In 2012 I wrote a blog post asking:
Is individual chartered status working for our profession? It was the most popular posts I have ever
written and it elicited many comments. Two and a half years later I can
announce that the review I called for has taken place. And for the better!
Instead of trammeling
applicants into a narrow field of work (translating, interpreting or education)
now, the scheme allows a professional linguist who performs all of these diversified tasks (and
others) to apply on the basis of their varied professional work.
Many translators were put off
from applying because they did not translate a sufficiently high number of
words, simply because they spent time interpreting or teaching, or in some other activity. That rule has been
relaxed.
Others were put off by the
expense of the application and interview process. The review team has
addressed that issue as well by reducing the application fee to just £50.
As from today, all that is
required to join the band of Chartered Linguists is:
- At least two years’ membership of CioL (or as a Fellow)
- To be in regular professional practice at the requisite level
- An engagement in CPD on a regular basis.
As someone pointed out on
TransNet today, chimney sweeps and heating engineers are accredited by their
appropriate bodies. Here in Sussex local tradesmen register with Checkatrade, which ensures they are of good character. That way their clients know that they are dealing with
someone who is not a cowboy and will do a good job. So I find it quite strange
that there still appears to be resistance to applying for the new CL status. Ordinary
membership (or fellowship) of the Institute is not enough. It does not certify
that the member is in regular practice, nor does it show that the member is
keeping up with trends and language skills. An extra level is required. And
that level is Chartered status.
I quote from the recently updated CioL website:
“The purpose of the Chartered
Linguist (CL) scheme is to ensure that users
of language services and employers have access to a comprehensive, verified and
up to date source of qualified,
practising and experienced professional linguists with a demonstrated
commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The CL register is held by CIOL in the public
interest. Chartered Linguists must therefore be able to demonstrate their
competence as a professional linguist, based on a combination of their
qualifications, past experience and current practice, and their commitment to maintaining their skills and knowledge through
continuing professional development.”
I believe that this new
revised scheme is what we have been waiting for. It’s no longer so expensive,
no longer so restrictive, and it is very much more flexible. All members of the
Institute should consider applying for it – and applying for it now while the
application fee is waived for the first month. We need to start a momentum of applications and we should start it now until we have large numbers on the register which can then be used as a marketing tool, rather like our Checkatrade scheme does. It won't happen in a day, but we need to start it off.
For the moment it is
restricted to members and fellows of the CioL. I am not privy to the reasons
for this, but once the pilot has rolled out, it may well be extended to all
linguists working in the UK and beyond.
I believe we should
applaud the Institute for the work they do on our behalf, and I abhor the
negativity that seems to abound on the translators’ discussion forum run by
that same Institute.
Will you be applying? I
will be applying to regain the status of which I was so proud.