Should I require ATA certification and a degree in translation for my English-Vietnamese projects?

We should never confuse ATA certification with ATA membership. While ATA certification is among the most respected seals of approval in the industry, ATA membership usually does not hold much water. Pretty much anyone who is willing to pay the annual member fee can become an ATA member. It is important to note that ATA does not offer certification in the English-Vietnamese language pair. Some clients do ask for it as a “must have”, but it simply does not exist.

A degree in translation certainly provides a real solid foundation and skills one needs for a great career in translation and interpretation. However, language schools in Vietnam are not particularly well known for their quality, and I am, personally, not very fond of their graduates. A degree in translation from an American university is highly desirable, but it is quite rare to have a Vietnamese translator among their graduates. In our projects, we often make do with experienced translators who have some undergraduate degrees in Vietnam and spent some years in the US for their postgraduate degrees (preferably still living in the US). They can do the job just as well.

Questions and comments? Feel free to email project@usaviettranslations.com