EN 15038 / ISO 17100 Translation Services Certification
Independent certification and audit of translation quality management, translator and reviewer competence, and project-handling processes.
Standard Overview
EN 15038 / ISO 17100 Translation Services
We provide comprehensive EN 15038 certification and compliance services to help your organization meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
What is EN 15038?
EN 15038 is an important standard/certification that helps organizations demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. It defines requirements for the provision of quality translation services, covering the translation process, quality assurance, traceability, and the qualifications of translators and reviewers.
Our Services
EN 15038 Services
EN 15038 Certification & Compliance
Full scope verification and certification for Translation Services quality requirements under EN 15038.
Comprehensive Audit & Assessment
Thorough on-site and documentation audits to evaluate your translation service quality management system.
Training & Consultancy
Expert coaching and training for your teams on EN 15038 implementation and translation quality best practices.
Ongoing Compliance Support
Continuous monitoring and support to maintain your EN 15038 certification and translation service standards.
Documentation & Reporting
Professional translation service documentation, process quality reports, and compliance reporting assistance.
Remediation Support
Fixing non-conformities and gaps identified during the translation services quality assessment process.
Key Advantages
Why Get EN 15038 Certified?
Regulatory Compliance
Meet all regulatory requirements for translation services quality management.
Market Access
Access markets requiring EN 15038 certification worldwide.
Quality Assurance
Demonstrate commitment to delivering high-quality translation services consistently.
Competitive Advantage
Stand out in the translation industry with recognized quality certification.
Risk Management
Reduce translation quality risks and ensure accuracy, consistency, and client satisfaction.
Why Eurocert?
Our experienced auditors understand translation service quality requirements and can guide you through the certification process.
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Standard Evolution
EN 15038 vs ISO 17100
EN 15038:2006 was the first European quality standard written specifically for translation services. It was withdrawn and replaced by the international standard EN ISO 17100:2015, which now defines requirements for the core processes, resources and quality of every translation service provider (LSP).
Because ISO 17100 inherits and strengthens the EN 15038 framework, certification against EN 15038 is no longer available as a new certificate. Existing and prospective translation providers are certified against ISO 17100, which confirms translator and reviewer competence, a defined translation workflow, and a documented quality management system.
What Changed
What Replaced EN 15038?
EN ISO 17100:2015 replaced EN 15038:2006 and adds explicit requirements for translation-project management, reference materials, terminology, and corrective actions. The hallmarks of the older standard are retained: the TEP process, in which every translation is T-ranslated, E-dited, and P-roofread, and documented translator competence.
Key Requirements of ISO 17100
- Translator, reviser and reviewer competence with defined qualifications and experience
- TEP workflow: translation, editing and proofreading for every assignment
- Client-translator agreement and clear project specification
- Documented quality management and record keeping
- Use of reference materials, terminology tools and revisions
Who Needs It
Who Needs ISO 17100 Certification?
Translation agencies and language service providers that serve EU buyers, regulators or international clients use ISO 17100 to prove process reliability. It is relevant to general and technical translation companies, interpreting bureaus offering written translation, in-house language departments of exporters, and specialist providers of legal, technical or medical translation.
Process
Certification Process
- Application and pre-assessment of your process and resources
- Stage 1 audit: document review of the quality management system
- Stage 2 audit: on-site verification of translation workflow, competence records and TEP controls
- Certificate issued, valid for three years with annual surveillance
Typical documentation includes translator CVs and competence records, project files, client agreements, training plans, process maps and quality records. Lead time is usually four to eight weeks depending on readiness, and cost depends on company size and number of sites.
