As translators, we often receive requests for certified translations. But how is a translation certified and who certifies it? You might be surprised to learn that there is no single standard for certification. First, we need to distinguish two things: certified translators and certified translations. Certified Translators In many countries, translators can be officially certified. This is the case in Argentina, where traductores públicos are certified professionals whose translations are valid before public agencies and the law. This is not the case in the United States, where there is no federal or state licensing or certification for translators. There are also national and international professional associations that certify translators. In the United States, the American’s Translator’s Association (ATA) is the…