Which NAATI Test? CCL, CLA, Translator, Interpreter (2026)

Updated 26 October 2026 · Facts checked against NAATI pages on 7 September, 8 October and 21 October 2026.

Source: NAATI fees.

The rest of this guide sets out each test, what it costs and who it is for, so you can be sure you are booking the right one before you pay. If the CCL is your test, you can practise a full CCL dialogue free first and see how close you are to the pass mark.

The three kinds of NAATI test

NAATI tests fall into three groups, and they answer three different questions:

The CCL and CLA are not professional credentials. Certification tests are, and they come with prerequisites, recertification and a place on NAATI's online directory if the practitioner chooses to be listed.

The CCL test: the one most people search for

The CCL is an online community-language assessment, separate from professional certification. The test costs AUD $814 under the 2026–27 fee schedule. For review and assessed-practice costs, payment timing, refunds and rescheduling, use the NAATI CCL test fee guide.

For the meaning and format, read what is the NAATI CCL test?. The comparison below covers the other test types so you can choose the relevant route.

The CLA test: for bilingual workers

NAATI describes a community language aide, or bilingual worker, as someone who uses their language other than English in the course of their work to assist customers or clients. The CLA test assesses a candidate's ability to communicate in a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, in the language other than English only.

The CLA is not the test for migration points. If an employer has asked you to show your language skills for a bilingual role, this is the one they mean.

Certification tests: translators and interpreters

These are the tests for people who want to work in the profession. NAATI's three pillars of certification are: complete formal training and meet the prerequisites, pass a NAATI certification test, and recertify every three years. Prerequisites include demonstrating English proficiency, ethical competency and intercultural competency. The guide to becoming a NAATI certified interpreter or translator walks through each step in order.

Two notes from NAATI's fee page and credential pages:

• To become a Certified Interpreter in a spoken language, candidates must sit both the Certified Provisional Interpreter test and the Certified Interpreter test.
• Certified Translator is currently the only certification available for translators.

Related certification fees:

NAATI's FAQ says certification test results are generally issued within 8-10 weeks of the test being sat.

Practice tests

NAATI lists three kinds of practice test:

For the CCL, NAATI's free practice test shows how the online platform works and includes one dialogue. A practice result cannot be used to claim migration points. Our free practice test guide compares the options.

Which NAATI test do you need?

• You want the 5 Credentialed Community Language points: the CCL test. NAATI says you can also get those points by holding a NAATI certification, but most people who are not working translators take the CCL. The 5 points guide quotes the points table wording.
• You want to work as a translator or interpreter: a certification test, after formal training and the prerequisites.
• You want a skills assessment as a translator or interpreter for migration: NAATI says translator and interpreter are on the Department of Home Affairs' skilled occupations list, and someone wanting a migration skills assessment needs to gain a NAATI certification through testing.
• Your employer wants proof of your language for a bilingual role: the CLA test.
• You need a document translated: no test. You need a certified translator; see our guide to finding a NAATI translator.

Booking any NAATI test

All NAATI tests are applied for through myNAATI at my.naati.com.au. You create an account, submit an application, and select a test date once NAATI has processed it. NAATI staff cannot book a date for you. Our myNAATI login guide covers sign-in problems, password resets and the Manage My Tests screen.

For the CCL specifically, bookings close 1 week prior to the test date, and dates are shown live, so they can be taken by other candidates by the time you book. Our live NAATI CCL test dates table shows the next session with seats for every CCL language.

Before you pay $814 for the CCL

The CCL is two dialogues between an English speaker and a speaker of your other language, and you interpret both ways, segment by segment. Marks come off for what you leave out, add or change. Our 3,000+ practice dialogues across 50 languages are written to the CCL specification, and AI marking shows segment by segment what you kept and what you lost. The score is our model's estimate, not a NAATI result. Your first two full dialogues are marked free on the practice page. The Australian terms list covers the community vocabulary that comes up, and you can check which languages we cover.

Frequently asked questions

Which NAATI test do I need for PR points?

For most people it is the Credentialed Community Language (CCL) test. NAATI says migrants can gain the CCL points either by passing a CCL test or by holding a NAATI certification as a translator or interpreter. The CCL has no prerequisites and costs $814.

How much is the NAATI test fee?

It depends on the test. In NAATI's 2026-27 fees, the CCL test is $814, the Community Language Aide test is $440, the Certified Translator test is $605 for each direction, and the Certified Provisional Interpreter test is $660. All fees are in Australian dollars and include GST where applicable.

Is the CCL test a NAATI certification?

No. NAATI says the CCL test is not a professional certification, and passing it does not certify you to work as an interpreter or a translator. It is a migration assessment of your ability to communicate at a community level between English and another language.

Do I need training before a NAATI test?

For the CCL, no: NAATI lists no prerequisites. For certification tests, yes: NAATI says you must complete formal training in interpreting or translation before applying, and demonstrate English proficiency, ethical competency and intercultural competency.

How long do NAATI certification test results take?

NAATI's FAQ says certification test results are generally issued within 8-10 weeks of the test being sat. CCL results work differently; see our CCL results guide for what NAATI says about them.

Can I practise for a NAATI test?

Yes. NAATI lists practice tests without examiner marking at $0, a practice CCL test marked by an examiner at $165, and a practice Certified Translator test marked by an examiner at $165. A practice result cannot be used for migration points.

Sources

• https://www.naati.com.au/resources/fees/
• https://www.naati.com.au/certification/
• https://www.naati.com.au/resources/about-naati-services/
• https://www.naati.com.au/resources/faq/
• https://www.naati.com.au/migration-assessments/ccl/
• https://www.naati.com.au/ccl-practice-test/

Facts checked against NAATI pages on 7 September, 8 October and 21 October 2026.

More CCL guides

naaticcl.com is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NAATI. The AI score is this site's estimate, not a NAATI result.