Accreditation

Apply for Accreditation

The qualification of Accredited Linguist indicates that the holder has completed a course of study equivalent to a pass degree with a major in Linguistics through an ALS approved provider, OR that the holder has been able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of Linguistics at an advanced level, and has applied that knowledge competently and ethically through practice for more than three years. Holders of the qualification must agree to follow the ALS’s Code of Conduct. Accredited Linguists are entitled to use the post-nominal ALing.

Eligibility

The applicant must be a current member of ALS.

Requirements for qualification

Education pathway

Holders of the qualification of Accredited Linguist shall meet at least the following educational requirements listed below, provided no more than eight years has elapsed since the award of the degree or equivalent on which the application is based:

  • A pass degree from an Australian university that provides an ALS approved major in Linguistics, or equivalent qualification, with either:
    • For BA or equivalent undergraduate degree:
      • completion of a major in Linguistics, or
      • a minimum of 75% of a year's study (full time equivalent) in Linguistics at second or third year level, with at least 25% of this at third year level.
    • For postgraduate qualifications: qualification is recognised by ALS.

Note: Graduate Diplomas in Linguistics, depending on their origin, may satisfy the degree requirement. In deciding whether the course requirements above have been met, the Accreditation Committee shall judge the standard and level. It is expected that applicants be graduates. The Accreditation Committee shall judge whether this requirement is met in cases where there is no obviously equivalent Australian degree.

Professional pathway

This pathway to accreditation is designed for professionals who employ linguistic skills in the course of their employment or volunteer activities, whether or not they meet the criteria of the education pathway above. The Accreditation Committee will consider relevant professional experience of applicants on an individual basis, recognising the diverse career paths and contexts in which linguists work.

To be eligible for accreditation through the professional pathway, the applicant must demonstrate expertise in at least six of the listed subject areas, and that they have applied that expertise competently and ethically through practice for more than three years. Formal education (such as taking linguistics electives, short of a major) can also be included as part of a professional pathway application. Expertise and experience can be demonstrated in a number of ways depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances; the professional pathway information page provides some illustrative examples of this for a selection of subject areas. Fictional examples of individual linguists are also provided on the same page in order to assist applicants.

Supporting documentation

All applicants:

Applicants via education pathway:

  • Applicants who have graduated from a degree program accredited by ALS need provide only their Academic Transcript that provides evidence of the qualification.
  • Other applicants must provide copies of Academic Transcripts and details of the courses they have studied, years and institutions, including a listing of their second and third year level and Honours Linguistics subjects/units, and any Linguistics coursework in higher or postgraduate degrees, if such degrees form part of the application. The applicant should supply details of the content of courses in the application. In certain cases, the Accreditation Committee may require further information about course content from the degree-granting institution.

Applicants via professional pathway:

  • A CV or other overview of their professional experience in linguistics/language work to date.
  • A description of specific ways they have demonstrated expertise in at least six of the listed subject areas.
  • Academic Transcripts listing any linguistics courses studied, years and institutions, if relevant.
  • Details of two referees willing to provide a confidential report. Both referees should be in a position to comment on the applicant's work from first-hand knowledge. At least one referee should be a staff member in an Australian university with an approved Linguistics program, or an Accredited Linguist, or hold an equivalent qualification. The Accreditation Committee may alternatively, at its discretion, accept reports from another linguist of seniority in the profession. If referees are clients (using the word “clients” in the broadest sense of covering all possible recipients of a linguist's work) or professional colleagues who are not linguists, they may be asked to describe their level of expertise in Linguistics and why they are suitable referees for assessing the applicant's work. The Committee will not necessarily be limited to obtaining information from only the nominated referees. Further evidence may be required in some cases.

Application Processes

All applications are to be treated in confidence. Applications shall be made on the appropriate form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the requirements are met. Applicants must provide evidence (such as a transcript or degree certificate) that they meet the educational requirement. They must also provide 50 points of ID. These materials should be in English, or provided with a certified English translation.

For the professional pathway, applicants must provide the details of two referees willing to provide a confidential report. Both referees should be in a position to comment on the applicant's work from first-hand knowledge and at least one referee should be a staff member in an Australian university with an approved Linguistics program, or an Accredited Linguist, or hold an equivalent qualification. The Accreditation Committee may alternatively, at its discretion, accept reports from another linguist of seniority in the profession. If referees are clients (using the word “clients” in the broadest sense of covering all possible recipients of a linguist's work) or professional colleagues who are not linguists, they may be asked to describe their level of expertise in Linguistics and why they are suitable referees for assessing the applicant's work. The Committee will not necessarily be limited to obtaining information from only the nominated referees. Further evidence may be required in some cases.

Accreditation Committee
The Accreditation Committee is chaired by the ALS Vice President (Professional Development). The chair is responsible for appointing members of the Committee, which shall be composed of members of the Executive of the Society and/or accredited linguists.

Confidentiality of applicant’s evidence
Where confidentiality may be an issue regarding the submission of reports and similar material, the applicant should approach the chair of the Accreditation Committee for advice. The Accreditation Committee has established procedures for protecting confidentiality of reports should such restrictions inhibit presentation of evidence of practical experience. Applicants are then advised to: (i) ensure that they have permission for members of the Committee to review the material, and (ii) nominate up to two members of the Committee who should not see the material. Members of the Accreditation Committee selected to review the material then sign a non-disclosure agreement in relation to the documents they will review. No one else on the Committee will see the material.

Appeals

An appeal against an unsuccessful application for accreditation may only be made on the basis of procedural error. An applicant has four weeks from the date of receipt of notification of the unsuccessful application to lodge an appeal with the ALS Secretary. The appeals will be considered by the Executive of the Society. Their decision will be final.

Maintenance of Accredited Qualification

Accredited Linguists must retain membership in ALS throughout their period of accreditation. Accredited qualification is suspended if an accredited member ceases to be a financial member of the Society, and is reinstated only on payment of all outstanding dues. Accredited qualification is rescinded on cessation of membership of the Society, but restored on resumption of membership of the Society within five years of membership cessation. An accredited member may choose to terminate his/her accreditation qualification. The qualification may be reinstated at the discretion of the Committee and ALS Executive, subject to the maintenance requirement above.

Confidentiality

Applications and maintenance reports may be accessed by the Committee during considerations but are stored confidentially. Part or any of their contents may be released only with the consent of the member concerned. In the case of an appeal, the ALS Executive may also access the papers relevant to the appeal. The names of Accredited Linguists will be published on the ALS website (if you wish to request your name be withheld from the website, please contact the Accreditation Committee before applying for accreditation).

Fees

There is no fee for application to the Accreditation Committee, but applicants must be current members of ALS.

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