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Enhancing the Status of ATA Certification

November/December 2020 Issue

The year 2020 is one that few people will likely forget or look back on fondly. The severity of the pandemic combined with—in the U.S. at least—various social issues has upended many lives. For ATA’s Certification Program, the effects have manifested themselves in two interrelated outcomes: a sharp reduction in exam sittings owing to local […]

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Decoupling and the Certification Committee

September/October 2020 Issue

Over the past several years, the Certification Committee has been called on to answer several questions related to opening the certification exam to nonmembers (also known as “decoupling”). Although the Certification Committee manages and administers the Certification Program, it was not directly involved in the decision on whether to eliminate the membership requirement for certification. […]

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Who Are ATA’s Certification Graders?

July/August 2020 Issue

At present, ATA’s Certification Program enlists the services of more than 130 ATA members, who are commonly known as “graders.” That name, however, does not do full justice to the range of activities performed by these individuals on behalf of ATA and the program. Who are these people, how are they selected and trained, and […]

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COVID-19 and Certification

May/June 2020 Issue

The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on ATA’s Certification Program has been and remains profound. Although the situation continues to unfold, here are how things stand at this writing (early May). All exam sittings scheduled for March, April, and May have been cancelled. Registration for future sittings is on hold while ATA Headquarters and the […]

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Changes in ATA Continuing Education Requirements

March/April 2020 Issue

ATA introduced continuing education requirements for certification in 2004. Prior to that, ATA certification was a “once-and-done” system, meaning that individuals who passed the exam remained certified as long as they remained ATA members. Introducing continuing education requirements brought the Association more in line with the practices of other credentialing bodies, where it had long […]

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12 Extra-Linguistic Skills You Need to Master before Taking ATA’s Certification Exam

January/February 2020 Issue

You’ve decided to take ATA’s certification exam. You’ve worked professionally as a translator for several years and you’ve taken (and passed) the practice test1 in your language pair. You’re confident in your language and translation skills and you’re ready to tackle the actual exam. Congratulations! Have you also considered the extra-linguistic skills you’ll need to […]

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Common Errors Found in the English>Spanish Certification Exam

September/October 2019 Issue

ATA certification continues to be a sought-after credential. As a way to prepare for this demanding exam, ATA has been offering practice tests for many years, which are real exam passages that have been “retired.” In addition to the practice test, ATA has been offering exam preparation workshops taught by ATA exam graders to help […]

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ATA Certification Exam Preparation Workshops

July/August 2019 Issue

In recent years, ATA has focused on providing those individuals who are interested in becoming ATA-certified with opportunities to learn more about the exam and hone their skills. Besides informational updates on ATA’s website, regular columns by members of the Certification Committee in The ATA Chronicle, and a variety of sessions at ATA’s Annual Conference, […]

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Opening Up the Exam to Nonmembers

May/June 2019 Issue

As of January 1, 2020, ATA membership will no longer be required to earn and retain ATA translator certification. Why is this happening and what does it mean for those who are already ATA-certified—and for the Association? Linking certification to membership has always been a mixed bag. On the one hand, certification has been perceived […]

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