Perks of becoming an ATA Member

If you are completely new to translators’ associations, and you are debating which one to pick, here are four reasons you should join the American Translators Association (ATA).

First, here is a short introduction of the ATA for newcomers. Founded in 1959, the ATA is a volunteer-driven organization which aims at promoting the recognition of translators and interpreters, establishing dialog between professionals and upholding certain standards within the profession. The ATA offers different memberships which range from student memberships at $89 to organization memberships at $371.

Now, before you run for the hills when seeing the prices, take a look at what these memberships have to offer. The prices truly reflect the complete package. I would like to highlight that even though most of the ATA events or resources have both a member and a non-member pricing, it is still much more beneficial in the long run to opt for a full membership.

If you have already started researching associations, you have probably heard that the ATA, like most others, entails substantial professional recognition. For example, the Certified Translator Designation (CT Designation) is granted to translators who pass the ATA Certification. I must point out that the exam costs $525, and that the current pass rate is only 20%. HOWEVER, not only are certified translators highlighted in the ATA Directory, they can also put the CT Seal on their website. And rest assured that candidates take practice tests before diving headfirst into the lion’s den. 

The ATA Certification requires ongoing education. In order to sustain a given level, participants are asked to earn Continuing Education Points (CEPs). These can be obtained in various ways, such as participating in conferences, volunteering at programs, etc.

With its numerous marketing tips and services, the ATA helps your business flourish. A key feature of being an ATA member is the possibility to create a profile in the ATA Directory. This free option enables potential clients to find you, and all you need to do is to take a few minutes to fill out your language combinations, specializations, availability, experience, the tools you use, and so on. The ATA even shares tips and tricks to help its members create the ideal profile. 

In relation to marketing, the ATA has a whole section of its website dedicated to client assistance. Although the difference between translation and interpretation might seem obvious to us, it is not to everyone. To further support clients in their hiring process, the ATA even published guides called “Getting it right”. 

Now onto the numerous networking opportunities the association has to offer! Beside the Certification, the Annual Conference is probably the main reason why professionals become members. Once a year, over 170 workshops and talks are held by different speakers to promote career development within the translation and interpretation industry. If you are interested in viewing previous ATA Annual Conferences, you also have the option to purchase past editions. Unfortunately, last year’s conference was held online, but the ATA 60th Annual Conference of 2019 took place in Palm Springs, California. If you are new to the conference, the ATA created the “Buddies Welcome Newbies” program so that you can make the most of these few days. Seasoned attendees are paired up with first timers, and they are encouraged to eat a meal and attend one conference together.

Similar in conception to the “Buddies Welcome Newbies” program, the ATA created a Mentoring Program to which ATA members are eligible. Mentees and mentors are paired in accordance with pre-established criteria for a period of 6 months. Moreover, if they wish they can extend the program to a year. Participants are free to define subjects related to the business side of translation, so that the mentorship can help them expand both their network and professional knowledge.

Moving on to the part I believe essential for novice translators: educational resources. No matter what your preferences are, the ATA offers everything you need! A diversity of resources are available in different formats: 

• For podcast lovers out there, the ATA Podcast is available on most listening platforms. Every once in a while, volunteers share what is happening behind-the-scenes.
• For those who love (and miss) social interaction, you can find different conferences and seminars listed in the ATA Agenda. Even though Zoom has its advantages, we all hope events will soon take place in-person again!
• For avid readers, here are two resources to keep you busy for a while: The Savvy Newcomerand the ATA Chronicle. The Savvy Newcomer is a blog supervised by the association that is made for students and neophyte translators. The ATA Chronicle is the association’s “flagship publication” in which challenges regarding the translation and interpretation industry are addressed. To round things out, here is the link to the latest edition of the ATA Chronicle on how to translate humor.

You are probably wondering why I am praising the ATA and not another association, right? Well, knowing that the ATA is the largest translators’ association in the world is a determining element, for several reasons: 

• Compared to other associations, the ATA offers a wider scope of resources.
• The more the association is internationally renowned, the more professional recognition increases.

In the end, it is all about what you learn and who you meet, so make sure to pick the association that is right for you. And do not forget, no matter which association you chose, make the most of it!

Larzul Noémie