ATA Certification Program

Eligibility Requirements

Certification Exam Education/Experience Eligibility Form

 

Name: ________________________________________________

Member Number: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

City/State/Zip/Postal Code: _______________________________

Country: ______________________________________________

Phone:____________________ Fax: ________________________

Email: :________________________________________________

Important Information: You must be a member of ATA in order to complete this form.

Please indicate which route you are taking to meet the education/experience prerequisites for the ATA certification exam. Then submit this form, along with all the appropriate documentation, the signed Code of Ethics form, and the $35 processing fee, to the address below. This fee is non-refundable whether or not your application is approved. All material submitted in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation in English.

 

CHECK ONE:
	Translators and interpreters currently accredited or certified by a member association of the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs:
	Proof of such accreditation or certification.
	Translators and interpreters with an advanced degree or approved T&I degree/certificate.
	Proof of advanced degree (master's, doctorate, or the equivalent professional in any field) Proof of degree/certificate from approved T&I program (must be from the list approved by the ATA Education and Training Committee.)
	Translators and interpreters:
	Proof of a bachelor's degree and Evidence of at least two years' work as a translator or interpreter, which may include either of the following: - Letters of reference from clients or supervisors showing two years; or - Copies of records of business activity such as Schedule C tax forms, corporate tax returns, 1099s, invoices, or work orders.
	Translators or interpreters with less than a bachelor's degree:
	Evidence of at least five years' work as a translator or interpreter, which may include either of the following: - Letters of reference from clients or supervisors showing five years' work experience; or - Copies of records of business activity such as Schedule C tax forms, corporate tax returns, 1099s, invoices, or work orders.

Ethics
I.	As a Translator or Interpreter, a bridge for ideas from one language to another and one culture to another, I commit myself to the highest standards of performance, ethical behavior, and business practices.
	A. I will endeavor to translate or interpret the original message faithfully, to satisfy the needs of the end user(s). I acknowledge that this level of excellence requires:   mastery of the target language equivalent to that of an educated native speaker, up-to-date knowledge of the subject material and its terminology in both languages, access to information resources and reference materials, and knowledge of the tools of my profession, continuing efforts to improve, broaden, and deepen my skills and knowledge. B. I will be truthful about my qualifications and will not accept any assignments for which I am not fully qualified. C. I will notify my clients of any unresolved difficulties. If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek arbitration. D. I will use a client as a reference only if I am prepared to name a person to attest to the quality of my work. E. I will respect and refrain from interfering with or supplanting any business relationship between my client and my client's client.
II.	As an employer or contractor of translators and/or interpreters, I will uphold the above standards in my business. I further commit myself to the following practices with translators and interpreters:
	A. I will put my contractual relationship with translators and interpreters in writing and state my expectations prior to work. B. I will adhere to agreed terms, payment schedules, and agreed changes, and will not capriciously change job descriptions after work has begun. C. I will deal directly with the translator or interpreter about any dispute. If we cannot resolve a dispute, we will seek arbitration. D. I will not require translators or interpreters to do unpaid work for the prospect of a paid assignment. E. I will not use translators' or interpreters' credentials in bidding or promoting my business without their consent or without the bona fide intention to use their services. F. For translations for publication or performance over which I have direct control, I will give translators recognition traditionally given to authors.

Rules for Using the Credential

Upon receiving notice of passing the exam, translators may refer to the credential on their résumés, business stationery, cards, websites, and other related materials, provided they specify the language pairs(s) and direction(s), i.e. Spanish into English or Spanish>English.

Accuracy of Information Provided

ATA reserves the right to verify the information provided and request additional information as needed. If a discrepancy arises, ATA will ask the candidate for a written explanation. If no written explanation is provided or the explanation is found to be unsatisfactory, ATA reserves the right to ban the candidate from re-applying for up two years. These matters will be conducted in complete confidence and in complete respect for the candidate's privacy and rights. More serious violations will be referred to the ATA Ethics Committee.

I pledge to abide by ATA's Code of Professional Conduct and Business Practices and the rules for using the credential, if granted, and I certify that the information submitted is accurate.

 

Signature:
Print Name:
Date:
This form must be read and signed by the candidate prior to taking the examination.

Total Processing Fee: $35.00
Check/Money Order: Please make payable, through a US bank in US funds, to American Translators Association
Credit Card: Charge my American Express VISA MasterCard Discover
Card No	___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/___/
Expiration Date:		Name on Card:
Signature:

Please fax or mail to:

American Translators Association
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 683-6100
Fax: (703) 683-6122
Email: Membership Services Manager