How to Become a NAATI Certified Translator: A Step-by-Step Guide

To become a NAATI Certified Translator you need to meet one of NAATI's prerequisite pathways, apply through your myNAATI account, pass an online test in each language direction you want to be certified in, and then recertify your credential every three years. NAATI, the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, runs this process itself. CertifiedWords doesn't. This guide explains the steps, using NAATI's published information.

Two translator credentials

NAATI offers two main translator credentials, and they are not the same.

• Certified Translator is the credential you earn by passing a NAATI test. NAATI describes it as the highest translator credential in its current certification system.
• Recognised Practising Translator shows that the holder has met the prerequisites and has recent, regular experience as a translator. It doesn't involve a NAATI test.

This guide covers Certified Translator, because it is the one with a test. Organisations that ask for a NAATI translation may ask for a particular credential, so check what they accept.

Step 1: Meet a prerequisite pathway

Before you can sit the test, you need to meet one of four pathways. Each requires evidence, and some require NAATI to assess your skills further.

1. A qualification endorsed by NAATI. You have completed, or are eligible to graduate from, a NAATI-endorsed translating qualification at Advanced Diploma level or higher (AQF level 6 or comparable), no more than three years before you apply.
2. A qualification that is not endorsed by NAATI, including overseas. You have completed a translating qualification at the same level, or you completed an endorsed one more than three years ago. You must also meet NAATI's standard for language, ethical and intercultural competency, which may involve sitting a NAATI test, and you provide evidence of English proficiency.
3. A NAATI credential in another language. You already hold a Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Translator or Recognised Practising Translator credential in a different language combination.
4. Training units, such as a Skill Set Course. You have completed AQF units in translation theory, or other education that NAATI assesses as meeting the requirements. NAATI recognises 40-hour Skill Set Courses as foundational training. You also need to meet the competency standards and provide English proficiency evidence.

Suppose, for example, that you completed a translation degree overseas five years ago. That would fall under the second pathway. NAATI would assess your application, including the subjects you studied. If it finds that you haven't met the ethical or intercultural competency requirements, it would invite you to sit those tests as well as the translation test.

Step 2: Apply through myNAATI

You create an account in NAATI's customer portal, myNAATI, and submit an application for the credential from there. NAATI says it generally processes applications within a week and will tell you if it needs more information. Once you are eligible, you choose a test date and pay the test fee.

Tests in each language run about every six months, and NAATI publishes the dates. The Certified Translator test is currently available in 36 languages, and the list includes Persian and Dari. Check NAATI's page for the current list, because it changes.

Step 3: Prepare for the test

The test is delivered online and has three tasks, each on a different topic: two translations of non-specialised texts, chosen from three, and one revision of a non-specialised translation. There are separate tests for each direction, from the other language into English and from English into the other language.

NAATI offers help with preparing:

• A free preparation module on NAATI Learn, with practice tests in more than 30 languages and access to the same testing platform, so you can check that your fonts and typing tools work.
• A paid practice test that NAATI examiners assess. At the time of writing, NAATI lists it at $165 including GST, with one translation of about 250 words and results in four to six weeks. NAATI says that passing it doesn't guarantee a pass in the real test.
• Lists of error categories and permitted online resources, which help with the revision task.

Check your equipment well before test day. NAATI requires a computer with a camera and microphone, the Chrome browser, a phone or tablet with a camera for proctoring, a reliable internet connection, and any tools you need to type in your language. NAATI warns that a work computer may block the testing platform.

Step 4: Sit the test and wait for results

At least two NAATI examiners independently assess your work, using rubrics with five bands. You need at least Band 2 on each criterion and you must pass all three tasks. For translation tasks, examiners assess transfer competency and language competency. For revision, they assess transfer competency.

NAATI aims to issue results within eight to ten weeks. If you attempt all the tasks and pass at least two, you may be eligible for a supplementary test on the task you failed. You apply within 30 days of receiving your results.

What it costs

NAATI's page lists these fees, in Australian dollars:

• Test fee: $605 for each direction
• Supplementary test: $220
• Review of test results: $275

Fees change, so check NAATI's current fee page before you budget. Courses and endorsed qualifications cost extra.

After you are certified

NAATI gives certified translators a practitioner number, which starts with CPN, and a translator stamp or ID card. Stamps and cards are free with a credential or recertification. A translator can choose a physical stamp or a digital one. To download a digital stamp, they sign in to myNAATI with multi-factor authentication, and each stamp has its own QR code. Our article on online NAATI translations and digital stamps explains how clients check them.

Certification isn't permanent. Under the current system, which started in January 2018, practitioners recertify every three years by showing continuing work practice and professional development. A credential that isn't recertified expires. Keeping a record of your translation work and training from the day you are certified makes recertifying easier.

Working with CertifiedWords

If you already hold a NAATI credential, you can apply to join the CertifiedWords translator network and tell us about your qualifications, languages and availability.

Related reading

• What is a NAATI certified translation?
• Online NAATI translation: are digital stamps accepted?
• How to check if a translator is NAATI certified