Continuing Education Requirement

An ongoing commitment to learning assures clients that ATIU Certification is not a one-time test.

How to Maintain Your Certification

Continuing education is an integral part of every translator's career. For this reason, UTA-certified translators must fulfill the continuing education requirement to maintain their certification. Below you can see which activities qualify, how many Continuing Education Points (CEPs) each is worth, and what documentation is recommended.

CEPs Required

You are required to earn 20 CEPs every three years. Accepted activities include:

  • Attending UTA sessions (webinars, workshops, and conferences)
  • Membership in other professional translation/interpreting associations
  • Teaching or developing a T&I course, seminar, or workshop
  • Writing or editing published T&I content
  • Volunteering in T&I-related work

Reporting Your CEPs

You are responsible for keeping a record of your CEPs and reporting them on time. You must keep documentation verifying your CEPs for one year after your reporting period in case of an audit.

Loss of Certification

If you do not meet the continuing education requirements, you will lose your certification:

  • Your certification badge will be removed from your public UTA Directory listing.
  • You will no longer be permitted to use the UTA Certified Translator designation.
  • Your UTA membership status is not affected.

If you let your ATIU membership expire, you will lose your certification:

  • You will be prohibited from using the UTA Certified Translator designation.

If you lose your certification:

Your certification can be reactivated if you renew your UTA membership and fulfill the continuing education requirements within three years.

  • You must take and pass the exam again to earn your certification if you do not renew your membership and complete all outstanding requirements within three years.

Continuing Education FAQs

I am certified in more than one language combination. Do I have to complete 20 CEPs for each?

No. Only 20 CEPs are required, regardless of how many language pairs you're certified in.

Can I earn CEPs before I am notified that I passed the certification exam?

No. Your reporting period does not begin until you receive official notice that you are certified.

Do I have to earn CEPs to keep my voting membership privileges?

No. If you do not meet the continuing education requirement, you will lose your certification but retain your voting member status.

How do I know when I need to report my CEPs?

Your CEP due date is shown on your My CEPs page under your profile. UTA staff will also reach out as your deadline approaches.

Can I report CEPs and submit documentation as I gather them?

Yes. You can log CEPs as you earn them on your My CEPs page. Once you reach 20 CEPs for a reporting period, you have met the requirement.

Activities Qualifying for Continuing Education Points (CEPs)

There are a range of activities that qualify as continuing education, including attending sessions, teaching, writing or editing, volunteering, and membership in other professional associations. Repeating an identical continuing education activity does not earn additional CEPs.

Request CEPs for a non-UTA educational event

Acceptable continuing education may include, but is not limited to, the following:

Structured Educational Sessions

Attending educational activities on translation and interpreting (including specialty fields and business practices) offered by UTA or another recognized organization, institution, or industry professional. Activities may be live or recorded but must include structured instruction.

Points:

  • 1 CEP per hour
  • Maximum of 5 CEPs per day (10 CEPs per multi-day event)
  • No maximum per reporting period

Documentation:

  • Certificate of attendance, receipt, or letter of completion for each event

Writing / Editing

Authoring or editing a published book or article about translation or interpreting.

Points:

  • 6 CEPs per published book; 2 CEPs per published article
  • Maximum of 8 CEPs per reporting period

Documentation:

  • Title, publisher, and date of the book or article

Teaching

Teaching or developing a translation or interpreting course, seminar, or workshop. Credit is earned for new presentations only; repeating the same presentation does not earn additional points.

Points:

  • 2 CEPs per hour
  • No maximum per reporting period

Documentation:

  • Title, length, and date of the presentation, and the name of the sponsoring organization

Volunteering

Volunteering in translation or interpreting-related work, or giving school outreach presentations about the profession.

Points:

  • 1 CEP per two hours of T&I-related volunteer work; 1 CEP per hour of school outreach
  • Maximum of 10 CEPs per reporting period

Documentation:

  • Description of the activity, hours given, and name of the sponsoring organization

Membership

Membership in a professional translation or interpreting association other than UTA.

Points:

  • 1 CEP per membership
  • Maximum of 3 CEPs per reporting period

Documentation:

  • Proof of membership

Report Your CEPs

You are responsible for keeping a record of your CEPs and reporting them on time. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Report CEPs Online