Have Questions on Interpreting in Canada?
Welcome to our FAQ page! Navigating the ins and outs of becoming an interpreter in Canada can be daunting. Starting a new career journey is easily overwhelming. But the Team at The Interpreter’s Lab is here to simplify the process and answer your most pressing questions. Explore our comprehensive FAQs to find the guidance you need on your journey to becoming a successful interpreter.
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- A Certified Interpreter is generally an interpreter who has successfully completed a certification examination or met specific requirements established by a certification authority, such as CTTIC
- Certification often signifies a higher level of competence and recognition compared to basic accreditation. Accreditation is not generally offered to individuals in Canada.
- In some cases, holding a Certified status may be mandatory for certain types of interpreting, especially in legal and court settings.
Interpreter Certification in Canada is acquired by taking the exams set by Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) but administered by provincial affiliates such as Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC) in BC.
Certification is a process and we usually recommend waiting until you’ve gained some work experience, and acquired a better feel for the industry and profession. In some cases, a minimum number of work experience is required prior to being considered as a candidate for Certification.
The short answer is that some agencies require Certification and others do not.
We always recommend expanding your skill set. A linguist, or a person that works as a language professional should be able to do all the work in related fields if they wish – translation, transcription, voice-over, etc. This is a lot for those new to the field, and may be overwhelming at first, but you can slowly increase your skills and knowledge over many years. Setting a goal first and then working toward that goal. I always recommend feeling confident as an interpreter first and then adding.
Yes! In Canada, we also have CILISAT, the Community Interpreter and Language Interpreting Skills Assessment Tool. Since 1994, the CILISAT was established as a proprietary-owned assessment tool that is administered by authorized testing centers across Canada. The CILISAT focuses primarily on sight translation and dialogue or consecutive interpreting in both of an interpreter's working languages. While it only measures the interpreting and language skills associated with community interpreting, it can be a very good tool to have in your interpreter toolkit. You can take the CILISAT at any point during your practice, or even before you begin your journey as a measure of your current skills. The Interpreter’s Lab, as an authorized testing center, offers the CILISAT at competitive rates to support interpreters.
The short answer is no. As explained Interpreter Certification in Canada is acquired by taking the exams set by Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) but administered by provincial affiliates such as Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC) in BC.
HOWEVER, Our Certificate of Successful Completion stands as a nationally recognized credential endorsed by key Language Service Providers across the country. This testament to competence is a gateway to career opportunities in the language industry. Our courses go beyond theory, bridging the gap between academia and the real world. Through practical applications and industry-relevant content, we ensure that our learners not only acquire knowledge but also gain valuable skills, preparing them for success in a dynamic professional landscape. Join us to receive a certificate that is not just a testament to completion but a key to unlocking diverse and rewarding language service roles.
Interpreting is the act of orally (or visually in the case of sign languages) translating (converting) a message from one language into another.
While both practices involve converting meaning from one language to another, the work of interpreters is in spoken or signed languages, while translators work with the written word. Both jobs have distinct qualifications and skills, and often the kinds of people attracted to each profession are also dissimilar.
While anyone who speaks two or more languages may feel that they can adequately convert a message from one language to another, it takes study, practice and ongoing training to work as a true interpreter. Interpreting is more than just language – it is a set of professional skills and ethics that a global profession share.
The only prerequisites are that you can read, write and speak fluently in two or more languages. Of course, one of those languages must be English, which is the official language primarily used in the majority of Canada, or French, in communities where French is the majority official language.
This all depends on your level of education or training. If you want to work in specialized settings, such as courts, health care or mental health, then you will need to take a course or program of study that specializes in that setting. However, completing the Interpreting in Community Settings course will get you started working as an interpreter in many, generalized settings, such as education, rehabilitation services, law enforcement, social services, legal aid, and financial assistance programs, just to name a few.
Most definitely! Interpreting is one of the fastest-growing field not just here in Canada, but globally. The demand for interpreters has seen a consistent and increasing demand since the early 1990’s (a long time for a field to experience growth!)
This answer is dependent on where you live. Canada is home to 65 indigenous languages and dialects, and nearly 200 non-official languages. The languages in demand vary from province to province, but mainly reflect the languages of immigrant and refugee communities (excepting the indigenous languages).
No, not for the moment. BUT, and it's a big but, if you do take, and pass, one of the commonly accepted Interpreter Assessment Tests in Canada*, your chances of obtaining higher hourly rates as an interpreter improves. The Interpreter’s Lab is an official test centre for the CILISAT exam. Find out more HERE
Language services need ALL languages to be able to respond effectively. Even if you speak a language that is not commonly heard (we call these languages of lesser diffusion or LLD – which just means that not as many people speak them in the current local – not that the languages themselves are not important) there is always a need. Of course, the need is not as high in volume as other languages, but still there. And when the need presents itself for LLD interpreting, then it means you have less competition, giving you an advantage to negotiate your hourly rate.
The majority of Interpreters in Canada work as freelance contractors for one or more agencies. This freelance work, depending on where you live, the languages you speak, and if you also interpret via phone or video, can be as little or as big as you wish. (and whether you limit yourself to strictly working with agencies, or you also expand your business to having direct clients) There are many individuals that have been able to create a very successful career for themselves, including a good income.