Translation Certifications: What You Need to Know

In our blog post, How to Become an English Translator, we gave you some steps on how to get into the translation field. One of the recommendations we mentioned was to become a certified translator. There are many institutes that offer courses and certifications for translators. In this article, we will focus on four main tests that you could take to become a certified translator. 

Benefits of Getting a Translation Certification

Whether you have to be a certified translator to get translation jobs varies from country to country. However, being certified as a translator can definitely be of great benefit to you! 

One benefit is that passing a certification test shows that your skills meet certain industry standards in the field of translation and that you are a competent translator. This will help make you stand out from other translators. Imagine you were a client, wouldn’t you prefer a translator with a certification over someone who wasn’t certified? 

Another benefit of getting certified is that some certification institutions might recommend jobs to you or employ you to work for them. Once you are a member of a certification institute, they might post your profile on their website. This saves you the hassle of looking for a job completely on your own because their site and database is accessed by hundreds or thousands of employers and recruiters. 

Besides this, embassies often publish lists of certified translators available in their respective countries. This is to help foreigners and ex-pats residing in the countries receive assistance from qualified professionals in translating legal documents. Therefore, a translation certificate gives you a better chance of being endorsed by an embassy. 

Which Certification Do I Need to Work as a Translator? 

There are many different certifications available for translators. The certification you choose should also depend on the type of translation you wish to do. Some certifications are for specialized translators, like those working in the medical or legal sectors, while others are for general translations.

The clients your work with or the region where you choose to operate in may also impact your choice. For example, there are many universities and colleges in the United Kingdom that offer courses in translation. The same goes for the United States. If the majority of your clients are from England, it would be wise to choose a certification that is recognized in the UK.  

However, besides the great variety in certification choices, there are some well-known certificates that will increase your credibility as a translator. Next, we will discuss some of the more popular certifications for translators. 

Types of Translation Certifications

ATA Certification

One of the most known certificates for a translator is the American Translators Association (ATA) certification. ATA offers examinations for various language pairs and direction. “Direction” refers to translating from or into English. 

The ATA exam lasts three hours. Candidates receive three written texts that are between 225 to 275 words. The exam involves translating two out of the three texts presented. 

Although it may not sound like a tough task, the ATA certification exam is no walk in the park. In fact, only about 20% of candidates pass the test! This shouldn’t scare you, though, because ATA offers online practice tests to help you prepare for the exam. The practice test is an exam from a previous year, so candidates get an idea of what to expect. More often than not, the difficulty level of the practice test is about the same as the actual exam. 

You must be a member of ATA to register for the test. ATA advises candidates to become members at least four weeks prior to the exam so that there is enough time to process the paperwork. 

Once you have passed the exam, you will obtain the ATA-certified translator seal. You can use this seal on documents that are related to your work because it will have your name and language combination written on it. Also, it comes with a unique certification number that your clients can verify by using a link on the seal that will direct them to the ATA verification system. 

DipTrans

Chartered Institute of Linguistics (CIOL) offers another test to certify translators. Located in the United Kingdom, CIOL provides a diploma in translation, DipTrans, that is recognized nationally and internationally. 

The CIOL exam consists of three units. The first unit asks test takers to perform a written translation of a general text; you will have three hours to complete this assignment. For the second unit, you will have to translate a semi-specialized text in one of the following fields: technology, business, or literature. The third unit asks test takers to translate another a semi-specialized text, but the text is in the areas of science, social science, and law. The second and third units are two hours each. 

Although the period of time permitted to complete all three units used to be five years, it will change to three years from January 2021 onwards. If candidates are unable to complete all units in three years, they will have to begin the process again.

Unlike the other tests, the DipTrans examination can be taken outside of the United Kingdom. There are CIOL centers in China, India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and various European countries. 

In preparation for the DipTrans exam, you can find free practice tests on the CIOL website. There are also preparation courses available for interested individuals. These courses are offered by independent institutions, not CIOL. 

After you have passed the exam, you will receive your diploma within two months. Then, you list “Dip Trans” as a designation and apply for CIOL membership. People become CIOL members for professional status, career recognition, and improved job prospects. By belonging to a professional network, they are able to network and develop business contacts.

NAATI Certification

If your clients are mostly located in Australia, you might want to consider getting the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) Certification. In order to become NAATI certified, you have to follow certain steps before qualifying to take the certification test. 

NAATI offers various certification tests, but we’ll focus on the Certified Translator test. 

The first step to take before applying for the certified translator test is to receive training. NAATI approves the following training: 

• Advanced Diploma of Translating or higher (AQF Level 6 or comparable overseas qualification)

Alternatively:

• Minimum 40 hours AQF units in translating theory and/or practice assessed by NAATI as meeting prerequisite. 

The Australian Qualifications Framework, or AQF, regulates qualifications in the Australian education and training system. 

Part B of the first step is to provide proof of completion of a formal English proficiency test. These include tests like the TOEFL, IELTS, OET, and PTE. Candidates must also obtain a degree from an institution where the primary language of instruction was English, as well as have possess English proficiency, comparable or greater than NAATI’s requirements.

The second step is to submit your application. This includes identification documents, references, and certificates mentioned in step one. 

The third step involves ethical and intercultural competency exams. You will have to complete both of these tests if it’s your first time applying for NAATI certification. Prior to taking the competency tests, you will have to complete an online course, which are about hours each. After that, you will receive the tests and answer three knowledge-based and three scenario-based questions each. 

Once you have finished all these three steps, you become eligible to take the certification test. 

Because of COVID-19, NAATI will soon begin offering the certification tests online. The exam consists of three parts, and each part has a different topic and domain. During the first two parts, you will translate two out of the three non-specialized texts presented. The third part of the exam is a revision of a non-specialized translation. In total you will have 3.5 hours to take the test. 

Similar to other certification exams referenced, NAATI offers a free practice test on their website for students to prepare for the real exam. 

United Nations

If you’d like to work as a translator at the United Nations, you will have to take the Language Competitive Exam (LCE). 

One of the requirements for this exam is that you have at least the equivalent of an undergraduate or first-level degree from a university. In addition to this, most of the positions require you to translate into your main language from two other official languages. 

The exam at the UN consists of two parts. If English is the main language, the first part usually consist of four tasks. 

The first task is to translate a general text into English. The second part involves translating a specialized (economic or legal) text into English. During the third part of the exam, you will write a summary of a statement given in English. The last part of the test is editing an English text. The exam takes approximately five hours.  

You will be invited to take another test after successfully completing the first task. During this test, you will have to perform translations without the help of any resources. After this, you will receive an invitation to a competency-based interview.

Having passed both parts of the exam, you then become eligible for recruitment at various headquarters and regional commissions within the UN. 

On average, the LCE takes place every two or three years. Unlike the other exams mentioned, passing the LCE does not come with a translation certificate. However, you do receive the opportunity to work for the UN, which offers invaluable translation experience in a professional setting that strengthens your resume as a translator. 

Which Translation Certification Should You Choose? 

There are many other types of certifications you can obtain as a translator. In this article, we highlighted four well-known tests that you might consider taking to become certified. When looking at these tests, your choice should take into account the region you plan to work in as a translator. Keep in mind that ATA and DipTrans are recognized internationally. 

The advantage of the DipTrans test is that you do not have to be in the United Kingdom to take the exam; it can be done at one of several CIOL centers around the world. In contrast, the ATA examination is only offered in the United States. While the NAATI test will soon be available entirely online, the certification is more limiting because it is mainly for those wishing to do translation work in Australia. 

Passing the LCE will help you gain employment at the United Nations, which is something the other tests do not guarantee. However, the LCE does not come with a diploma or certification after its completion. It is mainly the work experience you will gain at the UN that might make you stand out from other translators when you decided to change employers. The advantage of the LCE is that it is not bound by region; it is globally recognized by the UN. The downside is that the exam only takes place once in two to three years. 

Takeaway 

Being certified is not a must in order for you to find employment as a translator. However, having a certification as a translator does put you in a better position when job hunting because it is proof that you are competent and that your translation abilities meet specific standards. As you choose which certification would be most suitable for you, make sure to prepare adequately for the test. Each exam holds applicants to high standards in order to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff and make sure that only deserving translators become certified.