In the United States a certified translation consists of the following three parts:

1) The source-language (original) text

2) The target-language (translated) text

3) A statement signed by the translator or translation company representative, with his or her signature notarized by a Notary Public, attesting that the translator or translation company representative believes the target-language text to be an accurate and complete translation of the source-language text.

Sometimes this statement bears the title “Certificate of Accuracy”. ATA-certified translators can attach their certification stamp to the notarized statement.

The American Translators Association offers translator certification in various language pairs. ATA-certified translators are required to specify the language pairs and directions in which they are certified. For example, a translator certified in German to English is not necessarily certified in English to German.

Written by Caitilin Walsh, CT; French/German to English translator President-Elect                  American Translators Association

Published in The ATA Compass

http://theatacompass.org/2013/08/14/what-is-a-certified-translation/