CertTrans

 

CertTrans Online Course & CIOL Exam Preparation

The CertTrans course from linguisttraining.com develops your professional translation skills through expert-led feedback, one-to-one mentoring, and structured practice, whether you are preparing for the CIOL CertTrans exam or simply want to sharpen your skills and gain a recognised course diploma at Translation Degree level.

Start any time

No term dates. No waiting. Enrol today and start studying immediately. Only your LanguagePartner™ session and any Mock Exams need to be scheduled in advance.

All language pairs supported

All language pairs into and out of English are welcome. If you do not see yours on our supported languages page, please contact us - we almost certainly have a LanguagePartner™ for you.

Two stages, one goal

Completing this course earns you a linguisttraining.com Course Completion Diploma Certificate. To gain the nationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated CIOL CertTrans qualification, you will also need to pass the CIOLQ exam - which this course is designed to help you do.

Course fee and exam fee are separate

Your course fee covers the linguisttraining.com online course only. The CIOL CertTrans exam fee is paid separately and directly to the CIOLQ. Visit ciol.org.uk for current exam fees and sitting dates.

Enrolment Options

CertTrans Big Bundle

£999

Worth over £1,212

Best value See the Big Bundle Contents & Enrol

CertTrans Deluxe Bundle

£765

Worth over £910

See the Deluxe Bundle Contents & Enrol

CertTrans Course

£599

 

Enrol on the Course

What You Will Learn

The CertTrans course does much more than prepare you for an exam. At its heart are 8 Translation Practices in your own language pair, each proofread and reviewed by your dedicated LanguagePartner™, with detailed written feedback on every piece of work. This kind of expert, one-to-one feedback is rare in online learning, and for Translators building a professional career, it is invaluable.

Translate with confidence

General, business, commercial, and public service texts - accurately and professionally.

Apply professional techniques

Back translation, pre-translation analysis, and terminology management.

Research effectively

Targeted research skills and reference strategies for real-world translation work.

Write Translator's notes

Clear, professional notes that demonstrate your decision-making to clients and examiners.

Handle cultural nuance

Language-specific and cultural challenges handled with greater awareness and skill.

Prepare for the exam

Approach the CIOL CertTrans exam (if you choose to sit it) with proven technique and confidence.

Not all students go on to sit the CIOL exam. Many enrol to develop their professional skills, receive expert feedback on their work, and gain a Course Completion Diploma Certificate. The choice to sit the exam is entirely yours.

Ready to get started?

From £599 - payment plans available at checkout via Klarna and Clearpay.

See Enrolment Options

Is This Course Right for You?

The CertTrans is ideal for practising and aspiring Translators who want to develop their professional skills, receive expert feedback on their work, and (if they choose) gain a recognised CIOL qualification. You should have a high command of your second language (CEFR C1-C2 level) and native / mother-tongue command of your first language. Not sure of your CEFR level? Test it here.

CertTrans or DipTrans - what is the difference?

This is one of the most common questions we receive. Here is a quick guide:

CertTrans

Level 6 - Degree equivalent

Suitable for practising and aspiring Translators

Focus on working-level translation skills

DipTrans

Level 7 - Master's equivalent

Suitable for established professional Translators

Focus on the highest level of professional translation

If you start the CertTrans and then find you are ready for DipTrans level, we will give you a £100 discount on the DipTrans, provided you enrol within two months of completing the CertTrans. Just get in touch when you finish and we will send you a code.

What’s Included in the CertTrans Course?

  • When you enrol, we hand-pick a LanguagePartner™ specifically suited to your language pair and professional background. Your LanguagePartner™ is an experienced, qualified linguist who works in your language pair and understands its specific challenges.

    Your LanguagePartner™ will:

    • Proofread all 8 of your Translation Practices, providing detailed written feedback and guidance on each one

    • Track your progress across your Translation Practices over time

    • Meet with you for a one-to-one video session to discuss your development, answer your questions, and help you build confidence ahead of the exam

    This human interaction with a professional is what sets the CertTrans course apart from other online courses.

    Read what students say about their LanguagePartners™ →

  • 9 of the modules cover non-language-specific subjects (such as Translation Techniques, Back Translation, and Revision and Exam Preparation).

    10 of the modules are specific to your language pair (the Translation Practices and your LanguagePartner™ mentor session, all carried out in your chosen language pair).

    • MODULE 1 Overview of the CertTrans Course

    • MODULE 2 Comprehensive CIOLQ CertTrans Examination Guide for all Units (01, 02 and 03) (worth £29)

    • MODULE 3 Translation Techniques

    • MODULE 4 General Translation Skills - Unit 01 Introduction (Translation Practice 01)

    • MODULE 5 Reading and Reference Materials (Translation Practice 02)

    • MODULE 6 Reflective Writing and Research

    • MODULE 7 Translation Approach

    • MODULE 8 Research Skills and Pre-Translation Analysis (Translation Practice 03)

    • MODULE 9 Translator's Notes

    • MODULE 10 Awareness of Culture (Translation Practice 04)

    • MODULE 11 Comprehension and Related Skills (Decoding)

    • MODULE 12 Business and Commercial Translation Skills - Unit 02 Introduction (Translation Practice 05)

    • MODULE 13 Transferring Information to the Target Language (Encoding) (Translation Practice 06)

    • MODULE 14 Government and Public Service Translation Skills - Unit 03 Introduction (Translation Practice 07)

    • MODULE 15 Revision and LanguagePartner™ Session Preparation

    • MODULE 16 LanguagePartner™ Mentor Session (via video) (worth £79)

    • MODULE 17 Back Translation

    • MODULE 18 Working as a Professional Translator (Translation Practice 08)

    • MODULE 19 Revision and Exam Preparation

    • MODULE 20 Review, Online Final Assessment and Diploma Certificate

    Also included:

    • 8 Translation Practices worth £632, proofread by your LanguagePartner™ with detailed feedback (CIOLQ past exam papers used where available)

    • 43 exercises - analysis, glossary-building, research, note-taking, and more

    • Over 175 resources - further reading, articles, videos, links, and more

    • Full support from the linguisttraining.com team throughout your studies

  • Course start date: There is no set start date. Enrol whenever you like and start immediately.

    Study format: Fully online. Log in at any time, on any device, and study at your own pace.

    Access: 24/7 for 12 months via our online learning platform.

    Expected study time: Approximately 80 Guided Learning Hours (as recommended by the CIOLQ), plus self-study.

    Languages: Course content is written in English. Translation Practices and your LanguagePartner™ session are in your language pair.

CertTrans Qualification Route

About the CIOL CertTrans Exam

  • Level: 6 - Degree equivalent

  • Assessment: CIOL CertTrans Exam (Qualification No. 610/0823/0)

  • Accreditation: Ofqual-regulated, nationally recognised qualification

  • Exam languages: Visit ciol.org.uk for the current list of available language pairs. You can also register an interest in future language sessions on their website.

  • Exam provider: The exam is run by the CIOLQ, not linguisttraining.com.

Our course and the exam are entirely separate. Fees for this course are paid to linguisttraining.com. Exam fees are paid separately and directly to the CIOLQ. Visit ciol.org.uk for all current exam fees, sitting dates, and available language pairs.

Your CertTrans Enrolment Options

Best value

Big Bundle

£999

Worth over £1,212

Deluxe Bundle

£765

Worth over £910

Course only

£599

 

20-Module Online Course

Translation Practices

included in course

8 8 8

Translation Practices

additional

3 - -
Online Mock Exams 3 - -
LanguagePartner™ Mentor Sessions 2 5 1
Course Completion Diploma Certificate
linguisttraining.com Team Support
Enrol Now Enrol Now Enrol Now

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🎁 Buying this course for someone else?

At checkout, simply tick ‘This is a gift’ and you can enter their details as well as yours, so they get access.

💳 Payment plans available at checkout

Spread the cost interest-free with Klarna or Clearpay.
Find out more about payment options →

CERTTRANS STUDENT FEEDBACK

Frequently Asked Questions

Immediately. There are no term dates, no waiting lists, and no set lesson times. Once you enrol, you can log in and start studying straight away, any time of day or night. Only your LanguagePartner™ video session and any Mock Exams need to be scheduled.
No. The course fee is paid to linguisttraining.com and covers your online course, Translation Practices, and mentor support only. The CIOL CertTrans exam fee is paid separately and directly to the CIOLQ. Visit ciol.org.uk for current exam fees and sitting dates.
No. Not all students go on to sit the CIOL exam. Many enrol on the course to develop their professional skills, receive expert feedback on their work, and gain a Course Completion Diploma Certificate. The choice to sit the exam is yours.
You will have 24/7 access for 12 months from the date of enrolment.
All language pairs, into and out of English. See our full list of supported language pairs here. If you do not see your language pair, please contact us - we almost certainly have a LanguagePartner™ who can support you. We have previously supported students in Danish, Russian, Thai, Tigrinya, Romanian, Polish, Arabic, and many more.
Absolutely. Many experienced Translators enrol specifically for the Translation Practices and the LanguagePartner™ mentor session, rather than the tuition modules. If you are primarily interested in the feedback and practice elements, these are also available as standalone products. See Translation Practices and LanguagePartner™ Mentoring.
The CertTrans exam covers two units. The first is General Translation, which all students sit. For the second unit, you choose either Business and Commercial Translation or Government and Public Service Translation. The skills you develop throughout the course are applicable across many specialist fields.
Yes. The linguisttraining.com CertTrans course is available for all language pairs regardless of which language pairs the CIOLQ currently offers for their exam. If the CIOLQ does not yet offer your language pair, you can still benefit fully from the course itself and the Course Completion Diploma Certificate. You can also register an interest in your language pair for future exam sessions directly with the CIOLQ at ciol.org.uk.
The concept of a 'sworn' or 'certified' Translator as it exists in some other countries does not apply to individual Translators in the UK - in the UK, only companies can hold certified Translator status. The CertTrans is a recognised UK qualification demonstrating professional-level translation competence. If you need guidance on translation certification requirements in a specific country, we recommend contacting the relevant authority in that jurisdiction.
Completing the course earns you a linguisttraining.com Course Completion Diploma Certificate. The official CIOL CertTrans qualification (Ofqual-regulated, nationally recognised, Level 6) is awarded by the CIOLQ when you pass their exam.
The CertTrans is set at Level 6 (degree equivalent) and is ideal for practising and aspiring Translators looking to formalise their skills. The DipTrans is set at Level 7 (Master's equivalent) and is designed for established professional Translators working at the highest level. Use our Which Course Is Right for You? tool, or just get in touch - we are always happy to talk it through. And remember: if you start CertTrans and find you are ready for DipTrans level, we offer a £100 discount on the DipTrans if you enrol within two months of completing the CertTrans.
Yes - one enrolment covers your course regardless of how many language pairs you work in. However, for the CIOL CertTrans exam itself, you must choose one language pair only. Please contact us to discuss your situation and we will advise the best approach.
Yes. Payment plans are available at checkout via Klarna and Clearpay, allowing you to spread the cost interest-free. Find out more at our payment options page.
Funding availability for linguist training courses can change, and any funding that does exist tends to be linked to the accredited CIOL qualification rather than the preparatory course itself. We recommend contacting us to discuss your situation, and checking directly with any relevant funding bodies. Contact us here.
Absolutely - please do. We are a team of real people based in Sheffield, and we are always happy to discuss which course is right for you, your language pair, your experience level, or anything else you are unsure about. Contact us at support@linguisttraining.com or via our contact page.

About linguisttraining.com

Eileen, Founder of linguisttraining.com

Award-winning courses for Translators and Interpreters

linguisttraining.com is the UK's leading provider of online courses for Translators and Interpreters. Based in Sheffield, we are a team of real people who are passionate about helping linguists develop their skills and achieve recognised qualifications.

Our courses have been recognised by the Chartered Institute of Linguists, who awarded us the CIOL Nuffield Trophy (when we were Talking Heads Linguist Training). The quality of our exam preparation is further evidenced by the fact that one of our students won the CIOL Fred Brandeis Award for the best DipTrans candidate - a remarkable achievement that reflects the standard of tuition and mentoring we provide.

'We are a team of real people based in Sheffield - not just a website. We talk to our students, we support them, and we celebrate when they pass. If you need anything before or during your training with us, just get in touch.'

Eileen, Founder of linguisttraining.com

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