Become a Member – thisisnathan.ca

Why Join ATIM?

Professional certification offers various advantages, such as confirming your skills as a translator, terminologist or interpreter to potential employers and clients. It also reflects your commitment to protect the public. ATIM membership also has advantages, such as being part of a large and national network of more than 1,500 translators, terminologists and interpreters.

On-line Directory

Association members in good standing are listed in the on-line directory.

Professional Development Opportunities

ATIM is committed to helping its members develop their professional skills through training activities (conferences, workshops, etc.) primarily geared to its members but also to other translators and interpreters in Manitoba.

Job Postings and Work Offers

From time to time, ATIM receives job postings and work offers, which it relays to its members.

For information on how to become certified, please visit Become a Certified Translator or Become a Certified Interpreter.

Become a Certified Translator

There are three pathways to becoming a certified member of ATIM as a translator:

1: CERTIFICATION BY EXAMINATION

Translators may obtain certification by passing CTTIC’s Standard Certification Examination. CTTIC is the national federation of provincial translator associations, including ATIM. CTTIC administers certification exams, although the final authority to grant certification in Manitoba lies with ATIM.

These exams are offered a various times throughout the year and are intended for experienced translators.

There is an application fee of $600 per examination.

Am I eligible to write the CTTIC exam?

Before submitting an application to take the standard examination, you must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

You must be a resident of Manitoba or of a province that does not have its own CTTIC-member association (outside Québec).
You must:

(a) hold a B.A. degree in translation and have one year of full-time professional translation experience;*

(b) hold a recognized university degree (B.A., B. Sc., M.A., etc.) and the Certificate in Translation from Université de Saint‑Boniface and have one year of full-time professional translation experience* (this criterion applies to translators in the official languages of Canada only);

(c) have four years of professional translation experience* (this criterion applies to everyone who does not meet the two criteria listed above).

* What constitutes one year of professional translation experience?

112,500 words/year (official languages)

80,000 words/year (Spanish)

25,000 words/year (other languages)

I meet the criteria. How do I apply to write the CTTIC exam?

To register for the exam, you must submit the following documents to ATIM for assessment:

Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
A letter indicating the length of your professional experience and the language combination/direction in which you would like to take the exam
Letters from your employers or clients confirming your professional experience or length of employment
The application fee of $600 per examination (payable by cheque or Interac etransfer to treasurer@atim.mb.ca)

All documents must be submitted in French or English via email to certification@atim.mb.ca. If your documents are in another language, they must be translated into French or English and certified as a true translation.

All materials may be sent via email to certification@atim.mb.ca or by regular mail to ATIM, The correct postal address is P.O. Box 207 St. Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 3B4.

To learn more about the exam marking method and appeal procedure, please consult the Candidates Guide for the CTTIC Translation Exam.

How will I write the exam?

Examinations are usually held twice a year. Once you have submitted your application, you will have five years to become certified. You may attempt the exam as many times as it is offered within those five years (maximum once per calendar year).

2: CERTIFICATION BY PORTFOLIO

This option is geared toward translators working in rarer language combinations that cannot be assessed by examination. Note that this process is more complex than certification by examination and may also take more time.

To be certified by portfolio (also known as on-dossier certification), you must submit samples of your work for evaluation by an ad hoc committee. The committee will also assess your experience and letters of recommendation.

The fee to undergo certification by portfolio is $400.

Am I eligible to be certified by portfolio?

To apply for certification by portfolio, you must meet the following eligibility criteria, based on your educational background:

Translators with a recognized degree in translation or a related field must have the equivalent of two years of full-time translation experience:

Full-time employment for two years = 112,500 words/years (official languages), 80,000 words/year (Spanish), 25,000 words/year (other languages), on average, or
Part-time employment for five years = 50,000 word/year (official languages), 32,000 words/year (Spanish), 10,000 words/year (other languages), on average.

Translators without a recognized degree in translation or a related field must have the equivalent of five years of full-time translation experience:

Full-time employment for five years = 112,500 words/years (official languages), 80,000 words/year (Spanish), 25,000 words/year (other languages ) or
Part-time employment for ten years = 50,000 word/year (official languages), 32,000 words/year (Spanish), 10,000 words/year (other languages), on average.

I meet the criteria. How do I apply to be certified by portfolio?

You must submit the following materials via email to certification@atim.mb.ca.

Your application form.
Written recommendations from two certified translators who are members of ATIM or of another CTTIC member association. Both members must be certified in the same language combination as the candidate.
Certified copies of any diplomas, degrees, certificates, and mark transcripts issued by a recognized post-secondary institution. Translators with a degree in translation or related field must submit their relevant diploma and transcript from a recognized translation school (member of ACET/CAST).
Curriculum Vitae (including three professional references)
Letters from your employer(s) or client(s) confirming your professional experience and length of employment.
10 translation samples completed exclusively you (minimum of 500 words each), along with their source texts. The samples must be accompanied by letters from clients or employers confirming that you are the sole author of the translations.
The $400 fee (payable by cheque to ATIM’s mailing address or via Interac email money transfer to treasurer@atim.mb.ca).

NOTE: in addition to submitting the above materials, you must pass the CTTIC Harmonized Code of Ethics Examination. This exam will be issued to you once your application package has been received and your eligibility has been confirmed. Passing this exam is a requirement for certification but does not in and of itself guarantee that your certification by portfolio will be successful.

How is my portfolio assessed?

Upon receiving your application and support materials, the ATIM board of directors will appoint a three-member evaluation committee to assess your application.
The committee will meet at least twice to evaluate your application.
At the first meeting, committee members will verify your application form and submitted materials, and will distribute your translation samples to be analyzed. If all eligibility criteria have been met, the committee will recommend that you be sent the Harmonized Code of Ethics Examination for completion.
At their second meeting, the committee members will discuss your translation samples and decide whether or not to recommend your certification to the ATIM board of directors.

How long does the certification by portfolio process take?

The evaluation process usually takes approximately three months for candidates who translate between Canada’s official languages. For other language combinations, the evaluation period will depend on the availability of evaluators.

If my application is unsuccessful, can I appeal the decision?

You may appeal the committee’s decision. ATIM will appoint a three-person appeal committee to assess your appeal.

The appeal fee is $100 for official languages applications. For other applications, the fee is based on the cost of the evaluation.

3: CERTIFICATION BY RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT

To qualify for certification by reciprocal agreement, you must be certified by another CTTIC-affiliated organization, must currently be a member in good standing of this organization, and must provide evidence of your membership status to ATIM’s director of certification for approval.

OTTIAQ members who became certified prior to 2022 may also apply for certification by reciprocal agreement. OTTIAQ members who became certified after 2022 are ineligible for certification by reciprocal agreement

Categories of Interpreters

ATIM recognizes four categories of interpreter:

Conference Interpreter

Conference interpreting is the practice of facilitating accurate, impartial, and high-level spoken communication between speakers and audiences who do not share a common language, typically in multilingual meetings, conferences, and international events. Performed by highly trained language professionals, conference interpreting supports effective communication, informed participation, and decision-making in professional, institutional, and international contexts.

Conference interpreters work primarily in one or more interpreting modes, such as simultaneous or consecutive interpreting, and are accustomed to specialized subject matter and formal discourse. Conference interpreting occurs in a range of settings, including but not limited to:

international and intergovernmental organizations
government and public-sector meetings
conferences, congresses, and symposia

academic and scientific events
corporate and industry meetings
diplomatic, political, and high-level institutional settings

Community Interpreter

Community interpreting is the practice of facilitating accurate, impartial, bidirectional spoken or signed communication between service providers and individuals who do not share a common language. Performed by trained language professionals, community interpreting enables equitable access to public, social, and community services that would otherwise be inaccessible due to language barriers.

Community interpreting occurs across a wide range of settings, including but not limited to:

public institutions (e.g., local authorities, schools, universities, community centres)
social services (e.g., employment assistance, refugee boards, support centres)
business and industry services (e.g., housing, real estate, insurance, financial services)
faith-based organizations (e.g., rituals and ceremonies)

Court Interpreter (also known as Legal Interpreter)

Legal interpreting is the practice of facilitating accurate, impartial, and bidirectional spoken or signed communication between users of legal services and judicial or legal stakeholders who do not share a common language. Performed by trained language professionals, legal interpreting supports equal access to justice and due process for all parties.

Interpreters working in this setting are familiar with legal terminology and work in range of legal settings, including, but not limited to:

police stations
courtrooms and judicial proceedings

lawyers’ offices
correctional facilities

Medical Interpreter (also known as Health Care Interpreter)

Health Care interpreting is the practice of facilitating accurate, impartial, and bidirectional spoken or signed communication in health-care settings between patients, accompanying persons, and health-care providers who do not share a common language. Performed by trained language professionals, health care interpreting enhances patient safety, accessibility, equity, and quality of care, contributing to improved health outcomes.

Interpreters working in this setting are familiar with medical terminology and work in a range of health care settings, including but not limited to:

hospitals
clinics
mental health programs
long term care facilities

public health
home care
oral health, etc.

Why certification matters in interpreting

Interpreting is not a regulated profession in Canada, which means certification is not legally required to work as an interpreter. In practice, however, the largest employers in Manitoba require it, and there is a clear trend toward greater professionalization of the field. Certification signals that you have acquired the skills, training, and ethical grounding needed to interpret professionally. It also increases credibility with employers and clients, supports quality and consistency of service, and contributes to public trust in interpreting services.

Working in Manitoba

Work is available in all four categories in Manitoba, but the amount of work will depend on your language combination, professional connections, and location. As the largest urban centres, Winnipeg and Brandon are where most interpreters live and work. Since the pandemic, however, many remote opportunities have also become available. That said, full-time employment as an interpreter is difficult to find in the province. You will likely need to combine interpreting income with another form of employment to make ends meet, and most opportunities that do exist will require specialized training.

Become a Certified Interpreter

Certification requirements vary depending on the type of interpreting you practise. If you are a conference interpreter, please refer to the section on conference interpreting. If you are interested in community, court, or medical interpreting, please refer to the corresponding heading, as these three categories have similar requirements.

1. CONFERENCE INTERPRETING

Conference interpreters may be certified through one of two pathways: portfolio or reciprocal agreement. The conference interpreter exam is not currently available.

Certification by portfolio is available to candidates who meet ATIM’s education and experience requirements, or who hold recognized credentials such as federal Translation Bureau accreditation or AIIC membership.

Certification by reciprocal agreement is available to conference interpreters who are already certified by another CTTIC-affiliated organization and are members in good standing.

Please refer to the detailed requirements below for full eligibility criteria.

Certification by portfolio

The fee for certification by portfolio is $400.

To qualify, you must meet one of the following sets of criteria:

Option 1

Hold a master’s degree in conference interpreting from the University of Ottawa or Glendon College (York University), or from another training program deemed equivalent by a qualified conference interpreter trainer
Have completed at least 100 documented conference assignments in the past two years in the relevant language combination, and
Provide references from two certified conference interpreters working in the same language combination

Option 2

Be accredited by the federal Translation Bureau in the relevant language combination

Option 3

Hold AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) membership in the relevant language combination

Certification by reciprocal agreement

To qualify through a reciprocal agreement, you must be certified as a conference interpreter by another CTTIC-affiliated organization, be a member in good standing of that organization, and provide proof of your membership to ATIM’s Director of Certification for approval.

2. COMMUNITY, COURT AND MEDICAL INTERPRETING

Interpreters working in community, court, or medical settings in Manitoba must complete Shared Health’s Language Access Training Program in order to work in person. Prior training may be reviewed by Shared Health for recognition.

Certification in these settings is available through three pathways:

Examination
Portfolio
Reciprocal agreement.

The examination pathway is the standard route to certification. The portfolio pathway is reserved for candidates for whom the examination is not an option. Reciprocal certification is available to interpreters already certified by another CTTIC-affiliated organization.

Please refer to the detailed requirements below for full eligibility criteria.

To work in person in any of these settings in Manitoba, you must complete Shared Health’s Language Access training program, which is offered regularly in required language combinations. Interpreters with prior training are still required to go through Shared Health. Depending on the program, Shared Health may recognize some or all of that training. ATIM also has an agreement with Shared Health under which Shared Health or WISLC interpreters who have acquired the requisite number of hours of experience may obtain ATIM certification automatically. Those interpreters should contact their employer for more details.

There are currently three pathways to certification for community, court and medical interpreters:

Certification by examination

Interpreters may obtain certification in their respective setting by passing CTTIC’s Standard Certification Examination in the corresponding category. CTTIC is the national federation of provincial translator and interpreter associations, including ATIM. While CTTIC administers the examinations, the authority to grant certification in Manitoba rests with ATIM.

The application fee is $600 per examination.

Certification by portfolio

The fee for certification by portfolio is $400.

This pathway is intended for candidates who are unable to pursue certification by examination, for example due to a language combination not currently tested, a documented inability to sit the exam, or other exceptional circumstances. The examination route remains the standard and preferred pathway, as it is more efficient and provides a direct assessment of interpreting skills.

To qualify, you must meet all the following requirements:

Training

Successful completion of one of the following programs:

Shared Health / Westman Immigrant Services Language Centre (WISLC) Advanced Interpreter Training – Health Module (court interpreters must also complete the Legal Module after passing the Health Module); or
Glendon College’s Graduate Diploma in General Interpreting; or
Another training program deemed equivalent by a qualified interpreter trainer for the relevant setting, and/or in consultation with Shared Health’s Provincial Language Access Lead.

AND

Language and skills assessment

A valid ILSAT or CILISAT certificate in the relevant language combination, or a Language Line Academy Competence in Language Interpreting English to English certificate for languages for which no ILSAT or CILISAT exists, issued within the past five years, if applicable.

AND

Professional experience

Documented evidence of sufficient interpreting experience in the relevant setting within the past five years, as determined by Shared Health’s Provincial Language Access Lead or a qualified interpreter trainer, and in accordance with the most recent ISO standards for the setting.

Certification by reciprocal agreement

To qualify through a reciprocal agreement, you must be certified in the relevant setting by another CTTIC-affiliated organization, be a member in good standing of that organization, and provide proof of your membership to ATIM’s Director of Certification for approval.