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Are there any translation certificates/licenses that don't require formal education?
Thread poster: Ammar Naif
Ammar Naif
Ammar Naif
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 18:54
English to Arabic
+ ...
Jan 14

Is there any certificate/license for translation that you can get without formal education like a Bachelor's degree?
Like, for English you have TOEFL, IELTS, CPE, etc., but what about for translation specifically?
 
Quentin NEVEN
Quentin NEVEN  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 16:54
Member (Jan 2024)
English to French
+ ...
Yes Jan 15

Hi Ammar,

Here's a good answer from a fellow Proz.com user:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6f0xFtNVY

However, most of them cost money !

Ammar Naif
 
Rita Translator
Rita Translator  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:54
German to English
Yes Jan 16

Ammar Naif wrote:

Is there any certificate/license for translation that you can get without formal education like a Bachelor's degree?
Like, for English you have TOEFL, IELTS, CPE, etc., but what about for translation specifically?


There are some certification tests you can take that could be used as credentials with agencies.

The ATA offers certification in both directions for Arabic/English: https://www.atanet.org/certification/guide-to-ata-certification/

CIOL's CertTrans is available from Arabic into English: https://www.ciol.org.uk/CertTrans

I'd highly recommend you take some sort of prep course or do practice exams beforehand to see if you have a chance of passing without taking a course. Note that for ATA certification you need to be an ATA member to take the exam and remain an ATA member to retain your certification.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Ammar Naif
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 16:54
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Accreditation tests Jan 16

Ammar Naif wrote:
Is there any certificate/license for translation that you can get without formal education like a Bachelor's degree?

Many translation associations offer accreditation or certification exams, but I must warn you, those exams are extremely difficult, so unless you've been a full-time translator for 10 years, you should not attempt them unless you don't mind wasting money. There is no training necessary (or available) for such exams, but you won't pass them if you're not a very good translator. 85% of translators who attempt the ATA certification exam fail.

Christine Andersen
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Inge Schumacher
Dalia Nour
 
Rita Translator
Rita Translator  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:54
German to English
10 years is a bit arbitrary... Jan 16

Samuel Murray wrote:

Ammar Naif wrote:
Is there any certificate/license for translation that you can get without formal education like a Bachelor's degree?

Many translation associations offer accreditation or certification exams, but I must warn you, those exams are extremely difficult, so unless you've been a full-time translator for 10 years, you should not attempt them unless you don't mind wasting money. There is no training necessary (or available) for such exams, but you won't pass them if you're not a very good translator. 85% of translators who attempt the ATA certification exam fail.


I agree that you need to be a good translator to pass them (that's the point, after all), but for at least some of them there are prep courses you can take. Or the ATA offers practice tests that you can have marked. That allows you to see whether or not you are even close to a passing grade and where your problem areas are.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
polishedwords
 


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Are there any translation certificates/licenses that don't require formal education?






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