Translator vs Interpreter: What Is the Difference, and Which Do You Need?

A translator works with written text. An interpreter works with spoken or signed communication. If you have a document, such as a certificate, contract or transcript, you need a translator. If you need to understand or be understood in a conversation, you need an interpreter. The two professions are certified separately by NAATI (the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters), and one person holding one credential isn't automatically qualified in the other.

What a translator does

A translator turns a written document from one language into another. Translators may work in one direction only, for example from Polish into English, or in both directions, and NAATI credentials apply to the direction. A NAATI certified translator can also stamp the finished translation, so the organisation receiving it can see who is responsible. Our article on what a NAATI certified translation is explains what that looks like.

What an interpreter does

An interpreter conveys what people say, as they say it. That could be a doctor's appointment, a court hearing, a business meeting or a conference. Two modes are common:

• Consecutive interpreting: the speaker pauses and the interpreter then delivers what was said.
• Simultaneous interpreting: the interpreter speaks while the person is still talking, as in conference booths.

Interpreting includes sign languages. NAATI offers Auslan tests for several of its interpreter credentials.

How NAATI certifies each

NAATI credentials differ by profession, and each applies to a specific language. NAATI says it doesn't offer testing in every language or at every level. Where there is no test, a practitioner can hold a Recognised Practising credential instead.

Translators

• Certified Translator is the highest translator credential in the current system. The holder has been tested by NAATI on translating and revising complex but non-specialised texts.
• Recognised Practising Translator shows the holder has met the prerequisites and has recent, regular experience, without a NAATI test. It is usually held in languages where NAATI testing isn't available.
• Certified Advanced Translator was awarded under the former accreditation system, before 2018. Testing is no longer available, but some translators still hold it.

Interpreters

• Recognised Practising Interpreter is the interpreting equivalent of the practising credential above.
• Certified Provisional Interpreter is an entry-level credential, tested on general, non-complex conversations, usually between two people.
• Certified Interpreter covers complex interpreting in most situations. The holder has passed both the provisional and the Certified Interpreter tests.
• Certified Specialist Health Interpreter and Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter add a knowledge test and a specialist interpreting test in those settings.
• Certified Conference Interpreter is for high-level conference settings, such as negotiations and academic conferences.

NAATI's overview of its credentials explains each one in more detail.

Which one do you need?

• A visa application with a birth certificate in another language: a translator
• A university application with a foreign transcript: a translator
• A contract written in another language: a translator
• A medical appointment where you don't speak English: an interpreter
• A court hearing: an interpreter, and the court may have its own requirements, so ask it
• A meeting or negotiation with people who speak another language: an interpreter

Some situations need both. Suppose, for example, that you are involved in a legal matter with documents in Persian and a hearing where you will need to follow the proceedings. The documents need a translator, and the hearing needs an interpreter. They are separate jobs, and the same person may not be credentialed for both.

Common mix-ups

• Asking a translator to join a meeting. Translators work on written text, so look for an interpreter.
• Asking an interpreter to translate your documents. Documents for official use need a translator, and many organisations expect a NAATI translation. Our article on NAATI translation vs certified translation explains the terms.
• Not checking the language and direction. A credential for one language doesn't cover another.
• Assuming a bilingual person is the same as an interpreter. NAATI has a resource on this, called "Bilingual person versus interpreter: What's the difference?", on its online directory.

Finding the right person

NAATI runs an online directory where you can search for certified translators and interpreters and check a practitioner's credentials. NAATI's FAQ notes that many practitioners work remotely, by phone or video, so location may not limit your choice. You can also read our guide to checking whether a translator is NAATI certified.

Next step

CertifiedWords' ordering service is for translating documents. If you need a certified translation, you can check prices and order online. If you have questions about how ordering works, contact us. For an interpreter, use NAATI's directory.

Related reading

• What is a NAATI certified translation?
• NAATI translation vs certified translation
• How to become a NAATI certified translator
• How to check if a translator is NAATI certified