Becoming a certified translator

Becoming a certified translator is something you can do as a translator to enhance your ability to get hired as a freelance translator, especially as more and more translation organizations around the world are focusing on translation certifications.

Before I talk about some of the things involved with becoming a certified translator, I feel the need to address a question that should be popping up in your mind. That question is whether or not you should go through the steps to be certified. Certification (or accreditation) is a process that requires a significant amount of time, as well as money.

There are two groups of people that weigh in on the debate of whether or not it's important to become certified. One group of translators say that it is an absolute must and that every translator working professionally should go through the certification process for their country or region. The other group discounts the whole process, saying that certification is just a way for translator organizations to collect money from translators without providing anything of real value in return.

I personally feel that certification could be useful when just starting out because having that on your resume could give you some clout. However, the biggest factor in getting and keeping work is the quality of work you do, the way you treat your clients, and your overall professionalism. Translation accreditation or certification only takes into account your ability to translate between two languages; it doesn't test your ability to run a successful business. Keep that in mind when deciding if it's right for you. You can read more about my thoughts on certified Spanish translation.

As I mentioned previously, different regions around the world have different accrediting agencies for translators. Different countries might have different requirements for freelance translators, so make sure you understand if there are any certification requirements you have to have before you start working.

In the United States, for example, there is an agency called the American Translators Association, which accredits translators in various language pairs. However, receiving an accreditation from them is not required by U.S. law in order to become a translator. In fact, contrary to popular belief, translation certification isn't even required for becoming a translation professional.

If you're wondering whether it's worth to to be certified by ATA, check out a small survey I did on ATA membership.

Another option would be to go back to school and get a translation certificate or diploma. However, if you're able to pick up and go back to school, check out some places where you can get an online translation certificate.

So, now that I've talked about the question of whether or not to go through the process of becoming a certified translator, I will discuss some of the issues involved in actually becoming a certified translator.

Becoming a Certified Translator

The first thing you need to do when wanting to become certified is to figure out which translation organization in your area can grant you certification you desire. There might be specific agencies that can grant you specialized certifications (such as in medical translation, technical translation, etc.) but you might just be interested in a general translation certification.

Doing a quick search on the Internet using "translation accreditation" or "translation certification" will get you some good leads.

The next step is to look at the organization's requirements for becoming a certified translator and for providing a certified translation service. These requirements can vary, but most involve at least three requirements: paying money to the organization, passing a translation test, and continued involvement in the organization or industry (yearly dues).

The American Translation Association, for example, requires that you be a member of their organization before you can take the certification test. You also have to prove that you have the right combination of education and work experience in the translation field. After you take the test and pass, you are then required to fulfill a "continuing education" requirement every year.

Different organizations will have different requirements, but these are the most common ones. If you decide it's something you want, be sure and do practice tests and talk to others who have taken the tests so that you can be prepared. Good luck!

Remember that becoming a certified translator is different than becoming a certified interpreter. Just because you become certified in one mode doesn't mean that you are automatically certified in the other. If you'd like to read more about becoming certified as an interpreter, be sure and read the articles on interpreter certification.

Have a question or experience on getting certified as a translator?

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