Certification question

by Janice Porras
(Salina, Utah USA)

I have been translating for over 20 years for local businesses as well as for my church. I have never been certified, but one of my sons is trying to get his fiance here from Chile and asked me if I was a certified translator. I have never bothered to think I needed to be.

I also have another daughter-in-law who is from Chile (and husband from Spain). We've never come up against this question before. Do I have to be certified to help in the paperwork? I wouldn't mind being certified, but I don't want to be for business purposes, just to help out in matters such as this. I would like to just take a test and if I pass be certified, but I don't want to be obligated to some organization for the rest of my life.

I'm only asking to take a test and be certified to help out not be a business. And I have translated in a local court before and they never asked if I was certified. What is the point and is it really so very important to have a piece of paper from some organization saying I am certified?

Everyone I have ever translated for has been happy enough to come back and I've never had a complaint.

But then I don't make money doing it either. What is my best route if I just want to be certified (IF IT IS NECESSARY) in order to help people with whatever it may be that they need help with?