The interpreting service provider (ISP) industry in Canada has seen significant development since the establishment of the National Standards Guide on Community Interpreting Services (NSGCIS) in 2007. This guide aimed to ensure consistency and high quality in community interpreting services across various sectors, including health, government, legal, education, and social services. It set out requirements for providing quality community interpreting services, promoting excellence through assessment, training, strategic hiring practices, continuous performance monitoring, and professional recognition.
Key ISO Standards in Interpreting
Since the publication of the NSGCIS, a series of ISO standards have addressed the broader landscape of interpreting, focusing on specialized domains such as legal and healthcare. These standards include:
- ISO 13611:2024: Interpreting — Requirements and recommendations for community interpreting (first published in 2014 and republished after a systematic review)
- ISO 18841:2018: Interpreting services — General requirements and recommendations
- ISO 20228:2019: Interpreting services — Legal interpreting — Requirements
- ISO 21998:2020: Interpreting services — Healthcare interpreting — Requirements and recommendations
- ISO 23155:2022: Interpreting services — Conference interpreting — Requirements and recommendations
Despite these established standards and advancements, the community interpreting sector remains largely unregulated, with no mandatory accreditation for ISPs. This has resulted in a wide variation in standards and practices.
Challenges in the Industry
Language and skills assessments, such as the CILISAT and ILSAT exams, are available in various languages, but no single clear guidance on the best path exists. The Canadian Language Industry Association (CLIA), formerly AILIA, launched a certification program in early 2010 to foster professionalism and reliability among ISPs. However, the decision on minimum qualifications for interpreters and who is deemed qualified for specific assignments remains at the discretion of individual ISPs.
This lack of regulation often becomes apparent when I receive calls from individuals working as interpreters who have never received formal training. Many are shocked to discover the depth of skills and knowledge required for their critically important work. The errors resulting from untrained interpreters can have serious consequences for people’s health, wealth, liberties, and freedoms, as well as inefficiencies and costs borne by the system.
Training Opportunities and the Need for Standardization
Training opportunities for community interpreters in Canada range from brief orientation sessions to extensive 180-hour college certificate programs. However, a common framework and ethical mandate forming a standard approach to education and training are missing. Currently, there is a hodgepodge approach that allows dangerous practices and unscrupulous actors to gain ground. While the need for interpreters continues to grow, the availability of courses for interpreter education has been declining in recent years.
Learn more about how standards were created.
Efforts by Certifying and Accrediting Bodies
Certifying and accrediting bodies such as ATIO, ATIA, ATIS, ATIM, ATINS, CTTIC, CTINB, OCCI, OTTIAQ, and STIBC have seen growth in membership and provide independent credentialing mechanisms separate from ISPs and training institutions. These bodies, alongside initiatives by the Canadian Language Industry Association (CLIA), work to consolidate the industry, enhance professional recognition, and promote the importance of community interpreting through conformity assessments, certification efforts, and public education campaigns.
The Role of ISO in Standardizing Certification
ISO plays a crucial role in standardizing certification processes across various fields, including interpreter training. By establishing clear guidelines and requirements, ISO ensures consistent, reliable, and globally recognized certification processes. This standardization helps maintain high-quality services and fosters trust among clients and professionals.