What is the effect of the Charter on the existing Institute of Linguists (IoL)?
The Chartered IoL will be a new and separate company from the current IoL (the Charter is actually the document by which the new company is incorporated). A "changeover date" has been fixed which is when we decide to commence operations as the Chartered IoL and cease operations from the existing IoL. The "changeover date" is planned for 1st September (being the beginning of our accounting year). Some time in the future the existing IoL will be either wound up or merged with the Chartered IoL.

What does the Charter mean for my membership status?
All current members of the current IoL (whichever their grade) will automatically become members (in the same grade) of the Chartered IoL on the "changeover date".

What does it mean for my designatory letters (AIL/MIL/FIL)?
From the "changeover date", and not before, current AILs/MILs/FILs will be entitled to use the designatory letters ACIL/MCIL/FCIL respectively.

Does this mean that I become a Chartered Linguist on the "changeover date"?
No. Being a member (in whatever grade) of the Chartered IoL is NOT the same as being a Chartered Linguist. Chartered Linguist (CL) status will only be conferred upon suitably qualified individuals upon application. The eligibility criteria are already being considered internally (by Division committees) and externally (with our colleagues from the ITI and AIIC) and there will be consultation with you, the membership, before they come into effect.

Will I still be able to work as a linguist if I am neither a member of the Institute nor a CL?
Yes. To apply for CL status, however, you will have to belong to a professional body (e.g. IoL, ITI, AIIC).

What will the Charter do for the Institute?
A charter is primarily for the benefit and protection of the public rather than the body concerned or its members. It will, however, allow chartered status to be awarded to appropriately qualified individuals.

Will it be a monopoly for the IoL?
No. Practising as a linguist will not require CL status. CLs will not have to be members of this Institute.

What happens to part-time linguists?
Full-time linguists with a full-time commitment will probably be able to meet the CL criteria more easily than part-timers. CL status is no reflection upon the competence of linguists who prefer not to commit to periodic re-assessment, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and other criteria required of a CL.

What about Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
Institute members who do not wish to apply for CL status will be encouraged to commit to voluntary continuous professional development. As for CL status, individuals are likely to need some years (to be decided) of proven CPD before they apply and they will have to participate in appropriate CPD thereafter.

Frequently Asked Questions on Chartered Linguist (Translator)

Download the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Chartered Linguist (Translator) (PDF, 46 Kb)

General

1.      Are members of the Translating Division of the Chartered Institute of Linguists automatically awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
No, there is a separate applications process for becoming a Chartered Linguist (Translator).

2.      Who is entitled to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator)?
There is a set of criteria you need to meet in order to meet Chartered Linguist (Translator) status. These are set out in the Draft Rules and Regulations.

3.      What do I need to do to apply to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator)?
If you would like to apply to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator) you should first read the Draft Rules and Regulations. If you feel that you meet the criteria and would like to apply, you will need to fill in the application form and send it along with your supporting documentation and initial application fee to the professional body (Chartered IoL or ITI) to which you belong. (If you belong to both organisations, your application will normally be handled initially by the one you joined first.)

4.      What is the process for becoming a Chartered Linguist (Translator)?
There are a number of stages to the process. Initially you will complete the application form and send it along with your supporting documentation and initial application fee to the professional body (Chartered IoL or ITI) to which you belong. (If you belong to both organisations, your application will normally be handled initially by the one you joined first.) Your application will be checked to make sure that you have included all the information required and that, for example, you have the necessary qualifications and have met the volume requirement (i.e. the number of words you have translated). If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to an interview to discuss your application in more depth. A further fee is payable at this stage. The interview is designed to explore, for example, your understanding of professional ethics and the Code of Conduct, your approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), your contribution to the profession, and so on. After your interview, the interviewers will send a report to the Admissions Committee. If after reading the report the Admissions Committee feels that you have met the criteria for Chartered Linguist (Translator) status, you will be notified and your details will be added to the public Register of Chartered Linguists held by the Chartered IoL and published on the Chartered IoL website.

You will be asked to renew your registration on an annual basis by submitting an annual return stating that you still meet the criteria for which you were awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status and the number of words you have translated over the year, as well as describing your CPD activities and plans for the following year. You will also be asked to pay an annual registration fee. Subject to all of the above, you will be awarded an annual Practising Certificate that confirms your status as a Chartered Linguist (Translator).

Your registration will be reviewed periodically (every 3 to 5 years) by the Admissions Committee, and you will be asked to attend a further interview in order to retain your registration.

5.      Who will decide who is awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
Your application will be assessed by the Chartered Linguist Admissions Committee, which is made up of experienced professional linguists.

6.      What are the benefits of Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
The award of Chartered Linguist (Translator) status is a mark of the highest level of professional competence and conduct. It offers reassurance to the public that the services you provide will not only be of the very highest standards in terms of quality, but that you will treat them with the utmost professionalism. For the translator, it both recognises your professional status and is a valuable marketing tool in an increasingly competitive environment.

7.      How can I use my status as a Chartered Linguist (Translator) to market my services?
Provided your registration is up-to-date you will be entitled to use the designation CL(Translator) on your marketing materials. You can also choose to have your contact details shown on the public Register of Chartered Linguists. If your registration lapses, however, you will be removed from the register and must stop using the CL(Translator) designation, or you may face disciplinary action.

8.      Will there be a Code of Conduct?
Yes, there will be a Code of Conduct that all Chartered Linguists must sign.

9.      Do I have to be a full-time translator to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator)?
Not necessarily, but translation should be your primary professional activity and you must be able to provide evidence of having translated an average of 300,000 words a year over the five years prior to application, and on an annual basis thereafter. (This may vary depending on your language combination and may be less for certain specialised activities, for example literary translation, transcreation and subtitling.)

10. How will my clients know what a Chartered Linguist (Translator) is?
The Chartered Institute of Linguists will be making concerted efforts to raise awareness of Chartered Linguist status throughout the industry, through its website and publications, by making presentations at industry events, through other bodies involved in languages, and so on. We shall also be looking to those who are awarded Chartered Linguist status to spread the word through their own contacts in the industry.

11.   If I own a translation company and I am a Chartered Linguist (Translator), will my company have Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
No, Chartered Linguist (Translator) is only awarded to individuals.

12. If I work in several different language combinations, do I need to apply for Chartered Linguist (Translator) status for each combination?
No, though you will be required to state on your application which is your primary language combination and this will be indicated on the public Register. At your interview, you may be asked about your language combinations. It is worth giving careful thought to your referees to ensure that they cover your main language combinations.

13. Where can I find out more information about applying for Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
You should refer to the Chartered Institute of Linguists website.

14. Do I have to be a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists?
You must be a member either of the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting in order to be eligible to apply for Chartered Linguist (Translator) status.

Cost

15. How much will it cost to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator)?
The cost of applying for Chartered Linguist (Translator) is currently £350. This will be reviewed on an annual basis and you should check the Institute's website for the most recent figure. Initially you will pay an administration fee of £75. You will only be asked to pay the remaining fee of £275 if your initial application is accepted and you are invited to proceed to interview.

16. Is this a one-off fee, or do I have to pay a regular amount?
If your application to become a Chartered Linguist (Translator) is successful, you will be asked to pay an initial registration fee of £100 and a further registration fee each year when you send in your annual return. An additional fee will be payable when your registration is renewed periodically (every 3 to 5 years).

17. Am I entitled to a refund of my initial assessment fee if my application is turned down?
No, this fee is intended to cover the costs of assessing your application, so it will not be refunded if your application is unsuccessful.

18. Am I entitled to a refund of my interview fee if I do not succeed in being awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status?
No, this fee is intended to cover the costs of assessing your application in depth, conducting the interview and producing a report recommending whether or not in the interviewers' opinion you should be awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status, so it will not be refunded if your application is unsuccessful.

Initial application process

19. Where do I have to send my application?
You should send your application to the professional body (Chartered IoL or ITI) to which you belong. (If you belong to both organisations, your application will normally be handled initially by the one you joined first).

20. When can I send in my application?
Applications will be accepted from 1 September 2007 for the Translation and Interpreting sections of the register. (Applications for the Education and Business, Professions & Government section will be accepted from 1 January 2008.)

21. How long will it take to process my application?
The whole process, from submitting your application to being awarded Chartered Linguist status if you are successful, would normally take up to six months.

22. Can I submit my application online?
Not at this stage, however you will be able to download documentation such as the application form and application guidelines from the Chartered Institute of Linguists website.

When submitting your application, you will also be required to send an electronic copy to Chartered Linguist Applications

23. What evidence do I need to provide of my qualifications and experience?
You should provide copies of relevant qualifications (undergraduate, postgraduate, Diploma in Translation, etc.). You will also be asked to bring the originals of your certificates to your interview. You will also be required to demonstrate the volume of work you have completed by means of invoices or other records. This should normally be an average of at least 300,000 words per year over the five years prior to application, however it is accepted that this may vary depending on your language combination and may be less for certain specialised activities, for example literary translation, transcreation and subtitling.

24. Do I need references?
You will be asked to provide three references, two of which should be from clients who are in a position to assess a substantial portion of your work over a significant period of time. The third should be from a colleague who knows you in a professional capacity, for example through the professional body of which you are a member, but who is not a client.

25. What qualifications and experience do I need?
There is a set of criteria you need to meet in order to meet Chartered Linguist (Translator) status. These are set out in the Draft Rules and Regulations.

Your interview

26. Where will interviews be held, and how often?
Interviews will be held initially in London, and elsewhere if there is sufficient demand. It is anticipated that interviews will be held at least quarterly.

27. What language will interviews be held in?
Interviews will be held in English.

28. If my application is unsuccessful, can I apply again?
The Admissions Committee will issue a report to unsuccessful applicants setting out the reasons why their application was turned down and offering guidance as to the steps the applicant may wish to consider taking to address the issues raised. Applicants who feel that they meet the criteria at a subsequent stage are welcome to apply again.

29. What sort of questions will I be asked at interview?
The interview is designed to explore, for example, your understanding of professional ethics and the Code of Conduct, your approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), your contribution to the profession, and so on. It may also focus on your language combinations and subject specialisms, however language and translation testing will not form part of the interview.

30. How long will the interview last?
The interview is expected to last around half an hour.

31. How will I know whether my application has been successful?

You will be notified by the Admissions Committee whether or not your application has been successful.

Appeals

32. What can I do if I feel my application was turned down unfairly?
Applicants who feel that their application has been turned down unfairly will be entitled to submit an appeal to the Chartered Linguists Appeals Committee. If your application is turned down after your interview, you may be re-interviewed at your own expense, however the cost of this second interview will be refunded if your appeal is upheld.

Miscellaneous

33. Once I have been awarded Chartered Linguist (Translator) status, will I be a Chartered Linguist (Translator) for ever?
No. One of the most important aspects of being a Chartered Linguist (Translator) is that your skills and experience should be current, so your registration will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that you still meet the criteria. You will also be asked to re-register on a periodic basis (initially every 3 to 5 years).

34. Can I apply to be a Chartered Linguist (Translator) and a Chartered Linguist (Interpreter) at the same time?
Yes. However you should note you would be expected to be spending broadly comparable amounts of time on each. If you are applying for two sections of the Register at the same time you will be required to pay full fees for both applications and undergo two interviews. If you are successful in obtaining Chartered Linguist status in more than one section of the Register, one of your annual registration fees will be waived.

NOTE: FAQs for Chartered Linguist (Interpreter) are currently in preparation

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Chartered Linguist

Chartered Linguist
FAQs - Chartered Linguist

FAQs - Chartered Linguist