Universities across the country offer a variety of programs in German translation, ranging from undergraduate degrees to certificates. New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, for example, offers a certification program for working professionals. The German to English program is available online, after an admission test, and certificates are awarded after the student has completed six courses in the language pair. American University in Washington, D.C., awards an undergraduate certification in translation after 15 credit hours are completed in German, with a program emphasis on translation into English.
The American Translators Association offers its members the opportunity to become certified after passing an exam specifically created for each language pair. After being a member of the organization for at least four weeks, a translator can reserve a space at one of the association's test-taking centers. In order to remain ATA-certified, German translators who pass the exam must complete 20 hours of continuing education over three years. Many international associations have also formed to assist professional translators, including the International Association of Conference Translators and the International Federation of Translators.
Certification allows translators to work in an official capacity, ensuring a level of expertise and professionalism for clients. A certified translator is entitled to add the "CT" abbreviation to her business documents. This recognition can improve opportunities in the field by attracting more clients, becoming a member of a professional network, or joining a larger translation agency.
The American Translators Association exam costs $300, in addition to membership fees, as of May 2010. Undergraduate university programs include the entire cost of an average four-year degree, while many certifications through continuing education courses cost between $4,000 and $5,000. Certified German translations of documents can cost between $50 and $100 for standard marriage or birth certificates. Non-standard documents or literary translations can cost significantly more.
Certification as a German translator does not mean individually translated documents are automatically certified. The requirements for individual document certification vary according to purpose. Legal translations may need to be notarized, but other documents may only need written verification from the translator or translation service that the contents are accurate.