STC Continuing Education & Professional Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ATA-recognized activity typically earns the most professional development points per event for certified translators?
- Attending a local networking lunch
- Presenting at a national translation conference (Correct answer)
- Subscribing to a translation journal
- Updating your ATA directory profile
Correct answer: Presenting at a national translation conference
Presenting at a national conference typically earns significantly more professional development points than passive participation activities.
Question 2: A certified Spanish translator wants to specialize in legal translation. Which credential would BEST complement their STC certification?
- A notary public commission
- ATA specialist designation in legal translation
- A paralegal certificate
- State court interpreter certification (Correct answer)
Correct answer: State court interpreter certification
State court interpreter certification directly validates legal language skills and is highly relevant for legal translation specialization.
Question 3: The ATA requires certified translators to report continuing education units (CEUs) on what cycle?
- Annually
- Every two years
- Every three years (Correct answer)
- Every five years
Correct answer: Every three years
ATA-certified translators must fulfill continuing education requirements on a three-year reporting cycle to maintain certification.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT typically an acceptable continuing education activity for ATA recertification?
- Completing an online translation course
- Translating for a client pro bono (Correct answer)
- Attending a translation technology webinar
- Writing a published article on translation
Correct answer: Translating for a client pro bono
Pro bono translation work, while admirable, is not typically counted as a continuing education activity for professional development credits.
Question 5: A translator wants to track terminology across multiple projects for a medical client. Which professional development area should they focus on?
- Project management software training
- Terminology management and CAT tool proficiency (Correct answer)
- Medical ethics coursework
- Website localization techniques
Correct answer: Terminology management and CAT tool proficiency
Terminology management and CAT tool proficiency directly addresses the need to maintain consistent terminology across multiple projects for a specialized client.
Question 6: Which organization publishes the Code of Ethics and Professional Practice that ATA members are expected to follow?
- NAJIT
- ATA (Correct answer)
- ASTM International
- GALA
Correct answer: ATA
The American Translators Association (ATA) publishes its own Code of Ethics and Professional Practice that all ATA members must adhere to.
Question 7: A Spanish translator is offered a contract that includes a non-compete clause preventing them from working with similar clients for two years. Which professional development resource would BEST help them evaluate this contract?
- A translation technology webinar
- An ATA business practices seminar (Correct answer)
- A Spanish grammar refresher course
- A localization project management class
Correct answer: An ATA business practices seminar
ATA business practices seminars cover contract negotiation, legal clauses, and professional standards that help translators evaluate such agreements.
STC Continuing Education & Professional Development 2
Which ATA-recognized activity typically earns the most professional development points per event for certified translators?