Translation and Interpreting Online Course FAQs

Of course. The best starting place is to work out what learning level you're at, as this tells you which course level is right for you. Like most organisations in Europe, we use the CEFR system.

• Go to linguisttraining.com/whichcourse and take our free quiz. If you don't already know your CEFR level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2), we link to free tests you can take first.
• Then click the image for your level.
• You'll see all the courses available at your level.

Our courses are all online and you can access them any time you like. How long you commit each week is entirely up to you, your schedule and your other commitments. You have access for 12 months from the date of enrolment, which is more than enough time for any course.

On some courses you'll see the term 'Guided Learning Hours' or GLH. Guided Learning Hours represent the number of hours an average learner might need to complete a qualification or course. These hours cover not only formal teaching but also assignments and assessment preparation.

Absolutely. Our students study with us from more than 100 countries. Everything is online, so where you're based makes no difference to your access or your support.

Yes. Pass the online Final Assessment at the end of your linguisttraining.com course and you'll receive our Completion Diploma Certificate, awarded by linguisttraining.com. Students tell us this is what UK public sector bodies want to see when they ask for a Diploma.

Our courses also prepare you for the CIOL qualifications, if you choose to sit one. The CertTrans, DipTrans and DPSI are awarded by CIOL, which sets and marks the exams; we provide the course and the exam preparation. You enter for the exam separately, through CIOL.

The Certificate in Community Interpreting (CCI, Level 3) works differently. Course material and the Final Assessment are both included, and the qualification is awarded by Gatehouse Awards Ltd, an Ofqual regulated awarding organisation. The CCI isn't open for enrolment yet; you can register your interest at linguisttraining.com/cci.

Translation is a written skill: you convert written documents from one language into another, with time to research and revise. Interpreting is a verbal skill: you convert spoken language in real time, in front of the people involved.

They're different skills with different qualification routes. Our Translation route is FDTI, then CertTrans, then DipTrans. Our interpreting route is FDTI, then CCI, then DPSI. Many linguists do both.

The full route is the FDTI, then the CCI (Level 3), then the DPSI (Level 6) - though you can start at the CCI if your language level and workplace knowledge are already strong. The FDTI is the place to start if you're new, or if you've been told you need 'a diploma' to work for a UK public sector organisation.

The DPSI has been the benchmark qualification for public service interpreting for over 30 years, and the Law pathway is fully accepted by the UK Police for the PAIT Police Scheme.

All language pairs, into and out of English. See our full list at our language pairs page. If you don't see yours, please contact us - we almost certainly have a LanguagePartner™ who can support you.

Note that the languages CIOL offers for their exams are a separate matter and change from session to session. Always check the current list at ciol.org.uk before you register for an exam.

No. All our courses are delivered online as distance learning, so there are no classes to attend and no fixed timetable. The one live element is your LanguagePartner™ Mentor Session, which is a one-to-one video call booked at a time that suits you.

Yes. Translation Practices, Sight Translation Papers, Mock Exams and LanguagePartner™ Mentor Sessions can all be bought on their own. See Translation Practice, Mock Exams and LanguagePartner™ Mentoring.

A Mock Exam is a full past exam paper (or similar) sat under exam conditions, then marked against the CIOL's assessment criteria with detailed feedback. It's the closest thing to the real experience, and most students find the timing is what surprises them rather than the content. See linguisttraining.com/mockexams.

We provide a past exam paper or similar for you to translate. Your work is proofread by a professional linguist in your language pair, following the CIOL's strict exam assessment criteria, and extensive written feedback is given. See linguisttraining.com/translationpractice.

We recommend allowing around six months to complete the CertTrans or DPSI course before sitting the exam. Exam support such as Mock Exams and Translation Practices is best used in the final few months before the exam itself.

Registration deadlines are set by CIOL and usually fall several weeks before the exam. Check current dates at ciol.org.uk.

You can use dictionaries and your own glossaries during a CIOL exam, but everything must be hard copy - nothing electronic. You'll have to print it out.

An example CIOL Qualification Specification says this is an open book exam during which candidates may use general bilingual, monolingual and specialist dictionaries; published glossaries and personal word banks; and various reference materials including encyclopaedias. Candidates aren't permitted to bring in course materials supplied by tutors, or any electronic dictionaries or devices.

We strongly advise you contact CIOL directly, as they're the only ones who can give you a definitive answer.

No. Any comments and recommendations given represent the considered views of a single independent LanguagePartner™, not those of an official Marking Team affiliated to CIOL. They aren't ratified by CIOL and we can't suggest they guarantee a pass. There are several reasons why translating a piece on a different occasion can differ from the exam itself.

That said, we're confident in the ability and knowledge of our LanguagePartners™, who are experienced professional linguists, and we believe their changes, comments and judgement are a valuable aid to your studies.

No. Many students enrol purely to develop their professional skills and knowledge for real-life assignments, and to gain our Completion Diploma Certificate. The choice to sit a CIOL exam is entirely yours.

Yes. Students can enrol and pay in their own currency, from every country in the world. Our prices are set in GBP; some countries apply their own charges on international payments, such as currency conversion, card fees or local taxes. These are set by your card provider or your own country and none of it comes to us, so it's worth checking before you enrol.

We add no VAT or tax to our prices, so the price you see is the price you pay us.

For the DPSI, CertTrans and DipTrans, the course and the examination are separate. We provide the preparatory course and support options; CIOL provide the examination. You liaise separately with us and with CIOL, and pay for the exam directly to them.

For the Certificate in Community Interpreting (Level 3), the fee includes all course material and the cost of the Final Assessment.

Yes, in two ways.

Our own payment plan has no credit check and no application. For example, £249 today then 4 monthly payments of £100 for the DPSI Law Course, or £449 today then 4 monthly payments of £200 for the DPSI Law Big Bundle.

Alternatively, you can pay in full at checkout, or use Klarna and Clearpay finance, where offered (subject to their approval). These options appear at the checkout itself rather than on the course page, and which ones show will depend on your location.

Full details at linguisttraining.com/payment.

linguisttraining.com doesn't offer finance - we offer the facility for you to access finance from Klarna and Clearpay. The figures shown are an example of the options they may offer.

We can't control what finance they offer you. What you're offered depends on many factors, most of which we aren't aware of. When you reach checkout, what's shown there is what's available.

A Bundle combines a course with exam support products at a discount on buying them separately. Read how Bundles work at linguisttraining.com/articles/bundles.

Funding availability can change, and any funding that does exist tends to be linked to the accredited CIOL qualification rather than the preparatory course. We recommend contacting us to discuss your situation, and checking directly with any relevant funding bodies. Contact us here.

The difference between Entry Level, Degree Level and Master's Degree-level isn't always obvious. If you start a course and realise you're ready for something more advanced, we're happy to offer a discount on the next level up, as long as you enrol within two months of completing your first course. Get in touch when you finish and we'll send you a discount code.

Please do. We're a team of real people based in Sheffield, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and we're always happy to discuss which course is right for you, your language pair, your experience level, or anything else you're unsure about. Email support@linguisttraining.com or use our contact page.

The FDTI is a beginner's Diploma course for anyone who wants to provide Translation or interpreting services professionally. It covers the core practical skills of both, and facilitates entry to the service and business industries and to Degree and Master's Degree-level courses.

Complete beginners, career-changers, and multilingual people who want to turn their languages into professional work. No prior qualification is assumed. It's also the place to start if you've been told you need 'a diploma' to work for a UK public sector organisation.

Yes. The FDTI is delivered entirely online, so you can study at your own pace from any location, at any hour.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. How long it takes depends on the time you can commit and your learning speed. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 1 to 2 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 39 days (calculated July 2025). Some students take a break during their learning time for personal reasons, so this is an indication only and has no bearing on how long it could take you.

Core Translation and interpreting techniques, accuracy, note-taking, fluency, and the confidence to handle real-world assignments, alongside the professional context you'll be working in.

If you choose the FDTI Course and Translation Practice Bundle, yes - your Translation Practice is proofread by a professional linguist and extensive feedback is given.

For Translation, the CertTrans (Level 6). For interpreting, the CCI (Level 3) and then the DPSI (Level 6). Which is right depends on your language level and your career goal - take our free quiz at linguisttraining.com/whichcourse.

The Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is a nationally recognised UK qualification, and the entry-level standard for paid public service interpreting work. The qualification is awarded by Gatehouse Awards Ltd, an Ofqual regulated awarding organisation.

We haven't confirmed a launch date yet. You can join the waiting list at linguisttraining.com/cci and we'll let you know as soon as it opens. If you need to start sooner than that, it's worth looking at other providers.

Not necessarily. The full interpreting route is FDTI, then CCI, then DPSI, though you can start at the CCI if your language level and workplace knowledge are already strong, or go straight to the DPSI if you're already working at Degree level in both languages.

• Award-winning DPSI preparation. Winner of the CIOL Nuffield Trophy for Best Group Entry for DPSI.
• Focused on the DPSI Law pathway. Covers legal interpreting contexts including police procedures, court hearings, sentencing and legal advice sessions.
• Aligned with CIOL DPSI assessment criteria. Exam-focused preparation for consecutive interpreting, Sight Translation and written translation units.
• Flexible online learning. Self-paced access so you can study alongside work.
• Optional mentoring and Mock Exams. Personalised feedback from experienced DPSI trainers.

• Interpreters preparing for the Level 6 DPSI in Law
• Interpreters seeking to work with courts, police and legal agencies
• Candidates who want structured, exam-specific preparation rather than general interpreting training

We're officially listed on the CIOL website as a course provider. CIOL awards the DPSI qualification and sets the exam; it doesn't formally endorse preparation providers, so no provider can claim CIOL endorsement. What CIOL has done is recognise our students' results: we hold the CIOL Nuffield Trophy for Best Group Entry, awarded for exceptional DPSI exam outcomes, won when we were called Talking Heads Linguist Training.

We provide the course and the exam preparation; CIOL sets and awards the qualification, and you enter for the exam separately through CIOL.

Yes. The course is specifically designed to prepare candidates for the CIOL DPSI Law examination, following the official syllabus and exam structure.

The DPSI is assessed in 5 units: one oral, two Sight Translation and two written translation. They're marked separately, so you can pass some units and resit others rather than repeating the whole qualification.

You choose a single language pair direction for the exam, even if you're bilingual.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 4 to 6 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 5.1 months (calculated July 2025). Not all students complete every exercise and Translation Practice, which we strongly advise doing, and some take a break for personal reasons, so this is an indication only.

Both. Pass the online Final Assessment and you'll receive our Completion Diploma Certificate, awarded by linguisttraining.com. Students tell us this is what UK public sector bodies want to see when they ask for a Diploma.

The course also prepares you for the CIOL DPSI Law exam, if you decide to sit it. The DPSI is a Degree-level recognised qualification (Level 6), awarded by CIOL; we provide the course and the exam preparation, and you enter for the exam separately through CIOL.

If you're already at Degree level, the DPSI is a good fit. Take our free quiz at linguisttraining.com/whichcourse to confirm.

Yes. Our DPSI courses are available for all language pairs regardless of which pairs CIOL currently offers for their exam. You'll still benefit fully from the course and the Completion Diploma Certificate, and you can register an interest in your language pair for future exam sessions directly with CIOL.

Yes. The DPSI Law course is delivered 100% online, with optional mentoring and Mock Exams available.

• Award-winning DPSI preparation. Winner of the CIOL Nuffield Trophy for Best Group Entry.
• Specialist focus on healthcare interpreting. Covers medical consultations, diagnosis discussions, treatment plans, consent and mental health scenarios.
• Exam-aligned preparation. Practice tasks mapped to CIOL DPSI Health assessment requirements.
• Flexible online course structure. Study at your own pace with year-round access.
• Optional mentoring and Mock Exams. Personalised support to improve accuracy and exam technique.

• Interpreters preparing for the Level 6 DPSI in Health
• Interpreters working or intending to work in NHS or private healthcare settings
• Candidates seeking profession-specific DPSI exam preparation

We're officially listed on the CIOL website as a course provider. CIOL awards the DPSI qualification and sets the exam; it doesn't formally endorse preparation providers, so no provider can claim CIOL endorsement. What CIOL has done is recognise our students' results: we hold the CIOL Nuffield Trophy for Best Group Entry, won when we were called Talking Heads Linguist Training.

DPSI Health is examined in June, with registration usually opening in March. DPSI Law runs in both June and November. Always confirm current dates and available languages at ciol.org.uk before you register.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 4 to 6 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 5.1 months (calculated July 2025). Not all students complete every exercise and Translation Practice, which we strongly advise doing, and some take a break for personal reasons, so this is an indication only.

Both. The DPSI Health course leads to our own Completion Diploma Certificate, awarded by linguisttraining.com once you've passed the online Final Assessment. Students tell us this is what UK public sector bodies want to see when they ask for a Diploma.

It's also full preparation for the CIOL DPSI Health exam, if you decide to sit it. The DPSI is a Degree-level recognised qualification (Level 6), awarded by CIOL; we provide the course and the exam preparation, and you enter for the exam separately through CIOL.

Yes. The course focuses on medical and healthcare interpreting contexts, aligned with CIOL DPSI Health exam requirements.

Both courses are at Level 6 and follow the same structure; the difference is the specialist setting. DPSI Law focuses on legal settings such as courts, police interviews and tribunals. DPSI Health focuses on healthcare settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries and mental health consultations. Use our free quiz at linguisttraining.com/whichcourse, or get in touch and we'll talk it through.

The CIOL Certificate in Translation is a Degree-level recognised qualification (Level 6) which qualifies you for professional Translation work. Our course has 20 modules, 8 expert-marked Translation Practices with detailed feedback, a LanguagePartner™ Mentor Session and over 175 resources, in all language pairs.

The CertTrans. At Degree level (Level 6), it's designed as a Translator's first qualification and it qualifies you for professional work. The DipTrans is for those already advanced in their career.

The numbers are worth knowing: roughly 80 to 86% pass the CertTrans, against 25 to 30% for the DipTrans. Read the full comparison at linguisttraining.com/articles/certtransvdiptrans.

Yes. There are 8 marked Translation Practices on this course, covering all these parts of the exam: General, Business and Commercial, and Government and Public Service.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 4 to 6 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 7 months (calculated July 2025). Not all students complete every exercise and Translation Practice, which we strongly advise doing, and some take a break for personal reasons, so this is an indication only.

As the DipTrans is a continuation of the CertTrans, the courses are similar, but the DipTrans is more advanced. The CertTrans contains more instruction.

The CIOL Diploma in Translation is a Level 7, Master's Degree-level qualification, and the gold standard for anyone working as a freelance Translator or for companies and corporations worldwide. CIOLQ advises a Total Qualification Time of around 460 hours.

The Big Bundle includes the full course, 3 additional CIOLQ past exam paper Translation Practices (one for each exam unit), 3 DipTrans Mock Exams (one for each exam unit), an additional LanguagePartner™ Mentoring session, and team support.

We advise completing it in this order:

• Study and complete the full course first, which contains 9 marked Translation Practices and a LanguagePartner™ Mentoring session.
• Carry out the extra Translation Practices, working with the feedback and improvements you've made.
• Have your second LanguagePartner™ Mentor session to discuss your work and exam technique.
• Sit your 3 Mock Exams.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 4 to 6 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 6.5 months (calculated July 2025). Not all students complete every exercise and Translation Practice, which we strongly advise doing, and some take a break for personal reasons, so this is an indication only.

As soon as you enrol. You can study whenever you like, 24/7, as all the content is online. The only thing you have to schedule is your Mentor Session or Sessions.

We support all language pairs into and out of English. If you don't see yours listed, contact us - we almost certainly have a LanguagePartner™ who can work with you. The languages CIOL offers for the DipTrans exam are set separately by CIOL and change from session to session.

The ILTD is an online CPD course for multilingual people considering moving into or specialising in Legal Translation. It gives you a practical first look at the work before you commit to a larger qualification. 17 hours of CPD, or up to 20 with a Translation Practice and a LanguagePartner™ Mentoring session with a professional Legal Translator.

You have 24/7 online access for a full 12 months from the date of enrolment. At around 10 hours a week you may complete it in 2 to 5 months.

The current average completion time for this course is 2.4 months (calculated July 2025). Some students take a break for personal reasons, so this is an indication only.

Yes. You're able to resit the online Final Assessment.

Understanding AI for Translation, Museum and Gallery Translation, Nonverbal Communication, NoteTaking Symbols, and the Linguist CV Masterclass. See them all at linguisttraining.com/courses/category/MasterclassesCPD.

Yes. The Linguist CV Masterclass is free with code CVMASTERCLASS100 at checkout, and the NoteTaking Symbols Masterclass is free with code notetakingsymbols100.

Yes. Each Masterclass states its CPD hours, ranging from 2 to 10 hours depending on the subject, and you can record them in your professional CPD log.

Qualified BSL Interpreters moving into or already working in legal settings: court, police and tribunal. It's a 28-hour CPD course across 25 modules, covering the UK legal system and law courts, laws and offences, and BSL interpreting in a legal context.