Criteria for membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters

A person accepted for membership of the Association may participate in the activities of all the sections.

In accordance with §4 of the Association's Bye-laws, upon application the Board accepts for ordinary membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters a translator, an interpreter, a translation studies teacher, researcher or student, or person otherwise promoting the purpose of the profession, who meets the criteria for membership.

Each section sets its own criteria, on the basis of which the representative for the section presents the Board with a proposal concerning acceptance for ordinary membership (§8 of the Association's Bye-laws). The Board takes a decision on the basis of this proposal.

Section I (Literature Translators)

A literature translator who has translated two published works subject to copyright legislation may be accepted for membership. If requested, the translations shall be made available to the Association.

Section II (Scientific and Technical Translators)

A translator of scientific, technical or commercial texts who is a practising professional translator who

·   has passed the authorised (licensed) translator's test, or

·   holds a university degree in translation studies or a similar diploma from the former language institutes, or a corresponding diploma in translation studies or interpreting granted abroad, or

·   holds a university-level degree in languages and works as a professional translator, or

·   has otherwise worked as a translator in civil service or in business, or continuously as a freelance translator, for at least two years

may be accepted for membership.

Section III (AV Translators)

No degree as such directly entitles the applicant for membership. For acceptance as a member of the section, the applicant is required to have at least six months of professional experience and recommendations from at least two section members.

Section IV (Interpreters)

A person who

·   holds a university degree in interpreting/translation studies granted by a

     university in Finland, or a corresponding degree granted by a university

     abroad, the Community Interpreter's Professional Certificate or some other

     diploma in interpreting; and who can demonstrate having worked as an

     interpreter for at least one year, or

·   has sufficient working experience as an interpreter

     may be accepted for membership.

For acceptance as an interpreter member, the applicant shall have a recommendation from two interpreter members of the Association. If the applicant does not know the Association’s members and thus cannot get the required two recommendations, the applicant may present recommendations or work certificates given by his/her employers.

Section V (Teachers and Researchers)

A person who

·   holds at least a Master's degree in translation studies or a corresponding degree granted abroad,

·   holds some other university degree, and has completed research or has published works corresponding to the thesis required to obtain a degree in translation studies,

·   holds some other university degree and has taught translation and/or interpreting for at least one year

may be accepted for membership.

Aside from the above, there are several types of restricted membership. A person accepted for restricted membership does not meet the requirements for membership of any particular section, and so the following general criteria have been set for restricted membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters:

Student Membership

Upon application, the Board may accept for student membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters a person who

• has completed at the least the basic studies in translation studies or in the subject of translation and interpreting, or

• has completed at least the intermediate studies in the ‘translator line’ of philology, or

• has completed a Bachelor’s degree in some other discipline and has been approved for a Master’s degree programme in translation studies or in translation and interpreting.

Student membership expires at the end of the calendar year when the person has been granted a Master's level degree. The person may then apply for ordinary membership of the Association.

Trial Membership

Upon application, the Board may accept for trial membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters a person who can demonstrate having worked in the field of translation and interpreting, and whose application is approved by one of the sections. The trial membership lasts for a fixed term of not more than two years.

Associate Membership

Upon application, the Board may grant  associate membership  to a registered association or a legally competent corporation active in the sector of translation and interpreting.

Backers' Membership

Upon application, the Board may approve the granting of backers' membership of the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters to a person or legally competent corporation working to further the interests of the translation and interpreting profession.

24.10.2005