Available credentials

Credentials from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) are the only qualifications officially accepted for the interpreting profession in Australia.

There are five main levels of interpreter credentials available through NAATI:

• Certified Conference Interpreter
• Certified Specialist Health/Legal Interpreters
• Certified Interpreter (or higher)
• Certified Provisional Interpreter
• Recognised Practising Interpreter

Some TIS National interpreters hold none of the credentials outlined above and are referred to as 'Nil-credentialed'. This generally occurs in new and emerging languages in the Australian community where NAATI offers neither certification nor recognised practising status. These interpreters undergo TIS National interview and reference checking processes to ensure their work is of a high standard.

TIS National allocates interpreters in order of the preferences below:

1. Certified Conference Interpreter
   Suitable for international or high level events and meetings involving conference type settings, which require consecutive or simultaneous interpreting. Use of conference interpreting booths and equipment are often required by the interpreter to deliver interpreting services.
2. Certified Specialist Interpreter
   Suitable for settings that need specialised health/legal terminology. Interpreters have extensive knowledge of the health or legal domains. 
3. Certified Interpreter
   A certified interpreter transfers complex, non-specialised messages from a source language into a target language that accurately reflects the meaning. Suitable for general conversations and interpreting non-specialist dialogues.
4. Certified Provisional Interpreter
   Suitable for general conversations and interpreting non-specialist dialogues.
5. Recognised Practising Interpreter
   Granted in emerging languages or languages with low community demand for which NAATI does not offer certification. Interpreters with this credential have recent and regular experience as an interpreter and are required to complete regular professional development. Suitable for general conversations and interpreting non-specialist dialogues. In a small number of cases Recognised Practicing Interpreter may also be provided as an interim arrangement in established languages where interpreters have been trained but testing is not currently available.
6. Nil credentialed
   Some TIS National interpreters hold none of the credentials outlined above and are referred to as ‘Nil credentialed’. This generally occurs in very low demand languages where NAATI offers neither certification nor recognised practising status. These interpreters undergo TIS National interview and reference checking procedures to ensure their work is of a high standard. For languages where certification/accreditation is not available, TIS National may be able to allocate a Recognised Practising or nil-credentialed interpreter.