How to Become a Translator

If you’re a multilinguist who enjoys interacting with diverse populations, becoming a translator may seem like an attractive career choice—one of several options to consider. But what does a career as a translator truly entail? 

Figuring out the type of training or skills necessary for your desired role may help you determine if working as a translator is what you really want, or if a related profession is a better fit. From educational requirements to voluntary certifications, we share some factors to consider if you’re thinking of becoming a translator.  

What do translators do? These professionals connect people, ideas, and information—regardless of geographic, cultural, or lingual barriers. As opposed to speech pathologists, who focus on providing therapy to individuals with speech-related issues, translators are responsible for converting written word from one language to another. 

It sounds simple enough, but two seemingly similar translator positions may look completely different from one another in practice. In the next section, learn more about a few of the common work environments that translators may find themselves in. 

Before you begin your translator career, you may want to identify your preferred work setting. There are a number of potential translator work settings. As a result, two translators who start their careers at a similar time—and place—may find that down the line, their paths diverge.

Translator jobs are varied, potentially offering professionals the flexibility to change paths or hop across industry lines at will. Here are a few common work environments for translators: 

Translators can be self-employed and work remotely, too. The options are far and wide, but there may be some limitations. For instance, although translators may work in schools and have a wide range of transferable skills, they typically do not occupy teaching positions or work directly with students. 

The two jobs do share commonalities. Both translators and interpreters “translate” language, so what’s the real difference? Understanding the distinction between a translator vs interpreter may help you decide which path is right for you. 

As mentioned, translators focus on converting written word, while interpreters convert spoken words. Still, some people confuse the two. Having a visual image might help you to distinguish the two roles. When it comes to interpreters, picture an individual mediating—in real time—a conversation between two parties who are speaking different languages. That person may also serve as a cultural liaison. Translators on the other hand don’t have to be present as a conversation takes place. Picture an individual behind a computer screen—in some cases, in their home—working on initial draft translations, maintaining accurate records of translating activities, and developing best practices for translation processes and style.   

There are other ways in which a career as an interpreter and a career as a translator differ. Depending on which path you take, education, training, and certification may vary. 

If you’ve already spent time looking for information on how to become a speech pathologist or how to become a translator, you may have come across suggested degree programs, like a Bachelor of Speech Pathology or Master of Speech Pathology. While earning any of these two degrees may help set you on the path to becoming a translator, they are by no means a necessity.  Everyone’s path is different. One aspiring translator may prefer to major in linguistics, while another might opt for a foreign language degree, and another may choose to enroll in a speech language pathology (SLP) program.

Before applying to a translator position, make sure you meet the minimum educational requirements outlined in the job description—and that may often be a bachelor’s degree.  

As previously mentioned, advanced degrees aren’t required to become a translator—but if you’re considering a career as a bilingual speech pathologist, an undergraduate program or a master’s degree focused on speech-language pathology could provide you with skills you may not be able to obtain in a related program. There are a variety of SLP master’s programs and certificate programs that offer multilingual tracks, study abroad components, and other features to prepare students to enter the field. Each program is different, but here are a few things a prospective student may want to consider when looking for an SLP program, bilingual or not: 

There are different paths you can take to become a translator. No single pathway is the correct one. However, there are a few common prerequisites and certifications shared among translators. We’ve highlighted them below: 

Some individuals may be able to turn their language skills and credentials into a translator career without a relevant degree. However, according to the BLS, a number of hiring managers look for graduates with related bachelor’s-level degrees, or, at times, advanced degrees. One common area of study for translators includes single- or dual-language programs, but studying a specific language is not a requirement for translators, nor will it guarantee you a job. As previously stated by the BLS, some translators obtain a bachelor’s in speech pathology or master’s in speech pathology, before entering the field.

You don’t need any formal translator training to advance your career as a translator. A bachelor’s degree in a language-related field of study may be a starting point for those who wish to build a career in the field. It also can’t hurt to have multicultural experience or spend time practicing the languages you know. 

Having said that, certain translator jobs may require job-specific training programs or certificates. It’s your duty to find out what those job-specific requirements are.

Translators may pursue certification to help them bolster their resumes, but—like training— there is no universal translator certification.

Still, if you’re interested in a specific path or job function as a translator, you may want to consider becoming a certified translator as a way to help you beef up your credentials or demonstrate an advanced level of practice to potential clients and employers. For example, the American Translators Association (ATA) certification provides translators with an opportunity to back up their skills on paper. ATA-certified translators are also listed on the association’s official Directory of Translators and Interpreters, which employers may use to find freelance translators. 

So, what are the skills translators use? Different roles call for different skill sets. Here are just a few of the skills that translators may use day to day:  

You don’t necessarily need to possess each and every one of these skills to land a role, but concentrating on sharpening a few at a time may help you on the job.  

If you’re still waiting to take your first step, the road ahead may seem long and meandering. Even though every individual’s exact path may look slightly different, here are a few common steps that you may reference as you explore how to become a translator and plan out your journey. 

A career as a translator has its perks, from working with diverse groups of people to learning about new cultures. But the job isn’t for everyone. Before locking in your career choice, you may want to explore options other than a translator job. 

If you want to keep your options open, pursuing a degree like speech pathology may help to set you on the path to becoming a translator while allowing you to explore alternative careers for speech pathologists. Only you can decide what’s right for you. 

Information last updated November 2020

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