NAATI's Certification System
NAATI’s Certification System is designed to evaluate whether an individual is competent to practise as an interpreter. It does this by setting minimum standards of performance across a number of areas of competency. Individuals who demonstrate that they meet these standards are awarded NAATI certification. This gives assurance to both the users and the interpreting service provider that the interpreter has the necessary competencies to carry out the interpreting task.
NAATI’s system consists of the following two categories:
Certified includes Certified Provisional Interpreter, Certified Interpreter, Certified Specialist Interpreter (available for Health and Legal) and Certified Conference Interpreter. These certifications are typically available between English and a Language Other Than English (LOTE) for which NAATI assesses all significant competencies directly and objectively. Commensurate with the level of certification, interpreters work in certain typical domains, situations and interpreting modes.
Recognised Practising is available between English and a LOTE for which NAATI currently does not offer certification testing, e.g. for emerging or low demand languages. NAATI directly assesses Language Competency (English or Auslan), Intercultural Competency and Ethical Competency, but is only able to indirectly confirm other competencies through evidence of work experience. In the absence of interpreters with certification for a language, Recognised Practising Interpreters may be asked to interpret in the same domains, situations and interpreting modes as certified interpreters.
Descriptors for interpreting
The Descriptors for Interpreting outlined below have been developed for the purpose of NAATI Certification. They outline the expected minimum standard of performance interpreters display across the competencies required for professional practice, while taking into account the characteristics of interpreters’ work environments.
The descriptors assist potential candidates for certification and users of interpreting services to gain a general understanding of expected interpreter competencies. The descriptors are not intended to reflect the complexity of the Certification System.
This competency is indirectly confirmed.
Comprehends and produces spoken English or Auslan (for deaf interpreters) in a variety of non-complex situations/ contexts, appropriately using non- complex and non- specialised language and commonly used expressions. LOTE proficiency is indirectly confirmed.
This competency is indirectly confirmed.
Operates in the interpreting industry and manages interactions with clients to provide services.
In the absence of interpreter certification for a language, Recognised Practising Interpreters may be asked to interpret in the same types of situations as certified interpreters.
In the absence of interpreter certification for a language, Recognised Practising Interpreters may be asked to interpret in the same modes as certified interpreters.
Transfers non-complex, non-specialised messages from a source language into a target language using spoken or signed language that accurately reflects the meaning.
Comprehends and produces two languages (spoken or signed) in a variety of non-complex situations/contexts, appropriately using non- complex and non- specialised language and commonly used expressions.
Can use some tools and methods to search for information and is able to extract and manage non-complex, non- specialised information from research and apply it to the interpreting process.
Operates in the interpreting industry and manages interactions with clients to provide services.
Dialogues in community interpreting settings including health (e.g. a general medical consultation), legal (e.g. a witness describing an accident to a police officer), community (e.g. registering a car at a government service desk), immigration/settlement (e.g. enquiry about government services for new immigrants), education (e.g. a teacher-parent interview at a school), social services (e.g. enquiry about parental payments at a government office), financial (e.g. opening a bank account), housing (e.g. a request for repair work), business (e.g. customer purchasing a car), employment (e.g. enquiry about jobs at an employment agency), insurance (e.g. enquiry about car insurance with an insurance provider), consumer affairs (e.g. complaint about a product).
Spoken Languages
– Consecutive (Dialogue)
Signed Languages
– Simultaneous (Dialogue)
– Simultaneous (Monologue)
Transfers complex, non- specialised messages from a source language into a target language using spoken or signed language that accurately reflects the meaning.
Comprehends and produces two languages (spoken or signed, and written) in a variety of complex situations/contexts, appropriately using complex, but non- specialised language and commonly and uncommonly used expressions.
Can use a variety of tools and methods to search for information, including some specialist resources, and is able to extract and manage complex information from research and apply it to the interpreting process.
Operates in the interpreting industry and manages interactions with clients to provide services.
All situations in which a Certified Interpreter interprets, and dialogues, speeches and presentations in community interpreting settings including health (e.g. a clinician-patient consultation at a medical centre), legal (e.g. a client seeking a solicitor’s advice), community (e.g. a speech at a community council meeting), immigration/ settlement (e.g. visa issues at an airport), education (e.g. during school lessons), social services (e.g. discussion about alleged welfare fraud), financial (e.g. a client applying for a loan), housing (e.g. dispute at a tenancy tribunal), business (e.g. at a business meeting), employment (e.g. dispute about breach of employment contract), insurance (e.g. making an insurance claim), consumer affairs (e.g. enquiry about consumer rights).
Spoken Languages
– Consecutive (Dialogue)
– Sight Translation
– Simultaneous (Monologue)
– Consecutive (Monologue)
Signed Languages
– Consecutive (Dialogue)
– Simultaneous (Dialogue)
– Sight Translation
– Simultaneous (Monologue)
Transfers complex, specialised messages in the health or legal domain from a source language into a target language using spoken or signed language that accurately reflects the meaning.
Comprehends and produces two languages (spoken or signed), appropriately using specialised and complex language, including technical expressions and jargon from across the health or legal domain.
Health
Can use a variety of tools and methods to search for information, including highly specialised resources in the health domain, and is able to extract and manage specialised and complex information from research and apply it to the interpreting process.
Legal
Can use a variety of tools and methods to search for information, including highly specialised resources in the legal domain, and is able to extract and manage specialised and complex information from research and apply it to the interpreting process.
Health
Operates as an integral member of the healthcare team and manages interactions with clients to provide services in order to ensure access to services and facilitate positive health outcomes.
Legal
Operates as an integral member of the court and manages interactions with clients to provide services in order to ensure access to services and facilitate positive justice outcomes.
Health
For spoken languages dialogues and presentations between and aimed at experts in the health field (e.g. medical handover between LOTE and English-speaking specialists; chuchotage of conversation between specialists in a hospital context; presentation of specialists medical equipment by an international company; mental health consultations.
For signed languages, dialogues and presentations between experts, or experts and well-informed lay speakers in the health field (e.g. a specialist doctor speaking to a deaf patient or family member about their condition; specialist doctor delivering a technical presentation at the hospital about a new medical treatment; chuchotage of a conversation between specialists in a hospital context; mental health consultations).
Sub-domains can include geriatrics, obstetrics, anaesthesiology, surgery, gynaecology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, anaesthesiology, mental health, oncology, paediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, orthopaedics, urology, occupational therapy.
Legal
Dialogues and presentations between and aimed at experts in the legal field, in different legal jurisdictions (e.g. NSW, VIC, Federal) and different levels of the legal system (local, state and federal; courts and tribunals) (e.g. expert witness testimony; judges’ judgement; colloquy between judge and lawyer during court proceedings; discussions between legal experts).
Sub-domains can include criminal and civil court cases, including contract, commercial, consumer, family, refugee and immigration, personal injury, worker’s compensation, insurance, real estate law etc.
CSHI Spoken Languages
– Simultaneous (chuchotage)
– Consecutive (monologue)
CSHI Signed Languages
– Simultaneous monologue
CSLI Spoken Languages
– Consecutive (Dialogue)
– Simultaneous (chuchotage)
– Consecutive (monologue)
CSLI Signed Languages
– Simultaneous/Consecutive (Dialogue)
– Simultaneous monologue
Transfers highly complex, specialised messages from a source language into a target language using spoken or signed language that accurately reflects the meaning.
Comprehends and produces two languages (spoken or signed, and written) in specialised domains, appropriately using specialised and complex language including technical expressions and jargon.
For spoken languages, speeches and presentations at high- level international exchanges, such as international conferences, summits, meetings and negotiations (e.g. UN summits, NAATI meetings, bilateral treaty negotiations). For signed languages this may include national conferences, summits, meetings and negotiations (e.g. Commonwealth government conferences).
Typical domains include technology, science, health, commerce, economics, diplomacy and politics.
For signed languages these may include national conferences, summits, meetings and negotiations (e.g. Commonwealth government conferences).
Typical domains include science, health, linguistics, social sciences, humanities, public policy, emergency briefings, social services, human rights, disability, education and deaf community.
Spoken Language
– Simultaneous (booth)
– Consecutive (monologue)
Signed Languages
– Simultaneous (monologue)
