The NAATI standard, and what Ahpra and OPRA require
One certification standard, several regulators. What NAATI certification is, and how Ahpra and OPRA apply it to your documents.
The NAATI standard
For a translation prepared in Australia, NAATI certification is the standard official bodies look for. A NAATI-certified translation carries the translator's official stamp, signature and attestation of accuracy, and is accepted by Australian government agencies, courts and universities.
Ahpra
Ahpra, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, will not assess registration documents written in another language without a complete English translation by an independent, NAATI-credentialed translator:
- ·Full documents, not extracts. A partial or summarised translation of a diploma, transcript or certificate will not do: everything on the page is translated, including stamps, seals, headers and handwritten notes.
- ·Not a DIY job. Ahpra will not accept a translation you produced yourself or had done by a family member, friend or unpaid helper: the translator has to be independent and NAATI-accredited. That independence is part of what the certification vouches for.
- ·Worked from your original. The translator translates from your original document, or a fully legible certified copy, not from a retyped or summarised version.
- ·Submitted together. You upload the certified copy of the original alongside its English translation through Ahpra’s online document upload; the two travel as a pair.
OPRA
OPRA, the Australian Pharmacy Council's Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment, is the skills-assessment stage for pharmacists trained outside Australia. Its documentary requirements are set by the APC and differ from Ahpra's; we prepare each translation to the standard that applies to your stage.
Certified by NAATI (Australia’s national accreditation authority for translators and interpreters) and members of AUSIT, the professional association of the translation profession in Australia. We practise to the profession’s code of ethics and best-practice standards.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ahpra accept a scanned or digital translation?
NAATI certification can be applied digitally, and Ahpra collects supporting documents through its online upload, so a certified PDF is generally what you submit. We can also send a hard copy by post on request.
My diploma is only partly in French: does all of it need translating?
Ahpra does not accept extract (partial) translations: the complete document must be translated, including any sections in another language plus stamps and seals. We translate the French in full and flag clearly anything in a third language that would need a separate translator.
Can a bilingual friend or I translate my own documents?
No. Ahpra does not accept translations prepared by the applicant, relatives, friends or volunteers. The translator must be independent and NAATI-accredited: that independence is part of what the certification attests.
Do you translate the certificate of good standing as well as my degree?
Yes. Any supporting document in French that forms part of your application (certificate of good standing or registration status, transcripts, identity or change-of-name documents) needs a full certified English translation.
How long does it take?
It depends on the length and complexity of your documents, so we confirm the exact timing when we quote, before starting. If you are working to an Ahpra deadline, tell us up front and we will let you know whether it is achievable.
Will the translation be accepted by Ahpra?
A NAATI-certified translation is the standard Ahpra asks for, and is accepted by Australian government agencies, courts and universities generally. Ahpra still decides what your specific application requires; our part is to make sure the translation itself meets the certification standard.
Send us your document for a free, no-obligation quote.