NAATI Test Updates 2026: Everything You Need to Know About the New Recertification Catalogue, Fees & More

NAATI has been busy. If you're preparing for the NAATI CCL test for Australian immigration, a lot has changed in 2026 — and some of it is genuinely great news for test takers.

From a brand-new recertification catalogue that drops the work practice hours requirement to a refreshed NAATI website, updated fees, and a new LSP Endorsement Model, here's your complete round-up of NAATI test news and updates for 2026 — and what it all means for your PR points.

What's Changing at NAATI in 2026? A Quick Overview

Before we dive into each announcement, here's the short version of the key changes:

New NAATI recertification catalogue launched 2 June 2026 — work practice hours are no longer required
Recertification window extended to between 1 year before and 1 year after your certification expires
CCL test fee stays at AUD $814 incl. GST
2026–2027 fee schedule in effect from 1 July 2026
New consumer-focused NAATI website launched March 2026
NAATI LSP Endorsement Model commenced 24 February 2026

Let's break down each update and what it means for you.

The Big One: New NAATI Recertification Catalogue (2 June 2026)

The most significant NAATI test news update this year is the launch of the new recertification catalogue on 2 June 2026.

If you've been a certified NAATI practitioner, you'll know that recertification used to involve logging work practice hours — a process many found confusing and time-consuming. That requirement is now gone.

What's changed?

Work practice hours are no longer required for recertification
The recertification window has been extended to between 1 year before and 1 year after your certification expiry
There's now an opt-out discount if you choose not to receive the physical stamp and ID card

This is a much simpler, more flexible system. For everyday practitioners, it means less admin, less stress, and more time actually doing the work you're certified for.

What does the extended window mean?

Previously, you had to hit a fairly rigid deadline. Now you have a two-year window to complete your recertification — starting one year before your expiry date and ending one year after. That flexibility is a genuine improvement, especially for practitioners juggling busy interpreting or translation schedules.

CCL Test 2026: Format, Fees, and How It Works

For CCL candidates, the NAATI test news is mostly good: there are no major format changes, but it's worth knowing exactly where things stand.

Test format: online-only

The CCL test remains online-only, delivered on the Televic platform with ProctorExam proctoring. That's been the setup since the test moved online, and it's here to stay for 2026.

Being online-only isn't a downside — it actually makes the test far more accessible. You can book from anywhere with a stable internet connection, rather than travelling to a test centre.

Pass mark and validity

To pass the CCL test, you need:

A total of 63 out of 90 marks
At least 29 out of 45 on each dialogue

Your results are valid for 5 years, which aligns with how CCL results feed into your Australian PR application.

Languages and test frequency

CCL is offered in 55 languages
Tests are held at least 4 times per year
High-demand languages are tested monthly
Results are emailed within 4–6 weeks

If you're preparing, the frequency news is helpful — high-demand language candidates can sit the test much sooner than before, which shortens the entire prep-to-results journey.

NAATI Fees 2026–2027: What You'll Pay

The 2026–2027 fee schedule took effect on 1 July 2026. Here are the figures that matter most for CCL candidates:

CCL test fee: AUD $814

The NAATI CCL test fee remains steady at AUD $814 including GST. While many immigration-related costs creep up year on year, this one is holding firm — no unpleasant surprise for 2026.

Related fees you should know

Other fees in the new schedule include:

CCL test review: $187
Practice CCL test: $165

That practice test option is worth highlighting. If you're preparing for the real thing, a practice test that mirrors the actual exam is one of the smartest investments you can make — more on that below.

New NAATI Website (March 2026)

NAATI launched a consumer-focused website in March 2026, and for anyone looking up practitioners — or wanting to be found — it's a meaningful upgrade.

Enhanced myNAATI practitioner directory profiles

The refreshed site brings improved myNAATI practitioner directory profiles, including:

Unique shareable URLs for each practitioner
Verified photo and gender fields

What does this mean in practice? If you're a certified practitioner, you now have a cleaner, more professional online presence you can share directly with clients. And if you're looking for a practitioner, the directory is easier to search and more trustworthy to browse.

Why this matters for job-seekers and clients

For newly certified interpreters and translators, a polished directory profile is effectively free marketing. For clients — including government agencies and businesses — it makes finding verified practitioners simpler and faster. A quiet but genuinely useful update buried inside the 2026 news.

NAATI LSP Endorsement Model (24 February 2026)

Since 24 February 2026, the NAATI Language Service Provider (LSP) Endorsement Model has been in effect.

What is it?

The LSP Endorsement Model is designed to support government procurement of translation and interpreting services. In plain English: it's a framework NAATI uses to endorse language service providers, giving government buyers a clearer benchmark for quality when they're procuring language services.

Why should you care?

If you're an individual practitioner, this doesn't change your day-to-day. But it signals NAATI's ongoing focus on professionalising the industry and strengthening quality standards. That's a positive signal for the sector overall — and for the value of a NAATI certification you hold.

What This All Means for Your PR Goals

Here's the thing to remember: none of these changes affect the core value of the CCL test for skilled migration. The CCL test still delivers 5 points toward Australian PR, and there's no change to that.

What the 2026 updates do change is the overall experience:

Simpler recertification for practitioners
Steady fees (no price hike on the main CCL test)
Better online tools and directory profiles
More flexibility and frequency for test takers

Bottom line: if you're planning to sit the NAATI CCL test, there's no reason to wait. The format is stable, the fee is unchanged, and the clock on your PR points doesn't start until you pass.

Start Preparing Today

The only thing standing between you and those 5 PR points is the test itself. And the smartest first step is the practice CCL test — NAATI's own $165 practice exam is useful, but it only gives you a score, not the guidance you need to improve.

That's where Naati Ninja comes in.

Our AI-powered mock test platform gives you:

Realistic on-demand mock tests modelled on the actual CCL exam
Instant AI feedback on every dialogue — so you know exactly where you're losing marks
Unlimited practice whenever and wherever you're ready
Focus areas targeted at the skills that matter: interpreting accurately, managing your time, and staying in your role

Don't wait for exam day to find out how you perform. Practise the way the real thing works, get instant feedback, and walk in prepared.

Take a free practice test on Naati Ninja today and see how close you are to 63/90.

Keywords: [NAATI test updates 2026, NAATI CCL test fee, NAATI recertification catalogue]