Unlike many comparably technical fields, there is no baseline qualification a translator requires to deliver advanced translation services. Instead, agencies choose to set their own standards and educational and practical experience requirements the translators they choose to employ must possess.
Absolute Translations certified translation services UK offers a broad range of technical translation and provides access to highly skilled translators with a minimum number of years of real-world expertise in their fields of knowledge.
The expert translation firm explains the qualifications and experience requirements you should prioritise when selecting a provider to complete high-level translation projects, particularly those with technical, legal translations or financial applications.
Professional Standards for Complex Translations
While there is no prescribed qualification to become a translator, the norm is for professionals to hold a degree or postgraduate degree in translation, languages or another applicable field. One of the more targeted options within technical translation is to look for a translator with a combined degree, such as having studied law or contract law alongside a language.
First-language speakers are also excellent candidates for legal or financial translations, where they have experience working within the relevant sector. This level of knowledge is superior to educational experience alone since the translator will have greater insights into nuances and formatting standards – an important part of formal translation.
However, every translation agency can set its own policies and requirements. Many will expect translators to have a qualification, but that could vary from a basic certification or a qualification through the Institute of Translation and Interpreting to a postgraduate translation diploma offered by the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
Our translators focused on technical, legal or financial translations have at least a degree in a relevant subject area and a proven ability to deliver work that adheres to our rigorous quality standards. We set minimum experience standards to comply with our quality assurance policies and to uphold our commitment to flawless translation for every client, irrespective of the complexity of the task.
ISO Accreditations in Advanced Translation Services
Alongside the qualifications criteria we set for all translators joining our team, we hold double ISO accreditations to attest to the quality we offer, with independently audited ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 status. These quality marks assess translation service providers and quality management systems, respectively, considering aspects such as:
- Minimum qualification requirements for translators.
- Management and availability of resources.
- Quality control and assurance processes.
Our advice for any prospective client is only to hire a technical translation provider with the ISO 17100 certification. This standard is specific to translation and denotes an international standard where the accredited organisation has met strict thresholds, demonstrating how it manages the quality process from the start to the end of each project and how the provider regulates its services and the translators representing it.
ISO 9001 remains important but is a broader-scope accreditation that can be used in any industry. This ISO standard is linked to more general quality management systems.
How to Select a Translator With the Right Qualifications for Technical Translations
We believe that a combination of professional work experience and translation expertise is essential, particularly when working on a translation that must be clear, accurate and direct. Contracts, cross-border agreements and financial commitments are good examples since ambiguities or inaccuracies are an unacceptable risk.
Clients often report issues when relying on a translation provider without any formal ISO accreditation or certifications since it may be impossible to verify the standard of a translation if you are not a first-language speaker in the target language.
Using professional translators with subject-specific technical knowledge and career backgrounds means that the work we produce takes the original subject, text or phraseology and converts it into the target language, often using in-depth knowledge of dialect and tone to select alternative sentence structures that replicate the intended style and context of the writing.
It is also important to look for translators with excellent writing skills, where translations of content such as software instructions and technical manuals need to be precise but understandable and clear for the end user. Rather than translating a document word-for-word, highly skilled translators look for opportunities to translate from the source language in a way that is perfectly clear and engaging.
If you are unsure of the qualifications an individual translator or an agency possesses, you can cross-check their accreditations by looking at the applicable awarding body and running a search. For example, you can search by name through the relevant accreditation body or register.
Qualification vs Certification in Translation
Translation experience and qualifications differ from certification. If a translation company provides certification, that does not necessarily mean all the translators working for the business hold a professional certificate. Instead, certification is a process whereby a translator verifies that, to their knowledge and ability, a translation has been completed to an accurate and complete level.
Either the translator or their agency certifies the translation with a stamp and signature, confirming that the work has been completed by a professional provider.
Exact requirements depend on the type of content or document and the rules or requirements since these will vary between government bodies and authorities. However, most certified translations must be approved by somebody with a minimum professional standing.
Some organisations also require translations to be certified by an individual or company representative who is a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, called an ITI Qualified Member – they must have three years of experience to apply.
The Absolute Translations team can advise on the level of certification necessary for any certified translation, depending on the nature and intended purpose of the translated content, with guidance available about the governmental requirements for official document translations.
We also provide a notary translation service where translations need to be certified by a notary public, often a requirement for translations used for academic, commercial and governmental purposes. These certification services must be provided by a notary public with the necessary authority to certify documents and witness signatures.
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About Absolute Translations
Absolute Translations understands the importance of quality and reliability and this comes at the forefront of our translation services. Our many years of experience have made it possible for us to work with some of the most talented professional translators as well as leading global brands around the world in more than 200 languages, with business translation services from our London, UK and European offices.
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Source Company: https://www.absolutetranslations.com/
