Introduction to the

ATA Certification
Exam
Delaware Valley Translators Association
Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
Philadelphia, May 28 2016

YOUR SERVER TODAY

Armando Ezquerra Hasbun
ATA certified ENG>SPA
Former Spanish Group Grader (2013)
NAJIT certified
Federally certified Court Interpreter and
Exam Juror
2015 recipient of the Harvie Jordan Award

Accreditation by Examination
Accreditation Committee in 1963; first implemented in

1973
Assessment of ability quality, professional translation in
specified S-T pair
Objective evidence of professional competence
Associate membership > Active/Corresponding: Voting
rights
Eligibility: ATA membership 4 weeks prior to exam
administration
Handwritten or keyboarded exam

Exam pairs and directions

offered
INTO ENGLISH

FROM ENGLISH

Arabic Croatian, Danish,

Dutch, French, German,
Italian, Japanese, Polish,
Portuguese, Russian, Spanish,
Swedish, and Ukrainian

Chinese, Croatian, Dutch,

Finnish, French, German,
Hungarian, Italian, Japanese,
Polish, Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish, Swedish, and
Ukrainian

The certification process:

The translation exam
Purpose
Usefulness and benefits: Seal,

CT, Directory listing, Voting

rights
Minimum skills measured
Validity and Reliability
Standard for passing: Level 3
ILR
Passing rate <20%

Ideal candidate profile

Investment: $300/$345

Directionality

Structure

Written and Keyboarded versions

Open book, proctored examination

Eligibility to sit for the examination

https://www.atanet.org/certification/eligibility_requirementsform.php

Pay $35 processing fee and meet one of the 5 criteria listed
below:
1. Currently certified by the Fdration Internationale des
Traducteurs
2. Those with an approved T & I degree or certificate
3. Bachelors or higher degree plus evidence of 2 years
activity as T or I
4. Bachelors<, evidence of 5 years activity as T or I
5. ACTFLs Advanced test scores in Reading (source)
Writing (target)

Eligibility for exam and for recertification

https://www.atanet.org/certification/eligibility_requirementsform.php

Acknowledgement of the ATA Code of Ethics and Professional

Practice
Rules for using the credential - Accuracy of Information Provided
Peer-review process
Continuing Education 20 CEUs in 3 years
One hour of Ethics after certification: conference or free, online
module:
http://www.atanet.org/certification/online_ethics_overview.php .

The certification process:

the structure of the examination
Translation of two passages: General and Specialized

(225-275 words)
The mandatory passage: layman to layman
The optional passage: expert to layman
Option #1: legal, financial, accounting
Option #2: medical, scientific, technical
Three-hour, open book, proctored exam. Investmen: $300

Certification exam grading procedure

(results announced after 15-weeks minimum)

Anonymous passage reviewed by two independent graders

Error scale: -1, -2, -4, -8, -16 and up to +3 quality points
18 or higher is Fail; ranges: 18-25, 26-45, 46+ points
Pass on both passages by both graders
Disagreements or borderline scores reviewed by a third
grader
Candidates can apply for certification exam review and
appeal

Framework for Standardized Error Marking

Error detection categories part one

Addition v. Explicitation
Ambiguity
Capitalization
Cohesion
Diacritical marks/Accents
Faithfulness
Grammar

Illegibility

Indecision

Literalness
Mistranslation

Misunderstanding

Omission
Punctuation

Framework for Standardized Error Marking

Error detection categories part two

Register
Spelling/Character
Style
Syntax
Terminology
Unfinished

Usage

Word form / Part of speech

Up to +3 points added for extraordinary translation sample

https://www.atanet.org/certification/aboutexams_error.php

GRADING GUIDELINES AND

DOUBTS
INTO ENGLISH

INTO SPANISH

https://www.atanet.org/certification/Into_English_Grading_2013.p
df

FUNDEU

ACADEMIA REAL DE LA LENGUA ESPAOLA

Diccionarios de autoridades

Failing results
Examination Review

6-month deadline; Jan 1 start

Current ATA membership

$250 returnable fee

If changed from Fail to Pass

If not changed, marked exam

Examination Appeal
Panel of 3 Certification Graders
Panels decision is final

$200 returnable fee

Outcome and reasons
Disqualification from the
process

The ATA practice test

The test provides a practical introduction to the nature of
the exam and how errors are marked. It is also a good
indication of whether you have a reasonable chance of
passing the exam. The test will be returned to you with
errors marked and classified by type and degree of
seriousness.
Each practice test passage costs $80 for ATA members
and $120 for non-members.

Elements of a good translation

Primary: grammar

Semantics

Secondary: style

Accuracy and Completeness

Syntax

Orthography

Intent

Punctuation
Readability

Register

Flow

Pragmatics

Dictionaries and their intended

use
General English dictionary
General foreign language

dictionary
General E<>FL dictionary
General legal dictionary
General medical dictionary
General accounting dictionary
General scientific dictionary

News reports and Op Ed pieces

Scientific articles and abstracts

Contracts and Handbooks

Legal Statutes and Ordinances

Technical Instructional manuals

Medical products inserts

Balances and Audits

Some sensible advice

https://www.atanet.org/certifi
cation/aboutexams_tips.php

Still have questions?

Please email the

ATA Certification Program Manager
or call ATA Headquarters at
(703) 683-6100, extension 3013