NAATI LSP Endorsement
NAATI LSP Endorsement is a formal organisation-level recognition issued by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), confirming that a language service provider meets a defined set of standards covering quality, security, conduct, and accountability. The model was authorised by Australian, state, and territory governments in December 2024 and commenced on 24 February 2026.
Endorsement applies for a two-year period from the date NAATI issues the formal letter of offer. Endorsed providers are listed publicly on NAATI's online directory of Endorsed Language Service Providers and issued with a unique provider number and endorsement logo for use on websites and marketing materials.
The model exists to support Australian government access and equity objectives by giving agencies an additional layer of assurance when procuring language services. There's no cost for an LSP to apply for or receive endorsement, but compliance costs sit with the provider.
How NAATI LSP Endorsement differs from NAATI accreditation
NAATI accreditation, now formally called certification, is a practitioner-level credential. It applies to individual translators and confirms their professional competence in a specific language pair and skill set.
NAATI LSP Endorsement is an organisation-level credential. It applies to the language service provider as a whole and confirms the organisation operates to defined standards across six areas: practitioner engagement, code of conduct, cyber security, data reporting, quality assurance, and practitioner induction.
The two credentials are distinct and serve different purposes. A fully compliant procurement framework typically requires both: NAATI-certified practitioners delivering the work, and a NAATI-endorsed LSP providing the framework around how that work is sourced, secured, monitored, and reviewed.
The six requirements behind endorsement
To obtain and maintain endorsed status, an LSP must meet six ongoing requirements set out in NAATI's LSP Endorsement Guidelines: engaging NAATI-certified practitioners for assignments wherever possible, agreeing to the LSP Code of Conduct, meeting minimum cyber security standards, reporting service-related data to NAATI every three months, operating a service quality assurance and customer feedback mechanism, and running an induction process for new practitioners.
NAATI conducts periodic reviews through system checks, formal annual meetings, and data analysis. Spot checks may follow any formal complaint.
Several Commonwealth language service panels open through 2026 and reference endorsement directly in procurement frameworks. For government agencies, healthcare organisations, and enterprise clients, working with a NAATI-endorsed LSP means structural assurance is in place before the engagement begins. Procurement teams can verify endorsement status through NAATI's public directory rather than requesting evidence at submission stage.
The model also matters as a market signal. NAATI is jointly owned by Australian, state, and territory governments, so endorsement carries weight in tender evaluation that organisation-led claims about quality cannot match. Over time, as endorsement embeds in procurement language, it'll function in language services the way ISO 17100 and ISO 27001 already function in translation quality and information security.