In an increasingly globalized world, the demand for bilingual professionals who can bridge linguistic divides is skyrocketing. Becoming an English/Spanish translator is a dynamic and rewarding career, enabling you to explore and connect cultures one word at a time.
Education & Training
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How Long Does It Take?
Most translation certification courses range between 6 to 8 months. These courses typically address the technicalities of the job, and students will usually be required to have pre-existing knowledge of both English and Spanish.
Prospective translators may alternatively pursue an Associate’s degree in Spanish, which may take up to 2 years to complete. Others may instead pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, which may take up to 4 years to complete.
The amount of time required to become an English/Spanish translator also varies drastically depending on your prior experience in various technical industries, such as healthcare and business, as well as your familiarity with Spanish. Fluency in both English and Spanish is mandatory, though translators may only sometimes need additional education to be employed.
A certificate demonstrating your translation skills, or even skills in a related industry, may significantly boost your employability.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of education for prospective English/Spanish translators varies on the institution and course length. Most universities and vocational training institutions’ certification programs for translators range between $2,400 and $5,700, with costs varying depending on the length and location of instruction.
What Do You Study?
A certification course in English/Spanish translation may address the following:
- Translation Methods: Practice translating technical content, such as medical, legal, or business-related terminology, from Spanish to English and English to Spanish.
- Technical Terminology: A well-rounded knowledge of English/Spanish medical, legal, and business-related terminology.
- Available Careers: An informative glimpse of the different sectors an English/Spanish translator may work in (such as medicine or education) and specific career paths one may follow (such as copywriting).
- Vocational Experience: Preparation to work in specific industries, such as the medical, legal, and educational fields.
Benefits of Taking the Course
Certification courses in English/Spanish translation can prove remarkably helpful for prospective translators in educating them on the ins and outs of the career and boosting their employability. Taking an English/Spanish translation program will equip you with more than just the fundamentals of the language; students will experience a career-focused curriculum that provides them with in-demand skills in a growing field.
If your skills in either language are lacking in comparison to business standards, you will be able to consult an instructor or an industry professional for guidance instead of self-studying an advanced subject you may be unfamiliar with.
Online certification courses are typically completed in under a year and are as affordable as they are efficient, especially compared to a traditional university degree. A certification course may prepare you for the American Translators Association exam and provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed professionally.
Salary
How Much Can You Make?
The median annual salary for language interpreters and translators in the United States is $49,110 per year, or approximately $24 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Certifications and Exams
Mandatory Certifications
No exams or certifications are mandatory to become an English/Spanish translator. Still, specific certifications can increase your employability and enable you to work in specific, more technical fields, such as political and legal systems or medicine.
The only standardized exam for language translators in the United States is provided and proctored by the American Translators Association. Though this exam and its resultant certification are not mandatory to seek employment as a translator, it can significantly boost your employability and success in finding a job.
Apprenticeships
Like certifications, apprenticeships are also not a mandatory component in the process of becoming an English/Spanish translator. Still, acquiring an apprenticeship, either under a senior translator or by a translation agency, is an excellent way to add experience to your resume and boost your employability. As an apprentice, you may also pursue future employment at your place of training, further cementing your success through prerequisite experience.
Prior experience in a related or supplementary field, such as a background in law or healthcare, may be helpful when seeking employment in specific sectors of the translating industry. Even if you lack this prior experience, additional certifications in translation or related subjects may be as helpful in establishing yourself in the trade.
Pursuing an education in a related field, be it a certificate program or a degree, may enable you to seek a higher-level job with more technical requirements. It may also be helpful to you when communicating with or proving competency to clients.
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