FAQ

ATIO FAQs

FAQs about our online Directory
How can I find a translator on the website?		Why can't I find the language I need on your website?
What is the difference between a candidate for certification in translation and a certified translator?		How much does it cost to translate a document? Why can't you tell me? Why can't you regulate the rates?
FAQs about membership
Do translators who are members of your Association use a seal on their work?		Can you give me more information about the MTO, the PEO, the OCT or the OCP requirements?
Why should I be a member of this Association?		I am a court interpreter or a conference interpreter, what do I do, how do I apply?
My degree is from abroad, is a credential assessment by World Education Services (WES) mandatory?		How do you measure years of experience?
How shall I prove my experience?		What is a letter of reference? Who should write it? How many do you need? Why should they be recent and what does recent mean exactly?
Why can't you tell me NOW if my application will be accepted? I want to be sure that it will be accepted before sending my documents.
FAQs about our Entrance exam and the Certification exam
What is the entrance exam and why should I write it? I am a professional already.		Can I appeal a decision regarding the entrance exam?
Certification exam: what is the success rate?		Can I try the certification exam until I pass?
Why is there only one session per year for the certification exam?		Why is the certification exam still a handwritten exam? Can’t I bring my laptop?
FAQs for Members
I'm a certified translator, I reviewed a translation done by a colleague, can I affix my seal on his translation?		Why should I pay a reinstatement fee, I did not use my title last year?
I won’t be practising my profession next year, how do I remain a certified member in good standing?		This member is not a good translator, how can I complain?
FAQs about Quality control of translations
For the public sector		For the private sector

---

FAQs about our online Directory

How can I find a translator on the website?

Please go to the Directory where you can search using various criteria.

Why can't I find the language I need on your website?

Because we have no members in this particular language combination.

What is the difference between a candidate for certification in translation and a certified translator?

Certified members of ATIO will have either successfully passed the CTTIC Certification Examination process in their category, or been accepted through the on-dossier certification procedure. Candidates for Certification are candidates for ATIO certification, admitted on the basis of their education and training or their professional experience. They join in order to acquire the skills and experience that will help them pass the national certification examination or present a complete dossier, for on-dossier certification. Their language combinations are indicated for information only.

How much does it cost to translate a document? Why can't you tell me? Why can't you regulate the rates?

ATIO does not regulate rate.
Individual translators’ rates may vary; they are generally calculated by word and some translators may charge a flat fee per document. As a reference you could check the results of the 2005 survey of independent translators at http://www.atio.on.ca/info/ind_survey/survey05_intro.html

---

FAQs about Membership

Do translators who are members of your Association use a seal on their work?

The use of a seal is not mandatory however ONLY CERTIFIED MEMBERS (and not candidates for certification) are legally entitled to use the seal of the Association.

Can you give me more information about the MTO, the PEO, the OCT or the OCP requirements?

No. Please refer to the appropriate website to find the information you need.

Why should I be a member of this Association?

ATIO is the first language professionals association in the world whose certified members are deemed professionals by law, for in February 1989 the Province of Ontario granted a reserved title for certified members of ATIO through the Association of Translators and Interpreters Act, 1989.

The main purpose of the Association is to promote a high level of competence in the fields of translation, conference interpretation, court interpretation and terminology by: providing a collective voice for its members; promoting the professional development of its members; and applying standardized, national criteria to recognize the competence of professional translators, conference interpreters, court interpreters and terminologists.

Certification enhances your professionalism. It proves your credentials and standing in the profession. It shows you have pride in the profession and it can help you find other job opportunities later on.

I am a court interpreter or a conference interpreter, what do I do, how do I apply?

Please refer to the appropriate pages:

Court interpretation:
Membership criteria
Application form

Conference interpretation:
Membership criteria
Application form

My degree is from abroad, is a credential assessment by World Education Services (WES) mandatory?

World Education Services is one of the organizations listed on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentiel website, http://www.cicic.ca/415/credential-assessment-services.canada, which “assists individuals, employers, professionals and organizations regarding foreign credential recognition and the assessment of diplomas and qualifications in Canada.”

If the institution is not listed on the UNESCO website http://www.iau-aiu.net/ your foreign credentials must be assessed by an assessment organization.

How do you measure years of experience?

In the case of translation, the Association requires an average of 100,000 words/year translated in each language combination.

How shall I prove my experience?

In the case of translation, full-time experience must be attested to by a recent letter of reference from an employer or from each of two clients if you work as an independent/freelance translator.

In order to prove four years of full-time experience in translation, you will have to show —by means of invoices, copies of contracts, letters from clients or employers— that you have translated an average of 100,000 words/year in your language combination.

Please note that voluntary work will not be taken into account.

What is a letter of reference? Who should write it? How many do you need? Why should they be recent and what does recent mean exactly?

A letter of reference attests to your experience. It should be written by an employer or a client, someone who is familiar with your work.

Why can't you tell me NOW if my application will be accepted? I want to be sure that it will be accepted before sending my documents.

The assessment of application is a careful and thorough process. The Association has to make sure that candidates for certification in the different language categories fulfill all requirements. This is in line with the Association’s purpose of promoting a high level of competence.

---

FAQs about our Entrance exam and Certification exam

What is the entrance exam and why should I write it? I am a professional already.

All applicants (translation) must pass the entrance exam. It is a basic assessment of your language and professional ethics.

Can I appeal a decision regarding the entrance exam?

No.
However you may reapply one year later. Please note that you may only try the entrance exam twice.
Note that you will required to write the whole exam the next time you take the entrance exam.

Certification exam: what is the success rate?

The success rate in the certification exam varies from language combination to language combination. The results for candidates form ATIO are published in InformATIO which is available on the ATIO website http://atio.on.ca/informatio/index.php

Can I try the certification exam until I pass?

No.
Candidates for certification in translation have five years in which to become certified in translation, whether by examination or on dossier.

Why is there only one session per year for the certification exam?

The national certification exam in translation is held one a year, usually in February, simultaneously across Canada.
Much work goes into organizing the exam and having the tests marked by professional certified in the same professional category and language combination.

Why is the certification exam still a handwritten exam? Can’t I bring my laptop?

In order to make sure that everybody is treated fairly until the technology become readily available for all languages the exam will continue to be handwritten.
In special circumstances, accommodation can be made for person with disabilities.

Why should I pay a reinstatement fee, I did not use my title last year?

Certified members who are not in good standing for non-payment of dues may reapply subject to the following conditions:
(a) If the application is made within three years of the date they ceased to be in good standing, they may be reinstated upon payment of the amount of dues in arrears. (b) If the application is made three or more years after the date they ceased to be in good standing, they may be readmitted as candidates for certification in their previous professional categories and language combinations, or classifications for conference interpreting. However, to reacquire the status of certified member, they must requalify in accordance with the method provided for each title and language combination sought. If you choose not to pay a reinstatement you will have to complete the whole certification process again.

Candidates for certification who are not in good standing for non-payment of dues may reapply subject to the following conditions:
(a) if the application is made within three years of the date they ceased to be in good standing, they may be reinstated upon payment of the current annual dues plus an administrative fee equivalent to twenty percent of the dues for each year of non-payment. The five- year period to obtain certification shall continue to run from the date of initial admission to the Association.
(b) if the application for readmission is made three years or more after the date they ceased to be in good standing, they must resubmit an application for admission as a candidate for certification in one of the categories. Article 5.01 including 5.01 (d) shall apply. They will then have three years to obtain certification.

I won’t be practising my profession next year, how do I remain a certified member in good standing?

Certified members unable to practise their profession in return for compensation must submit a written request describing the situation and the length of time they expect to be unable to practise. The request must be accompanied by supporting evidence initially and at each renewal.

This member is not a good translator, how can I complain?

ATIO does not act as an arbitrator in disputes between members.
However, we would like to draw your attention to your obligations. All members have responsibilities under the Code of Ethics to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. http://www.atio.on.ca/about/bylaws.php

---

FAQs on Quality Control for Translation

For the public sector

A revisor/team leader is supposed to check the work of the translators on his/her team at least once a month, generally through the revision of a high-profile text that is given to the revisor for revision before it is sent to the client. The translator receives this feedback, but there is no compilation of the errors. So we don't have a figure to provide as an error rate.

For the private sector

The translation agency at which the committee member works has a Translation Quality Evaluation System. It's a way to limit the subjectivity of revision and gives translators empirical data on the type of errors they make. It's based on an ISO standard and lists the errors as major or minor: wrong term, wrong meaning, omission, structural error, punctuation, misspelling and miscellaneous, with a definition for what constitutes each error. Every month we get a report showing how we did in each category so that we know where our weaknesses are. There's a place for the revisers to make comments as well about the error and tips for improvement. It helps revisers explain the error to the translator and helps the translator see trends.

In addition, at the federal public service, there is a system in place to track errors/translation mistakes for trainee translators for training purposes. This is done with the goal of improving the quality of the translations and helping the trainee learn professional standards and practices.

The ATIO Salaried Translators’ Committee will be launching an updated survey shortly and we will be including a question about the quality control of translations. You will be able to check back on ATIO’s website in late spring/early summer for the survey results for additional information that may be useful for you.