The two are often confused but this is an easy way to distinguish them Certificate Program certificates are often confused with
certification. Certificates for training can be given to interpreters who attend courses or orientations as short as one hour and as
long as one week or more. A certificate is the credential obtained at the end of a training or a program. It is not recognized as
certification by the profession of community interpreting. In some countries, to state that you are “certified” because you hold a
program certificate could be considered misrepresentation of your credentials Certification In the interpreting field, a certification is an exam that involves a rigorous evaluation of interpreter skills resulting in
a meaningful credential. Certification may be awarded for general interpreting, or for a specialization, such as medical or court
interpreting. Interpreter Certification should be performed by professional organizations or government entities using a validated
examination that adheres to national or international standards for professional certification. Hence, the certification exam can be
provided either by an organization accredited to administer a certification test, or by a professional association (that should
ideally also be accredited by a body specialized in certification)