Question re retention of ATA certification Thread poster: Robert Forstag
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Robert Forstag 
United States
Local time: 06:39
Spanish to English
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Does the American Translators Association (ATA) require payment of annual membership dues in order for a translator to retain certification?
I know that this used to be the case, but I remember reading some years ago that the ATA had dropped this requirement.
I would very much appreciate it if someone could provide a link stating current policy.
Perhaps I missed something, but I found nothing on the ATA website indicating - one way or the other - what happe... See more Does the American Translators Association (ATA) require payment of annual membership dues in order for a translator to retain certification?
I know that this used to be the case, but I remember reading some years ago that the ATA had dropped this requirement.
I would very much appreciate it if someone could provide a link stating current policy.
Perhaps I missed something, but I found nothing on the ATA website indicating - one way or the other - what happens when certified translators let their membership lapse.
Kind regards,
Robert ▲ Collapse
| | | | texjax DDS PhD
Local time: 06:39
Member (2006)
English to Italian
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Hi Robert,
From the ATA website:
If you let your ATA membership lapse, your certification will be rescinded.
If your membership lapsed less than three years ago, you need to renew your ATA membership and fulfill the continuing education requirements.
If your membership lapsed more than three years ago, you need to renew your ATA membership and take the exam again.
... See more Hi Robert,
From the ATA website:
If you let your ATA membership lapse, your certification will be rescinded.
If your membership lapsed less than three years ago, you need to renew your ATA membership and fulfill the continuing education requirements.
If your membership lapsed more than three years ago, you need to renew your ATA membership and take the exam again.
https://www.atanet.org/certification/continuing-education-requirement/#:~:text=Loss%20of%20Certification,passing%20the%20ATA%20Certification%20Exam.
I hope this answers your question.
Kind regards
PS. Also, they just announced increased membership dues for the year 2025.
The new pricing grid is available here:
https://www.atanet.org/member-center/renew/
[Edited at 2024-12-06 02:02 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 06:39
Spanish to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | So I guess they went back to their old policy | Dec 6, 2024 |
Thank you, texjax.
So it looks like they went back to their old policy of tying certification to membership status. This is interesting, because when they announced the change some 6 or 7 years ago, the justification was that tying certification to paying of membership dues appeared to devalue the certification.
Perhaps they found that a lot of certified people simply let their membership lapse.
I wonder what happens to such people with the reversion to the... See more Thank you, texjax.
So it looks like they went back to their old policy of tying certification to membership status. This is interesting, because when they announced the change some 6 or 7 years ago, the justification was that tying certification to paying of membership dues appeared to devalue the certification.
Perhaps they found that a lot of certified people simply let their membership lapse.
I wonder what happens to such people with the reversion to the original policy. Do they now have to rejoin to retain their certification? Or do they get “grandfathered in” as certified non-members?
Such mysteries!
The key for me here seems to be the third bullet point in the section you linked to, which at least appears to state unequivocally that certification will be rescinded if membership lapses.
In a sense, I am lucky, since I only would have to pay the reduced “lifetime member” rate. The regular rate seems outright exorbitant - especially given recent trends in the translation industry.
The only thing that gives me pause is that the possibility of retaining certification without membership actually does still exist, but that the ATA is being less than forthright about presenting such an option.
I think I will send an email to ATA to ask for clarification. I will post again if I get a response.
Once again, many thanks.
[Edited at 2024-12-06 03:12 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Chávez
United States
Local time: 06:39
Member (2024)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| The sad facts | Dec 6, 2024 |
That's good info to have, thanks. I renewed my ATA membership six months ago. I'm ambivalent about renewing it in 2025. Here's why:
1) Some clients and even some employers request ATA certification. However, employers (in my experience) don't go checking whether one has a lapsed ATA membership or not.
2) I've long had the feeling ATA has become a kind of MLM organization.
3) While other organizations require continuing education and recertifications,... See more That's good info to have, thanks. I renewed my ATA membership six months ago. I'm ambivalent about renewing it in 2025. Here's why:
1) Some clients and even some employers request ATA certification. However, employers (in my experience) don't go checking whether one has a lapsed ATA membership or not.
2) I've long had the feeling ATA has become a kind of MLM organization.
3) While other organizations require continuing education and recertifications, ATA's requirement to keep an increasingly expensive membership to retain one's ATA certification is, to me, a type of scam.
4) Finally, ATA is not the only game in town; there are other professional translators organizations out there.
MC
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