Which membership is right for you?
ATA membership is open to anyone with an interest in translation and interpreting as a profession or as a scholarly pursuit. Compare the categories below to see which membership best supports your career and future goals.
Introductory Memberships for Individuals
All individual applicants are first accepted as Associate or Student members.
Associate
Open to individuals interested in the goals and objectives of ATA. Applicants must remain Associate members for four weeks before advancing to Active or Corresponding membership.
- Associate members possess full rights and privileges as defined by the ATA Bylaws, except the right to vote and hold office.
Student
Open to graduate and undergraduate college or university students enrolled full-time in any program or part-time in a translation- or interpreting-related program, including foreign language study.
- Requires proof of current student enrollment (in English).
- Membership is limited to 4 years.
- Student members possess full rights and privileges as defined by the ATA Bylaws, except the right to vote and hold office and the benefit of listing their services in the Language Services Directory.
Advanced Memberships for Individuals
Open to current ATA members only who have achieved professional status.
Active/Corresponding
Open to Associate or Student members who have become eligible for voting rights by achieving professional status. Members in these two categories are listed as "Voting" members. Eligibility for Active/Corresponding membership can be gained through one of the following:
- Completing Active Membership Review
- Passing the ATA certification exam
- Obtaining the ATA Credentialed Interpreter designation
Life (Voting or Associate)
Open to current ATA members of 20 consecutive years who are 60 years of age. Rights and privileges depend upon the membership category of the member.
Honorary
Conferred upon distinguished individuals in the translation or interpreting professions by a vote of two-thirds of the Board of Directors. The number of living honorary members shall not exceed 20, and only two may be elected in each year.
Discounts Available for Individuals
Open to new or current members.
Associate Transitional
Open to current Student members or new members who have recently graduated from a college or university, having been enrolled full-time in any program or part-time in a translation- or interpreting-related program, including foreign language study.
- Membership must begin within 365 days of graduation.
- Requires proof of graduation (in English).
- Membership is limited to 3 years.
- Associate Transitional members possess full rights and privileges as defined by the ATA Bylaws.
2 Members in the Same Household
Open to new or current members or new members who share the same address. Rights and privileges depend upon the membership category of the members.
Memberships for Organizations
Corporate
Open to businesses with an interest in the translation and/or interpreting profession. Membership is in the name of the company, not the individual.
- Employees of Corporate members are not eligible to take the ATA certification examination unless they are also individual members.
Institutional
Open to nonprofit institutions with an interest in the translation and/or interpreting profession. Membership is in the name of the institution, not the individual.
- Requires documentation of nonprofit status (in English).
- Institutional members cannot list their services in the Language Services Directory.
- Employees of Institutional members are not eligible to take the ATA certification examination unless they are also individual members.
Get the Member Advantage
ATA supports you and your career with member-priced education, professional connections, and 24/7 promotion in ATA’s Directory.