ATA Certification
ATA Certification Exam
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ExploreAbout this exam
ATA certification is a professional credential for translators, awarded by the American Translators Association in a specific language pair and direction - either from English or into English. ATA describes it as one of the industry's most respected credentials for translators and the only widely recognized measure of competence for translation in the United States. It is a credential for experienced translators rather than newcomers; ATA frames it as a milestone to prepare for deliberately, and it offers a practice test made up of a passage from a previous year as an affordable way to measure readiness. The exam itself is a three-hour, open-book, proctored test designed to determine whether a candidate can produce a translation that is professionally usable within the framework set by the Translation Instructions (TIs) accompanying each passage. Those instructions define text source, translation purpose, audience, and medium - effectively the client's expectations. Passages are typically written at a university reading level and avoid highly specialized terminology, though they include terminology challenges that a good general dictionary can resolve. All printed resources are allowed, but only specific online resources are permitted. Preparation typically combines practice under exam conditions, careful reading of the permitted-resource rules, and attention to how the TIs shape register, terminology, and format choices. Results are reported as pass or fail only, with no score or grade and no feedback on the exam.
What you'll study
About ATA Certification preparation
What exactly does the exam consist of?
Three passages of 225 to 275 words each, of which you translate two. Each passage comes with Translation Instructions specifying the text source and the translation's purpose, audience, and medium. You choose which two passages to translate, so reading all three before committing is part of the test.
How long is the exam, and is it timed per passage?
It is a three-hour exam overall. ATA does not describe separate time limits for individual passages, so you allocate the three hours yourself across the two passages you select, including time to read the Translation Instructions and proof your work.
Is the exam open-book? What can I bring?
Yes, it is open-book and proctored. All printed resources are allowed, but only specific online resources are permitted, so check the permitted-resources list before exam day. A good general dictionary is the main tool ATA points to for the terminology challenges in the passages.
How hard is it, and who should take it?
ATA calls the exam rigorous and demanding and describes certification as a credential for experienced translators. The passages sit at roughly a university reading level and avoid highly specialized terminology, so the difficulty lies in producing a professionally usable translation that satisfies the Translation Instructions, not in obscure vocabulary.
What do the Translation Instructions actually change?
They set the context: who produced the source text, why it is being translated, who will read it, and in what medium it will appear. ATA treats them as reflecting the client's expectations, as if the exam were a real assignment. Register, terminology, and formatting choices should follow from them.
How is the exam graded, and will I get feedback?
Results are pass or fail only; there is no score or grade. The exam is not returned to you and no feedback is provided, which ATA notes is the prevailing practice for many high-stakes credentialing exams. Review and appeal procedures exist for concerns about processing or grading.
Do I need to convert measurements or currencies?
No. You are not expected to make mathematical conversions. You will not be penalized for choosing to convert, but incorrect conversions are marked as errors and lower your result, so leaving figures as they stand is the safer default unless the Translation Instructions require otherwise.
Can I retake the exam, and how many language pairs are offered?
The source material does not state a retake policy, so confirm current rules with ATA before registering. Certification is offered in specific pairs and directions: seventeen combinations into English and seventeen out of English, with Chinese into English, Hungarian into English, and Persian into English listed as temporarily unavailable.
What is the best way to prepare?
Take the practice test, which uses a passage from a previous year and introduces how errors are marked. Then practice translating full passages under the three-hour limit while applying the Translation Instructions, and review ATA's exam-day tips on selecting passages, formatting, proofing, and dictionary choice.