In Canada, the term certified translator (traducteur certifié or traductrice certifiée) is a title that is reserved for language professionals. Under C-26 of the Code des professions (Professional Code) of Québec, a certified translator is designated as a reserved title that is entrusted by a professional association, such as the Ordre professionnel des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ).

36. No person shall in any way whatsoever:

(t)  use the title “Certified Translator”, “Certified Terminologist” or “Certified Interpreter”, or any title or abbreviation which may lead to the belief that he is a certified translator, certified terminologist or certified interpreter, or use initials which may lead to the belief that he is a certified translator, certified terminologist or certified interpreter or use the abbreviations “C.Tr.”, “C.Term.” or “C.Int.” or “trad.a.”, “term.a.” or “int.a.”, unless he holds a valid permit for that purpose and is entered on the roll of the Ordre professionnel des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec;

[C-26 Professional Code. CHAPTER IV: PROFESSIONAL ORDERS, DIVISION III: PROFESSIONS WITH RESERVED TITLES]

36. Nul ne peut de quelque façon :

(t)  utiliser le titre de «traducteur agréé», de «traductrice agréée», de «terminologue agréé», de «terminologue agréée», d’«interprète agréé» ou d’«interprète agréée» ni un titre ou une abréviation pouvant laisser croire qu’il l’est, ou s’attribuer des initiales pouvant laisser croire qu’il l’est, ni les abréviations «trad.a.», «term.a.», «int.a.», «C.Tr.», «C.Term.» ou «C.Int.», s’il n’est titulaire d’un permis valide à cette fin et s’il n’est inscrit au tableau de l’Ordre professionnel des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec;

[C-26 Code des professions. CHAPITRE IV : LES ORDRES PROFESSIONNELS, SECTION III: PROFESSIONS À TITRE RÉSERVÉ]

In order to become a certified translator in Canada, a language professional must have the required education, language expertise, and/or experience. They must also complete a course on ethics, professional conduct, and professional practice. Depending upon the professional translation association, a translator may also be required to pass an examination before being admitted to the association. 

Education

In regard to education, the majority of certified translators have a university degree in translation and/or a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution. In Canada, there are several universities offering university-level degrees at the BA, MA, and Ph.D. level in translation. Here are some of the Canadian universities that provide professional education in translation: 

• Collège Universitaire de Saint-Boniface, 
• Concordia University, McGill University, 
• Simon Fraser University, 
• Université de Moncton, 
• Université de Montréal, 
• Université de Sainte-Anne, 
• Université de Sherbrooke, 
• Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 
• Université du Québec en Outaouais, 
• Université Laval, 
• University of Alberta, 
• University of Manitoba, 
• University of Ottawa - School of Translation and Interpretation, 
• University of Toronto, 
• University of Waterloo, 
• York University.

Before becoming a certified translator, some language professionals may additionally have a number of years of professional experience in translation.

Similar to other professional fields, certified members of translation associations are held to strict obligations: They are expected to maintain their professional credentials and participate in continuing educational courses to keep up to date with their education and any changes in their field. 

Professional Translation Associations

There are a number of professional translation associations across Canada. Each association is committed to regulating the profession and providing the public with access to certified translators in good standing who can provide professional, accurate, and certified translations. Here are a few of the professional translation associations across Canada:

• Alberta: Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA)
• British Columbia: Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC)
• Manitoba: Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of Manitoba (ATIM)
• New Brunswick: Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick (CTINB)
• Nova Scotia: Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS)
• Ontario: Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)
• Québec: Ordre professionnel des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ)
• Saskatchewan: Association of Translators and Interpreters of Saskatchewan (ATIS)     

Did you know that only a certified translator can provide a client with a certified translation? 

Professional Translator Directories

To connect with a certified translator, you can reach out directly to a professional translator, by visiting any of the Directories of Translators available on each of the translation association websites mentioned above. These directories list certified translators who are in good standing with the association and who can personally assist you with your translation needs. 

You can also get a certified translation through a large Language Service Provider (LSP) who maintain rosters of translators in many languages. Important to note however, these companies are not able to certify a translation by themselves and usually outsource these types of requests to the same independent translators mentioned above, while charging you, the client, a substantial markup. It is therefore often faster and more cost-efficient to cut out the middle man and work directly with a certified translator.

The oldest professional association in Canada, representing translators, interpreters, and terminologists in Ontario, is the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO). In fact, it was the first translators’ association in the world to have its certified members legally recognized as professionals:​ In February 1989, the Province of Ontario granted the reserved title of “certified translator” through the Association of Translators and Interpreters Act, 1989. Until this day, ATIO’s mission is to promote the language profession among its members, and to ensure that its members have high levels of competence and ethics to protect the public interest.​

Certified translators in Ontario can be found on the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)’s online directory at www.atio.on.ca.

The largest translation association and regulatory body of translators, terminologists, and interpreters in Canada—with close to 3,000 language professionals—is the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) in Québec. Similar to ATIO, its mission is to protect the public by ensuring the competence and professionalism of its members through certification standards, a strict code of ethics, and periodic professional inspections. OTTIAQ routinely offers remote and in-class continuing education lectures and workshops on topics relevant to the field of translation.

Certified translators in Québec can be found on OTTIAQ’s online Member Directory (Répetoire des membres) at www.ottiaq.org/repetoire.

Certified Documentation

There are many types of documents that require certified translations. For example, government issued documentation including driver’s licences, vehicle registrations, passports, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc. One of the most frequently requested certified translations at VML Translations are educational in nature: They include certified translations of francophone course descriptions, and university transcripts for applying to further education at anglophone institutions. 

No matter the request, VML Translations can help you with your translation needs. Please email us for further information.