Definition
NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd) is Australia’s sole authority for occupational accreditation in translation and interpreting. It sets the official standard for the language industry and is the only qualification recognised by many government agencies, including courts and hospitals.
Common Misconceptions
Is NAATI part of the Australian immigration department?
- ❌ NAATI is not part of the Australian immigration department;
- ✅ Rather, it is an independently established accreditation authority by the government. However, NAATI certification is crucial in Australian immigration and visa applications, as the immigration department only accepts translations by NAATI-certified translators.
Is it NAATI or NATTI?
- ❌ NATTI is incorrect. Sometimes, people may mistakenly spell it as “NATTI”.
- ✅ The correct name is NAATI.
Is NAATI the Australian Translators’ Association?
- ❌ NAATI is not the Australian Translators’ Association.
- ✅ The official name of the Australian Translators’ Association is Australian Institute of Interpreters & Translators (AUSIT), commonly known as AUSIT, and it is an entirely separate entity from NAATI with different functions.
Does NAATI provide translation services and employer sponsorship?
- ❌ NAATI (the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) is not a translation agency, and therefore does not employ NAATI translators, provide employer sponsorship for translators, or offer any NAATI-certified translation services.
Does NAATI offer translation courses?
- ❌ NAATI itself does not operate translation or interpreting courses.
- ✅ But it endorses courses that meet the NAATI standards, known as NAATI-Endorsed Qualifications (NAATI Endorsed Courses).
Is NAATI CCL a NAATI translation/interpreting certification?
- ❌ NAATI CCL (Credentialed Community Language Test) is not a NAATI certification.
- ✅ But rather a language test provided by NAATI (i.e. the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) that is used for gaining the 5 points towards the Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) points test.
- ❌ NAATI CCL is not a translation or interpreting qualification and does not grant NAATI certification for translation or interpreting. 👉 Difference between the NAATI CCL test and NAATI Certification tests.
What is the validity period of NAATI-certified translations?
- The validity period for a NAATI-certified translator’s qualification is three years; however, translation documents that have been NAATI-certified do not become invalid when the NAATI stamp on the translator expires.
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Is NAATI accreditation the same as NAATI certification?
- ❌ No. NAATI accreditation was the old system (1977–2017) and is now discontinued, with fewer organisations recognising it. Some NAATI credentials without expiry dates were issued under the old accreditation system.
- ✅ NAATI certification is the current system, offering better recognition. Old accreditation numbers are purely digits (e.g., 12453), while certification numbers start with “CPN.”
NAATI’s Main Functions Include:
- Certifying professional translators and interpreters, ensuring that they meet industry-standard competencies and granting qualified individuals the corresponding accreditation.
- Organising and conducting examinations to administer and oversee tests, such as translation certification tests, interpreting certification tests, and the CCL (Credentialed Community Language Test).
- Providing recertification services for translators and interpreters, requiring practitioners to update their certification every three years to maintain professional standards.
- Endorsing translation and interpreting courses. The endorsed courses are usually provided by Australian universities or registered training organisations (RTOs), such as the Master of Translation & Interpreting at the University of Queensland.
You May Also Like 👉 What are NAATI endorsed courses? (Also known as NAATI-Endorsed Qualifications).
| Official Name | Also Known As |
|---|---|
| NAATI Recognised Practising Translator (RPT) | (New credential, no former name) |
| NAATI Recognised Practising Interpreter (RPI) | (New credential, no former name) |
| NAATI Certified Translator (CT) | NAATI Level 3 Translator |
| NAATI Certified Provisional Interpreter (CPI) | NAATI Level 2 Interpreter |
| NAATI Certified Interpreter (CI) | NAATI Level 3 Interpreter |
| NAATI Certified Specialist Interpreter | (New credential, no former name) |
| NAATI Certified Advanced Translator (CAT) | NAATI Level 4 Translator |
| NAATI Certified Advanced Interpreter (CAI) | NAATI Level 4 Interpreter |
NAATI certification in Australia is the most reliable credential for non-English documents, especially in immigration, legal, healthcare, and community service fields.
Other Countries That Recognise NAATI-Certified Translations
Many government agencies and immigration departments in New Zealand accept translations by NAATI-certified translators, and some employers also recognise NAATI certification.
In Canada, official documents in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation from a certified translator accredited in Canada.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) specifies that translations must be performed by certified translators who are members in good standing of a professional translation association, either in Canada or abroad.
NAATI-certified translations may be accepted for official documents in Canada; however, we recommend verifying with the relevant Canadian authority first.
In the United Kingdom, a certified translation typically includes a statement from the translator or translation agency attesting to its accuracy, along with the translator’s credentials and contact details.
The Australian High Commission in London notes that translations performed in Australia must be by a NAATI-accredited translator. For documents translated outside the UK, official translations may be accepted if the translator is a member of an official body in their own country.
Translations by NAATI-certified translators may be accepted, particularly for documents originating from Australia.
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