Certified Interpreters
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Job description
These individuals transpose orally in one language what is said in another language. For example, they interpret speeches or debates by faithfully conveying the message. They also provide interpretation services before courts of law or administrative tribunals. They are self-employed or work for:
- Internal translation and interpreting firms or services
- The public service
- Large companies
- International organizations
- The media
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Master consecutive (bidirectional communication) and simultaneous (unidirectional communication) interpreting.
- Provide interpretation services for conferences, meetings, and symposiums.
- Conduct terminology research required to interpret expert testimony.
- May act as an interpreter for travellers and native or foreign language speakers.
- Adapt to legal requirements, which change without notice and may have an impact on the course of proceedings.
- Train other interpreters as required.
Advancement and mobility
- These individuals may specialize in court, parliamentary, or conference interpretation.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Translation
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80.1%
10.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 82.9%
11.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ [Quebec Order of Certified Translators, Terminologists and Interprets]) to practise under the title of Certified Interpreter (C. Int.).
- Language transfer course.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Active listening
- Oral expression
- Reading comprehension
- Information processing
- Written expression
- Critical thought
- Result evaluation
- Active learning
- Coordination
- Teaching
- Judgment and decision-making
- Service oriented
- Social perception
- Learning strategies
- Time management
- Solving complex problems
Abilities
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Speech recognition
- Speech clarity
- Written comprehension
- Written expression
- Near vision
- Information organization
- Awareness of issues
- Auditory attention
- Selective attention
- Hearing sensitivity
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Classification
- Originality
- Time sharing
- Perception speed
- Information processing speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to establish and maintain interpersonal relations
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Capacity to adapt
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge of communication and media
- Timeliness
- Knowledge of a foreign language
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work in the arts, culture, music, or leisure
- Work in an office
- Carry out research
- Self-employment
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Translators, terminologists and interpreters (CNP 51114)
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Last update: January 29, 2026