18.6 2015
The presentation will provide an overview of the International Certification Study that was conducted by Dr. Stejskal on behalf of the American Translators Association (ATA). The study examines credentialing procedures for translators and interpreters in many countries, including the EU member states. It shows that in various countries throughout the world, translators and interpreters can be either certified, licensed, accredited, or, as is the case in several places, none of the above. The qualification is bestowed on the individual linguists either by a professional organization, academic institution, government, or a combination of any of the three. The most common qualification appears to be that of “certification.” Dr. Stejskal will comment on the efficacy of various credentials and how they affect the status of the profession, as well as how they are related to regulatory efforts imposed by authorities. In addition, he will briefly review credentialing procedures for translators and interpreters in the US and will discuss recent developments in the ATA Certification Program, which he will compare to the credentialing systems in Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany.
Dr. Jiri Stejskal earned both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pennsylvania, and an Executive MBA degree at Temple University. A translator, language instructor, and owner of CETRA, Inc., a translation company based in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania, he currently serves as an officer of the American Translators Association (ATA). Dr. Stejskal also serves as the chairman of the ATA Finance Committee, officer of the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation, and chairman of the Status Committee of the International Federation of Translators (FIT). He published a monthly column titled “International Certification Study” in the ATA Chronicle from June 2001 until August 2003, and has presented on this topic in the US and abroad. A complete collection of Dr. Stejskal's articles concerning the International Certification Study was published in book form by the ATA in November 2003.