Here’s a very common question from my beginning translation students: “Do I need a…(Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, translation certificate, translator certification, etc.)” with corollaries such as “Am I better off getting a foreign language MA or a translation certificate?” “If I don’t have a Bachelor’s degree but I’m ATA-certified, is that OK?” and so on.
I can answer all of these questions with two words: it depends. There you go! That’s somewhat tongue in cheek, but it does really depend on your background, your goals, who you work for and what you do. And in this post, I’m talking about the norm, not the exception; I know a couple of self-taught conference interpreters who have tons of work, people without Bachelor’s degrees who are doing fine, and lots of people who are not ATA-certified and still make a squadrillion dollars a year. But here I’m talking in general, and I apologize in advance if this gets long!
Also, there are some very notable exceptions to these observations. For example let’s say that you want to be a court interpreter at the state level. In many U.S. states, the only pre-requisite to take the court interpreter exam is that you have to be 18 and legally eligible to work in the US. In theory, even a smart and motivated high school student could study for and pass the exam. And once you’re certified, everyone generally is paid the same rate. So in that case, and for that specific job, there may be absolutely no advantage to having a Bachelor’s degree.
Do you need a Bachelor’s degree? Yes, in most cases, I really think that you do. As with the court interpreter scenario above, of course there are exceptions. But at least in the US, I think that if you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree, you are seen as A Person Who Did Not Go to College; whereas whether you have a BA, MA, PhD, law degree, whatever, you are A Person Who Went to College. Corollary: if you’re not 18 and your parents aren’t going to fund this educational endeavor, is a Bachelor’s from an online university better than, say, a high school degree or an Associate’s, plus a certificate from a reputable translation certificate program? Honestly, I don’t really know. First, you’d need to find a reputable translation certificate program to accept you without an undergraduate degree, but that might be doable if your language skills are strong.
Are translation/interpreting MA programs worth the investment? You had to ask a tough one, didn’t you… Here’s my opinion: before you undertake a graduate degree, ask yourself, “What do I want to do, that I cannot do now, that I can do if I earn this degree?” If your answer is that you want a job as a staff translator or interpreter at a high-level entity such as the U.N., Department of State, European Union, etc. then yes, I think that a translation/interpreting MA, preferably from the top program in your country, is probably a good investment. If you are completely convinced that you want to do conference interpreting, ditto: go for the interpreting-specific MA if possible.
On the other hand, consider this: in the US, tuition, fees, meals and housing at a private university will run you about $50,000 a year; an MA will generally last two years. Schools in Europe generally charge less in tuition, but the cost of living in the European capitals will bump the total cost up significantly. And you also have to consider the issue of lost income, especially if your other option is to simply start freelancing right away. Statistics tell us that the average full-time freelance translator/interpreter in the US earns about $75,000 per year. So during those two years, you’ll forgo some $150,000 in income, giving you a total investment of about $250,000 in your degree. That’s a pretty big number by anyone’s standards, but it’s probably worth it if your heart is set on a staff position at a major international organization; hopefully you’ll get an outstanding education, you’ll be taught by highly experienced professors, you’ll make great contacts, you’ll probably have a leg up in terms of internships, and so on.
However, in my opinion, and I apologize if this verges on “rant” territory, most translation/interpreting MA programs do not offer nearly enough education in business and entrepreneurship, given the career paths that a lot of their students will take. Will some of their students work on staff at places like the UN for their entire careers? Sure. Are there enough of those jobs open every year to employ the majority of graduates? I would say not. So, realistically, a lot of people with translation/interpreting MAs, even from top-tier schools, will become freelancers. A lot of people who earn translation/interpreting MAs want to be freelancers, whether in-house jobs are available or not. And if I invested a quarter of a million dollars in that type of degree, in an industry that is highly freelance-oriented, I would expect a top-tier education in language entrepreneurship in addition to my language skills education. Here’s an example: several top-tier music schools in the US have music entrepreneurship centers. The University of Colorado here in Boulder has one. So does Manhattan School of Music, with the lead-in, “In today’s marketplace, musicians need more than artistic excellence: they need the added edge of entrepreneurial skills to create opportunities and build successful, sustainable careers.” Substitute “linguistic” for “artistic” and I think you’ve got the idea of what our industry needs; and to my knowledge, none of the major translation MA programs in the US or Europe are really addressing this. (End of rant!)
How about certification? Being certified, by ATA or any other national translators association, will never be a negative. Compensation surveys tell us that ATA-certified translators earn more than non-certified translators. I have also heard from several translation companies with government contracts that they are under more pressure to use ATA-certified translators whenever possible. If a client is browsing the ATA online directory, they will probably contact the certified people first. So I think that the ATA exam is absolutely worth attempting if it’s in your budget. However, translator certification, in any country, is not like the bar exam for lawyers or the CPA exam for accountants. Lots of people make lots of money without ever becoming certified. I would consider certification a definite plus, but not a must.
Translation certificate programs? Translation certificate programs are great, because they teach you how to actually translate. They’ll help you avoid the litany of mistakes that I, and lots of other beginning translators, committed early in our careers. They’re also a good deal less expensive and less time-consuming than graduate degree programs. Most translation certificate programs are taught by practicing translators and interpreters who teach in their areas of specialization, so you’ll get real-world feedback from the instructors. Caveats: expect to pay $700-$1,500 per class, and don’t assume that completing a translation certificate program will enable you to pass the ATA certification exam.
What about subject-area degrees or training? I think this is the cutting edge in terms of credentials in our industry. Subject-area knowledge has always been important, but I think it’s becoming more so. For example, translation now seems to be a popular option for career-changing lawyers: possibly because lawyers have some of the lowest job satisfaction rates and some of the highest rates of substance abuse and depression of any white-collar profession. Whatever the case, if you’re already established in the profession and want to take your credentials up a notch, subject-area training would be my pick. Whether you do free, online courses through an entity like Coursera or enroll in a full-on graduate program in your specialization, I think it would be energy well spent.
Corrine, you left out something which is very important from a working translator’s the point of view. People who are certified are, generally, not asked to submit samples of their work, whereas noncertified people are..
Peter A. Gergay, CT.
Thanks Peter! Interesting observation: that’s actually never happened to me (my agency clients generally want tests, my direct clients want me to do a small project), but it’s a good data point!
I am ATA – certified English into Polish and some agencies still ask me for test translations.
Occasionally, clients request for a translation sample even from certified translators we work with.
While I agree with most of the very valid points, using the earnings of an average full-time freelance translator/interpreter to calculate the loss of income caused by studying two years instead of freelancing straight away doesn’t seem fair. The first two years of freelancing are known to be the hardest. I wouldn’t expect most people to make close to the average income, especially in their first year, unless they have strong contacts (for which going to a good school and/or being active in a national organisation helps tremendously).
Thanks Astrid! You’re right and thanks for pointing that out; I did use those numbers mostly to make a point. But I do think that lost income is a factor that a lot of people ignore, and it’s much more of a factor when you’re a “real” adult who could be earning real money, rather than a teenager who is getting an undergraduate degree. Definitely, most people *do not* make 75K during their first year of freelancing. But in my beginning translation class, I’ve also had people who are currently making over 100K a year at salaried jobs that they hate, and are trying to decide whether to go to grad school for translation, so their lost income would be more like 200-250K. Great point though, thank you!
Very well said, Corinne! I did my MA in Human Aspects of Information Technology. I was already a translator, and learned more that is of relevance to our very online industry and my clients through that MA than I would have done through a translation MA.
Thanks Rose!
I completely agree that more translation programs should offer courses in marketing and entrepreneurship. I took a graduate diploma in translation at Concordia (Montreal, QC) a few years ago and now that I have started freelancing, I feel like even one class in marketing would have been a huge help. Since so many people do end up freelancing, business courses should be at least available as electives. I really wish even one professor had asked the question (which I have read since on many translation blogs), “So you want to freelance, but do you want to be a small business owner?”
Thanks Jill! That is such a great insight, thanks! I agree that right now, most translation MA programs are, at most, having a “real” freelance translator come in for a one-hour presentation or something like that. So true: even one course in marketing and business practices would be a big improvement!
Yet another excellent topic, Corinne. As someone with an M.A. in Translation, I am often asked if getting my degree is/was worth it. My answer is that I *think* so (I’m still not sure), but not for the reasons people think.
The main advantages it has given me are A) a quick and dirty look into the industry and how it functions, B) instant networking, C) a piece of paper that opens doors (anecdotal evidence suggests agencies find a diploma to be an acceptable substitute for certification), and D) a pretty solid understanding of Trados.
What I did NOT get from my program was 1) any help finding an internship or job (I was told my program expressly refrains from doing so), 2) sufficient translation experience (you need the real-world for that) or 3) any business knowledge or advice whatsoever.
I have often pondered holding a webinar for students at my alma mater regarding #3 because I remember how absolutely DESPERATE all the students were for the slightest bit of advice on how to launch. (The ATA’s “price-fixing” debacle only added to our desperation. We had no idea what kind of rates were reasonable and no one would even give us a range. You could have told me $0.0001/word or $5.00/word and I would have believed either one!)
Thanks Andie! That “insider’s view” is really helpful; it’s true, many people who didn’t go to school for translation don’t even know how the industry operates when they first start out (I didn’t!!), and translation-specific programs certainly provide that. Contacts and a network are also extremely important. But I agree that in my experience, most translation MA programs are providing, at most, a one-time presentation about how to launch a freelance business. I love your example about a tenth of a cent and 5 dollars a word!
One thing you should consider if you want to become certified:
The waiting time until you get that certification. I took the ATA English German Certification in May, and even though results were due beginning of September (which would have been already a waiting time of 15 weeks), I am still waiting. Luckily, I already hold a certification from the German IHK.
Thanks for that comment. Yes, the wait times to receive your graded ATA exam are often long! I’ll actually forward this feedback to someone on the certification committee for information.
Thanks Stefan! That is a great insight and I love your story about the proofreader (yes, I’ve been annoyed by that too!)
Interesting topic! I got my MA in translation from MIIS because I had dreams of working for the UN 🙂 Since my language pair is so common in the US and in California where I live, I feel that it helps me land jobs easier though I am not ATA certified. I want to do it but I just cannot get past the fact that I have to hand-write a test. Ridiculous! I think a degree or certificate is a plus in some cases (such as mine) but if you have a super awesome language pair(s), I think you’re better off investing in a certificate program or a specialty program if you want to focus in a particular subject, or better yet, some business courses if you want to freelance. I think my investment was worth it to me. I feel pretty confident in my education and what I learned.
Hi Sandra and thanks for your comment! That’s a great point that an MA gives you a leg up in what can be a pretty saturated market. You can actually take the ATA test on the computer in certain locations (for example, the conference). And thanks for those tips on MA versus certificate versus business classes!
Good post, as always.
I would add two observations based on my personal experience.
A.
Having a degree in a field and a subject that you are passionate about has a value that is independent of the money you may expect to earn later thanks to this degree, provided that you can afford to study at all.
Even if your income is not affected that much by your degree later in life, the world is indeed divided into “Those Who Went To College” and “Those Who Did Not”, and most of those who went to college for some reason understand the world around them a little bit better and have more self confidence. The exception to this rule (like Bill Gates) only confirm its validity.
If at all possible, it is best to belong to the first category, regardless of how much money one will make.
B.
On the other hand, given the current state of economy, which I would refer to as “the permanent (?) new normal”, having a degree is no guarantee of anything.
I have an MA degree in Japanese and English studies (from Charles University in Prague), but the thing is, in the 31 years that I have lived in US, only 2 people asked to see it:
1. A nosy old lady at the Northern California Translators Association, about 15 years ago, who had no reason to see it. She was probably just wondering whether she could call my bluff (so sorry if I disappointed her).
2. Some shady translation agency in England, about 7 years ago, because they were bidding on a major project and thus they were looking for impressive resumes. I never heard from them once they got what they wanted.
None of my actual customers, agencies or law firms, ever indicated any interest in my credentials. They may ask for experience, but all they really want to know what you can translate, and how much it will cost.
Thanks Steve! Glad you enjoyed the post. Those are really interesting insights (and I will now steal them 🙂 ) because I always have a hard time articulating the college degree thing. You’re absolutely right about “the new normal”: when even lawyers are having trouble finding jobs, no degree is a guarantee of anything! I also agree that clients rarely delve into credentials in depth; I’ve never had a client say “Your MA is from Boston College? Go away, because our other option is someone with an MA from Yale.” But I do think that the went to college/didn’t go to college distinction is huge, at least in US business culture!
Hi Corinne!
First off, thank you for this blog. I’ve never commented before, but I always really enjoy reading your posts!
I was just wondering: where did your statistics on translators’ average income come from? I don’t mean to question them or anything, but that number kind of made my eyes pop out of my head – I must be doing something wrong, because I’m not even making half of that! I’m a freelancer heading into my sixth year, and I’m usually pretty solidly booked. I’m not in the US, but I am in Germany, which I always assumed would be comparable in terms of income rates. A number of my friends here are also freelance translators in various fields, and our incomes are pretty comparable. Maybe we’ve all just set our rates too low! 😉
Anyway, thank you again for all your hard work and great advice!
Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you enjoy the blog! Back in 2006, ATA’s compensation survey showed full-time freelancers making an income of slightly over US $60,000 per year. So if you’re earning less than 35K in 2013, then yes, I’d say that’s on the low side (especially if you have lots of work: definitely the best time to raise your rates). The 75K figure comes from a conversation with a colleague who worked on a different compensation survey (that isn’t publicly available), but it sounds reasonable to me as an average. Most of the translators I work with who have at least some direct clients earn closer to the 90-110K range.
Thanks so much for the information, Corinne! 🙂
If you’d like to contact me directly at corinne@translatewrite.com I can also say more about rates!
Howdy,
Great post! Is there a flip-side of this coin, though? I’m currently considering a M.S. in Chinese – English translation (which I could complete in 1 year), as a beginning translator who has little income so far from translation. Isn’t it possible that this one year of intensive study at the beginning of my career could enable me to begin tackling larger, more complex projects sooner, and generate a net gain in income over the near future instead of a loss? ($200k, yikes!)
One of the reasons that I’ve chosen this profession is its location flexibility, so jobs at the U.N. or whathaveyou do not appeal to me at all. I hope the degree would give me greater confidence as a translator, differentiate me in my language pair, and up my rate toward the higher end of the scale. Do you (and your readers) think I’m barking up the right tree with a M.S.?
Charlie
P.S. The school I’m considering, NYU, seems to pride itself on professional development and support.
Hi Charlie,
Yes, I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
Given how expensive degrees have become these days, I would recommend you NOT DO ONE. Especially not one in translation. There is a huge disconnect between the world of academia and the world of actual translators, translation agencies, and clients. I studied philosophy and art (both at BA level), and to be honest, I think they were both just a big waste of time and money.
If you really want to translate, try to befriend a real translator. You could even offer to pay someone to mentor you. Just a fraction of what you would spend on a ‘proper’ degree would go a long way in preparing you for the real world of translation.
Michael (Dutch/Flemish into English translator & terminologist)
Thanks for that interesting idea, Michael! Charlie, you could look at it this way: if you found a translator who is doing exactly what you want to be doing, what if you offered to pay that person $1,000 a month to let you shadow them at work 20 hours a week (I’m just pulling those numbers out of the air, but you get the picture). Even if you did that for 10 months, it would set you back 10K, and it would not take up all of your time. Interesting idea!
Thanks Corinne!
I must confess, however, that it was actually my wife who had the original idea;) I happened to mention to her that I had recently read a blog post (I think it was on Steve’s/aka the mad patent translator’s blog) where someone had mentioned considering paying a very large amount of money for a degree in translation, and my wife had immediately said, ‘I bet it would work out a whole lot cheaper if he just found an actual translator who specialises in the field he wants to work in and paid them instead.’
Incidentally, this was during a discussion where we were comparing how much we had each wasted on our various degrees. Philosophy (BA) and Fine Arts (BA) in my case, and reading English literature at Cambridge (BA + MA) in hers.
Great post!
Corinne,
Yes, you’re right! I’m sorry if I’m dragging you in circles, as this was something that I had discussed with you, and you had already helped me with once during your class. Its a tricky thing though, this getting to where you want to be.
I’ll certainly start with what I can find around me (though it’s a little tough being in China), and try to build from there.
It certainly is expensive, there is no denying that, but unlike you Michael (all due respect), I believed college was an amazing experience, that has given me a very firm foundation for everything I’ve done so far. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I had never been.
Which begs the question on if I’d feel the same way if I pursued such an advanced degree. But it seems prudent to exhaust all other avenues before doing that.
Thanks again!
Charlie
Michael, I agree AND disagree with you. I think both of my degrees have been useful to me, but it’s true that befriending a real translator can be instrumental in launching a translation career. If I’m half the translator I am today, it’s because in my early days (and even now), I had colleagues who held my hand, corrected my work, and let me bounce things off them. Those colleagues had, in turn, learned their trade by being corrected by translators before them. But the translation theory and techniques I learned in college have also been invaluable. I still have my old textbooks, and they have been quoted by some of the people I admire most in the field, ranging from award-winning translators to agency owners to in-house translators at major corporations (i.e., none of them academics).
Look at it this way: A cavewoman might know that if she rubs two sticks together she can create a fire, which is all well and good. But if she has a deeper understanding of how fire works, why it burns, and how to control it, she can use it to send a rocketship all the way to the moon.
Thanks Michael,
Based on the response I’m getting it seems like I’ll hold off on the degree, probably indefinitely.
I guess then, its about finding another way of getting trained in the areas that I’m interested in. Anyone every used Translator-Training.com? A little expensive, but I have a hard time trusting anything from Proz.
Thanks for the input Michael!
-C
I have respect for translation degrees but I never needed one. I have a PhD in Genetics and solid experience as translator – this seems to be more than enough in my specialization (medicine, chemistry, biotech).
Hi Corinne,
I really enjoyed your post. I have been working as a translator/interpreter for about 10 years. About 2-3 years ago I started a small business. I have taken some exams through community colleges as well as UC Davis Medical. I am almost finished with a Certificate in Translation from UCSD. I make like half of the average income for a freelancer. After completing the certificate program I will have an AA and a certificate. I am trying to finish my BA. I am a member of ATA, and plan to take their exam.
I feel like every point you made makes perfect sense. For a good number of years I have not been able to determine if taking time off to complete a degree would be worthwhile. The loss of income and acquiring huge debt does not sound like a good plan to me. I do community, agency, and medical interpreting. I do translations for school districts. In the end, it depends!!! 🙂
Thanks for writing!
Clarissa
Hi Corinne,
This is a fascinating discussion!
I earned a Bachelor’s degree of science in Graphic Design seven years ago and have been working in the field ever since. However, I needed a second income and so began pursuing Spanish to English translation work.
During my career as an artist I’ve learned that the cost of a degree does not guarantee an equal or higher pay-off in every case, and in today’s economy, in most cases. There seems to be a general naïveté about this problem among those who are successfully well educated and compensated. (One only need look to the economic section of the news for articles about the problem of degrees vs. compensation.)
It seems to me like some people tend to have a ‘romantic’ view of higher education. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for my education.) But I also believe that it is possible to study independently and have a deep knowledge of the subject with amazing work to show for it, if one is motivated and can find the people and resources needed for learning (as discussed above). That’s the path I’m currently pursuing in translation studies.
I would love to learn from some experienced translators in my language pair and would already be enrolled in a degree program if it were possible. I considered NYU for translation studies, though at this time, with our first baby on the way and very limited time and income, it just will not work.
I really appreciate your good understanding of these matters. There is a lot of pressure in online forums to have a translation degree. Those who are not ATA certified yet or who do not have a linguistics related degree seem to have few options at this time.
What are some ways you could suggest for building a strong understanding in translation before it is possible to get a degree?
By the way, I have been reading all the books on linguistics and translation that I can find, including yours. It would be great if someone could post a recommended reading list for translation studies. (There are already plenty on the business of freelance translation and the theory of translation, but I’m still looking for a good one on the process of actually doing the work of translation with advice about pitfalls and effective practical methods.)
Hello,
Great post. I’ve found this very interesting and has a good stuff for the readers and designers. I would be glad to recommend the post for its quality content. Thanks to sharing it…
Wow! As an optimistic freelance professional, I find these blogs incredibly helpful. Regarding education I just wanted to point out that I am currently enrolled in a dual M.A. In Translation/M.B.A. program designed to give freelance translators an excellent business foundation to become successful at launching, building and maintaining their businesses. While I did once consider passing up a graduate level education, I don’t think I could be at the level I am now without the translation and business skills I have learned so far.
‘For example, translation now seems to be a popular option for career-changing lawyers: possibly because lawyers have some of the lowest job satisfaction rates and some of the highest rates of substance abuse and depression of any white-collar profession.’ Ever wondered why they fit in so well? ;P
Dear Corrine,
I havent been able to obtain a BA in Translating or and language. However, I see that there is a Translating and certificate program in Hunter College (City College of New York) and a Certificate program in NYU. Would obtaining these certificates be a good alternative instead of a BA that will take 4 years.
I live in Lima, Peru and have passed the international Spanish exam DELE. So, I can speak, write, and read the language.
I would also like to become ATA certified once I get back to the US.
Please, such advice on whether taking a certificate program does the justice or having a BA is a absolute must would be very useful and helpful for me! I would be very, very thankful!
Bryanna Craig
Hi Bryanna and thanks for your comment. In general (although there probably are exceptions), it would surprise me if someone could establish a successful freelance translation business without an undergraduate degree. I agree that in the US at least, there are very few undergraduate programs for translation, but I would not see a translation certificate as a substitute for a Bachelor’s Degree.
PS. Sorry for a few spelling errors and such. The keyboards are much different here and the one I am using is very confusing in particular.
However, I hope to hear back from you!
Hello everyone (and Corinne)! I found your blog several months ago, and have been following your posts, and this one in particular, with great interest. I’m pursuing a career in Translation, I just started college for the first time (at 40 years old!) and am trying to determine a wise course of action for my educational career. I know your time is extremely valuable, but I just have a few short questions, if you would indulge me for ten minutes.
If you could re-do anything in the past from your education, what would it be?
Should I pursue a degree/certification in the language, or specialize in the field itself? If I pursue the specialization, then I am interested specifically in alternative energy, bio-engineering, life sciences, project management. The counselors aren’t very helpful, which is why I’m coming to you.
I’m interested in Japanese, German or Portuguese-having such difficulty in deciding! How did you narrow down choosing a language?
And of course, the ATA exam. It seems like taking the exam is a good idea, but other translators have successful careers without it. What is your opinion?
I really appreciate all your knowledgeable feedback. It’s frightening to consider switching careers at any age, but at my age, it’s even more of a leap. I so appreciate your time. I have over 60 bookmarks already, my research skills are being honed in preparation!
Warmly,
Karryn
Berkeley, CA USA
Hi there,
I’ve read all the comments but am a little confused about something. I do have an undergraduate degree (in History, not languages). I am working towards applying for a second undergraduate degree in Modern Languages or Modern and Oriental. Is it foolish to go for a second BA, because my first degree isn’t in a language, or is it an unfortunate but necessary step?
Thanks Krys; my take would be that on the one hand, there are lots of people who acquired their language experience in non-standard ways. For example given the US foreign language education system, pretty much anyone who does a language other than Spanish, French or German has some kind of interesting story to tell. That being said, I do think you need some demonstration of your competence in your non-native language: but for lots of people, that’s not necessarily a university degree.
I have been a full time journalist and editor for a couple of years, with many more years of experience in academic editing. I find myself translating several hours a day in the course of doing research and investigation (I work in Colombia, publish in English), and am considering actively pursuing translation work to supplement my income.
I’d like to know how to establish myself in my preferred niche. I love translating literature, and am also interested (and well-practiced) at policy reports, and documents/ research published by international organizations such as OAS or Amnesty International.
Is ATA certification impractical if you you would like to focus on literature?
I am not going to get another MA, and have not published any translations. How, and where can I begin? How do I connect with (living) authors who want my services, or alternately, publishers who might be interested in something I’ve chosen to translate?
How do I focus on academic translations? (In the humanities and social sciences, lets say).
Thanks! Hope it is not too late to ask.
Thank you for this post Corinne! I was born in China but moved to the U.S. when I was 12. I had a undergraduate degree in Accounting and worked for a couple of years but decided to switch careers. I’m currently studying abroad in China to improve my Chinese and I’m considering applying to the M.S. in Translation program at NYU. I see that NYU also has a certificate program in Translation. In your opinion, is a M.S. degree more competitive than a certificate in translation? Thanks so much for your time!