| User | Thread poster: Juan Chen How can you become certified by ATA as an interpreter |
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Juan Chen 
China
 Partial member
English to Chinese
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For a person living outside US desires to hold ATA membership as an interpreter, how to finish pertinent procedures? Does ATA offer such interpreter membership?
Thank you.
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taylorreigne
United States
 Member (2007)
Spanish to English
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...they certify interpreters at all...
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Liesl
Germany
German to English
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Luisa Ramos
United States
Member (2004)
English to Spanish
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| | ATA: not interpreters, not yet | Apr 7 |
ATA DOES NOT certify interpreters.
The two ways I know to get interpreter credentials are the State Consortium (several states accepting each other's credentials, and yet this is NOT a certification, BUT a qualification, and interpreters are forbidden to claim being "certified", but it is coming) and the FCICE (Google that). Not all states belong to the Consortium, some states will only accept the federal certificaiton.
The Consortium oral test can be taken three times in a row within the same year. It requires passing a written test before taking an oral test.
For the FCICE you have to take the written test first and, if you pass, then take the oral examination the next year. The tests are offered on alternate years so any of the tests you flunk you have to wait two years to take it again.
The emphasis of both institutions is legal for court interpreting in state courts or in federal court. The Consortium credentials are not good in Federal court. As you may imagine, the Federal is very, very difficult, especially the oral exam.
Another very prestigious interpreter certification is that of NAJIT (Google that). Extremely difficult. Emphasis on legal.
 
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mystymy
United States
Spanish to English
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| | ATA does not certify interpreters-not yet | Apr 7 |
Luisa is correct, the ATA does not certify interpreters. You can take the certification examination, but that would certify you as a translator NOT interpreter.
From what I've read it seems they are looking into ways of certification for interpreters but it has not happened yet. I've been an ATA member for awhile and I work as an interpreter but I can not say I am an ATA certified interpreter. Try looking into the state courts or perhaps AIIC.
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Juan Chen
China
Partial member
English to Chinese
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Thank you very much. I know that website, but according to my current experiences and abilities, I may not meet their qualifications.
As far as I know, in China only 16-20 people are certified by AIIC, and they must have conference interpreting experiences for more than 5 years.
Therefore, I hope to become a member of a well-known translation and interpreting association first, like ATA.
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