51114 – Translators, terminologists and interpreters

Lead statement

Translators and translator-revisers translate written material from one language to another.

Main duties

• Translate a variety of written material such as correspondence, reports, legal documents, technical specifications and textbooks from one language to another, maintaining the content, context and style of the original material to the greatest extent possible
• Localize software and accompanying technical documents to adapt them to another language and culture
• Revise and correct translated material
• May train and supervise other translators.
• Identify the terminology used in a field of activity
• Conduct terminological research on a given subject or in response to inquiries for the preparation of glossaries, terminology banks, technological files, dictionaries, lexicons and resource centres, and add to terminological databases
• Manage, update and circulate linguistic information collected from terminological databases
• Provide consultative services to translators, interpreters and technical writers preparing legal, scientific or other documents that require specialized terminologies.
• Interpret oral communication from one language to another aloud or using electronic equipment, either simultaneously (as the speaker speaks), consecutively (after the speaker speaks) or whispered (speaking in a low whisper to one or two persons as the speaker is talking)
• Provide interpretation services in court or before administrative tribunals
• May interpret language for individuals and small groups travelling in Canada and abroad
• May interpret for persons speaking an Aboriginal or foreign language in a variety of circumstances
• May train other interpreters.
• Translate sign language to a spoken language and vice versa either simultaneously or consecutively.

Employment requirements

• A university degree in translation with a specialization in translation, interpretation or terminology in two languages including at least one of the two official languages ora university degree in a related discipline such as languages, linguistics, philology and courses in linguistic transfer and two years' experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language orfive years of experience as a full-time translator working in two languages, at least one of which is an official language, are required.
• Certification on dossier or by examination from the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC) may be required for translators, terminologists and interpreters.
• Fluency in three languages is usually required for translators or interpreters working in an international context.
• Membership in a provincial or territorial association of translators, interpreters and terminologists may be required.
• Use of professional titles may be regulated in some provinces.
• Sign language interpreters require a college training program or a university certificate in sign language interpretation.
• Sign language interpreters may require a certificate or certification evaluation in LSQ or ASL.
• Membership in a provincial association of sign language interpreters may be required.

Example job titles

medical translator · scientific translator · legal translator · certified translator (C.Tr.) · localiser - linguistics · literary translator · technical translator · translator-reviser · foreign news translator · jurilinguist translator · reviser - translation · certified terminologist (C.Term.) · legal terminologist · medical terminologist · terminologist · certified interpreter (C.Int.) · community interpreter · interpreter · simultaneous interpreter · American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter · Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) interpreter · sign language interpreter · visual language interpreter

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.