge Test is made up of four parts:
- Part 1: Multiple choice (38 questions)
- Part 2: Match or Drag and Drop (10 questions)
- Part 3: Short answer (6 questions)
- Part 4: Scenario (6 questions with a mix of multiple choice, match, drag and drop and short answer)
- One consecutive interpreting – dialogic extracts English and LOTE task
- One consecutive interpreting – monologue into LOTE task
- One consecutive interpreting – monologue into English task
- One simultaneous interpreting – monolingual exchange into LOTE task
Each test is held once per year (subject to demand). You can search for upcoming test dates here.
Test assessment & results
Assessment
Knowledge Test
All questions in the Knowledge Test are automatically marked by the testing platform. There is a total of 120 marks available, divided across 60 questions in four parts.
The question types in the Knowledge Test are weighted differently.
- Multiple choice questions in Part 1 are worth one mark each.
- Match and drag and drop questions in Part 2 are worth four marks each.
- Short answer questions in Part 3 are worth two marks each.
- In Part 4, there is a mix of these question types which may carry a different weighting. The mark for each question will be specified in the question.
- It is possible to gain partial marks for all question types.
Candidates will receive overall scores for each part of the test, as well as a total score. You must gain an overall score of 70% to pass the test.
Interpreting Test
To sit the Interpreting Test, you must have already passed the Knowledge Test.
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, as outlined below.
For the Consecutive Interpreting – Dialogic Extracts task, NAATI examiners will assess your:
- Transfer competency: Meaning transfer skill, and Rhetorical skill; and
- Language competency: Language proficiency enabling meaning transfer into the target language (both English proficiency and LOTE proficiency)
For the Consecutive Interpreting – Monologue and Simultaneous Interpreting – Monolingual Exchange tasks, NAATI examiners will assess your:
- Transfer competency: Meaning transfer skill, Application of interpreting mode, and Rhetorical skill; and
- Language competency: Language proficiency enabling meaning transfer into the target language; and
- Thematic competency: Subject matter specific knowledge
Refer to our language policy to understand how the examiners will assess your use of language in the test.
You need to achieve at least Band 2 for each criterion, and you must pass all the interpreting tasks to pass the test.
Results & receiving your credential
NAATI aims to issue results from Knowledge Tests within 4-6 weeks of the test date, and for Interpreting Tests 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.
You must pass the Knowledge Test to be eligible to sit the Interpreting Test. Knowledge Test results are valid for 3 years after the date you passed your test to allow you time to re-sit the Interpreting Test if needed.
If you pass the Interpreting Test, we will issue your Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter credential.
Supplementary testing
A supplementary test is not available for the Knowledge Test.
Interpreting Test
You must attempt all tasks and pass at least three 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 Specialist Legal Interpreter credential. If you fail the supplementary test, this means you have failed the test. You can apply for another Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter test with NAATI if you want to sit the test again.
How to apply
To apply for the CSLI 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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Knowledge Test fee $198 AUD
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Interpreting Test fee $220 AUD
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Cancellation See below
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Supplementary test (Interpreting Test only) $200 AUD
Conditions apply: See Test details & assessment tab. Supplementary tests are not available for the Knowledge Test.
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Test re-sit fee (Interpreting Test only) $220 AUD
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Review of test results (Interpreting Test only) $110 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).
Free CSLI Preparation Module
NAATI has developed a 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 platforms for the Knowledge and Interpreting Tests.
- Practice materials.
To access the preparation module, click here. You don’t need to create an account. Just select the CSLI Preparation Module from the dashboard.
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 CSLI 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.
