The NAATI Certification System has been designed after considering the knowledge, skills and attributes identified as necessary for professional practice.
It is made up of three components:
- Prerequisite pathways: these are the criteria that you have to meet in order to be eligible to sit your chosen certification test. The prerequisite pathways are described below. We recommend viewing this information in the context of the credential you are wanting to apply for, as each test page provides you with advice on the next steps to take. You can navigate to the webpage for your test or credential from here.
- The certification test: this is a performance-based test of your translation or interpreting skills. If you’re successful in passing this test, you will be awarded certification. View the Certification System and list of credentials available here.
- Recertification: once you are awarded a certification, you are required to meet certain criteria in order to retain it. Every three years, you will need to submit information to NAATI to show that you are continuing to meet these requirements. If you cannot meet these requirements, your certification will expire. You can view the recertification requirements here.
Pathway documents
Prerequisite Information
If you are a native English-speaker, you will need to provide evidence of either:
- Completing your primary and secondary education (equivalent to Australian secondary education year 12) at an institution/s where English was the primary language of instruction; or
- Completing your secondary (equivalent to Australian secondary education year 12) and tertiary education at an institution/s where English was the primary language of instruction.
Any evidence provided must show the number of years completed (i.e. 2013- 2017).
If you are not a native English-speaker, NAATI will consider evidence of:
- Completion of a formal English proficiency test
This could include:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test – General
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language – Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) – Academic
- Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) Test
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) English Test
- International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) English Test
OR
2. Completion of a tertiary qualification (degree level or higher) where:
- The language of instruction was English; and
- English proficiency, comparable or greater than NAATI’s requirements, is an entry requirement for this qualification.
Please consult the NAATI website for more detailed information.
If you have completed a NAATI Endorsed Qualification, you will have automatically satisfied this requirement and will not need to provide additional evidence.
If you have completed ethical training at a Higher Education (HE) or Vocational Education and Training (VET) institution within the last three years you will need to attach evidence of completing this training. NAATI may exempt you from having to sit a screening test based on this evidence.
You do not need to apply separately to sit an ethical competency screening test. NAATI will make a determination and will advise you of whether you need to sit these screening tests once we begin processing your submitted certification application.
The purpose of the ethical competency test is to:
- Determine whether you have the required ethical competency for translation and interpreting practice;
- Enable examiners to make inferences about your ability to behave ethically; and
- Determine your eligibility for the credential you applied for.
The ethical competency test will assess your:
- Knowledge of the relevant code of ethics – ASLIA Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct (2007);
- Ability to identify ethical dilemmas in a broad range of interpreting and translation situations; and
- Ability to apply the relevant principle/action in the code to the situation.
The test will consist of:
- Question type A: answering three (no choice) Knowledge-based short answer questions; and
- Question type B: answering three from a choice of five Scenario-based short answer questions.
Each short answer is expected to be 100-150 words.
Time allowed: One and a half hours.
If you have completed a NAATI Endorsed Qualification, you will have automatically satisfied this requirement and will not need to provide additional evidence.
If you have completed other Deaf cultural training at a:
- Higher Education (HE) or Vocational Education and Training (VET) institution; or
- Recognised Deaf organisation (e.g. Deaf Society, Expression Australia)
within the last three years, to attach evidence of completing this training. NAATI may exempt you from having to sit a screening test based on this evidence.
You do not need to apply separately to sit an intercultural competency screening test. NAATI will make a determination and will advise you of whether you need to sit these screening tests once we begin processing your submitted certification application.
The purpose of the intercultural competency test is to:
- Determine whether you have the required intercultural competency for translation and interpreting practice;
- Enable examiners to make inferences about your ability to appropriately identify and reflect cultural references in the source and target languages and manage intercultural issues during practice; and
- determine your eligibility for the credential you applied for.
The intercultural competency test will assess your:
- Knowledge of social, political and cultural institutions in Australia and within the Deaf community;
- Ability to identify culturally and socio-linguistically specific information in an interpreting situation; and
- Ability to respond to intercultural issues that may complicate communication in translation and/or interpreting assignments.
The test will consist of:
- Question type A: answering three from a choice of four Knowledge- based short answer questions, and
- Question type B: answering three from a choice of five Scenario-based short answer questions.
Each short answer is expected to be 100-150 words.
Time allowed: One and a half hours
Pathways
Eligibility pathways
Pathway 1
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (Diploma level or higher – AQF level 5 or comparable) no more than three years before applying.
Pathway 2
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed interpreting qualification, or a NAATI Endorsed Qualification more than three years before applying (Diploma level or higher – AQF level 5 or comparable).
- Met NAATI’s standard for language competency, ethical competency and intercultural competency. This may include sitting a screening test with NAATI.
Pathway 3
- Hold a current Recognised Practicing Interpreter credential (in any language) or other NAATI interpreter certification (in any language).
Pathway 4
- Completed at least 40 hours’ worth of AQF units (e.g. 4x Diploma of Interpreting units) no more than three years before applying. These units must be recognised by NAATI and must cover interpreting theory and/or practice, for example a 40-hour Skill Set Course.
- Met NAATI’s standard for language competency, ethical competency and intercultural competency. This may include sitting a screening test with NAATI.
Certification test format
The Certified Provisional Interpreter test consists of three tasks:
- Two Simultaneous interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks; and
- One Simultaneous interpreting monologue into Auslan task.
Each task will involve a different situation from a different domain.
Eligibility pathways
Pathway 1
- Completed (graduated or be eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (Advanced Diploma level or higher – AQF level 6 or comparable) no more than three years before applying.
Pathway 2
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a non-endorsed interpreting qualification, or a NAATI Endorsed Qualification more than three years before applying (Advanced Diploma level or higher – AQF level 6 or comparable).
- Met NAATI’s standard for language competency, ethical competency and intercultural competency. This may include sitting a screening test with NAATI.
Pathway 3
- Hold a current Certified Interpreter, Certified Specialist Interpreter or Certified Conference Interpreter credential in any language.
Pathway 4
- Hold a current Certified Provisional Interpreter (Auslan & English) credential.
- Provide evidence of at least two years’ work experience as an Auslan & English interpreter.
- Provide evidence of completing professional development activities to support advanced practice competency (which may involve sitting a screening test/s).
Certification test format
The Certified Interpreter test consists of five tasks:
- Two Simultaneous Interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks;
- One Sight Translation into Auslan task (related to the second face to face dialogue task);
- One Simultaneous Interpreting – Monologue into Auslan task; and
- One Simultaneous Interpreting – Monologue into English task.
The tasks will involve different situations from different domains, including at least one from the health domain and one from the legal domain
Eligibility pathways
Pathway 1
- Hold a NAATI 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 Level 7 or comparable).
- Provide evidence of at least two years’ interpreting work experience in the language combination.
Pathway 2
- Hold a NAATI 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) no more than six years before applying – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
- Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
Pathway 3
- You already hold a current NAATI Certified Specialist Interpreter (Legal) credential in another language.
Pathway 4
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination
- Provide evidence of at least six years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Complete 50 hours Professional Development activities in the area of specialisation over four years to support advanced practice.
Pathway 5
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination
- Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Hold legal qualifications at bachelor’s degree level or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable.
Certification test format
The test will be in both language directions.
Each test will consist of five tasks:
- One legal Knowledge Test (English)
- One simultaneous and/or consecutive interpreting (dialogic extracts) task – both Auslan and English
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task– English into Auslan
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task– Auslan into English
- One simultaneous interpreting (monolingual exchange) task – English into Auslan
The Knowledge Test is an online test which covers a broad range of knowledge in the legal field, advanced interpreting knowledge, and ethical and intercultural competence as relevant to legal interpreting. Interpreting Tasks will be based on real-life exchanges as encountered by interpreters in specialised legal contexts, at the level of experts communicating in an expert setting. Tasks will cover different legal domains and types of courts.
Approximate length: 4 hours (Knowledge Test: 3 hours; Interpreting Tasks: 1 hour)
Eligibility pathways
Pathway 1
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination.
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in health interpreting) no more than six years before applying – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
- Provide evidence of at least two years’ interpreting work experience in the language combination.
Pathway 2
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination.
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI non-endorsed interpreting qualification (with specialised units in health interpreting) no more than six years prior to the date of application – Bachelor’s degree or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
- Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
Pathway 3
- You already hold a current NAATI Certified Specialist Interpreter (Health) credential in another language.
Pathway 4
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination
- Provide evidence of at least six years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Complete 50 hours professional development activities in the area of specialisation over four years to support advanced practice.
Pathway 5
- Hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential in the same language combination.
- Provide evidence of at least four years’ (current, regular and ongoing) interpreting work experience in the language combination in the area of specialisation.
- Hold health qualifications at bachelor’s degree level or higher (AQF Level 7 or comparable).
Certification test format
The test will be in both language directions.
Each test will consist of five tasks:
- One health Knowledge Test (English)
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task – English into Auslan
- One simultaneous interpreting (monologue) task – Auslan into English
- One simultaneous interpreting (monolingual exchange) task – English into Auslan
- One Simultaneous Interpreting (mental health – monologue) task – Auslan into English
The Knowledge Test is an online test which covers a broad range of knowledge in the health field, advanced interpreting knowledge, and ethical and intercultural competence as relevant to health interpreting. Interpreting Tasks will be based on real-life exchanges as encountered by interpreters in specialised health contexts. Tasks will cover different sub-domains within health and at least one task will relate to mental health.
Approximate length: 4 hours (Knowledge Test: 3 hours; Interpreting Tasks: 1 hour)
Eligibility pathway
- Completed (graduated or eligible to graduate) a NAATI endorsed conference interpreting qualification (master’s degree level or higher – AQF level 9 or comparable) no more than three years before applying.
- Recommended to have at least two years’ conference interpreting work experience in the language combination.
Certification test format
There will be separate tests for the Certified Conference Interpreter – Auslan into English and English into Auslan.
Each test will consist of three tasks:
- Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of a seen speech
- Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech (long)
- Simultaneous interpreting (monologue) of an unseen speech (short)
Speeches will be based on real-life speeches and presentations in national and international settings, like conferences, meetings and official events, at the level of experts communicating with expert and non-expert audiences. Each speech will come from a different domain and setting.
Approximate length: 1 hour
Pathways
- Hold a NAATI Certified Provisional Deaf Interpreter credential
- Provide evidence of work practice in Auslan translation
- Have completed training units in Auslan translation
- Provide evidence of work practice in Auslan translation
