TAALS - The American Association of Language Specialists

Direct any questions to admissions@taals.net

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

Any member other than an associate or honorary member or member emeritus is an active member.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Any applicant who does not yet fulfill the requirements for active membership in the Association but subscribes to its principles and mission may apply for associate membership.

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All qualified conference interpreters and translators are eligible for membership.

Applications may be submitted to one of two admission cycles. Applications to the Fall cycle are accepted through September 15th of each year. Applications to the Spring cycle are accepted through February 15th of each year. New members are admitted by a two-thirds majority of the members at the General Assembly held in November/December of each year. If you wish to apply for membership in TAALS, first review the ADMISSION TO ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP requirements of our Bylaws to determine if you qualify. If you meet the requirements, apply online or download and print the relevant forms in the right column above and either scan or email them to us. Please contact us with any questions regarding the application process.

Admission Requirements

The conditions for admission to Active Membership are governed by Article 7 of the Association Bylaws (amended Dec. 3, 2016) and are as follows:

“Applicant” means a person applying to TAALS for admission, readmission, or language reclassification.

A. Substantive Requirements

Applicants for active membership shall fulfill the following requirements:

An Applicant Interpreter must have at least one hundred (100) days of conference experience in simultaneous and/or consecutive interpretation. S/he must be sponsored by at least three (3) active members in good standing who have been members of the Association for at least two years in the Interpreter category and who confirm that they have worked with and have listened to the Applicant.
An Applicant Translator or Reviewer/Reviser must be sponsored by at least two (2) active members in good standing who have been members of the Association in the Translator category for at least two years. The applicant must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
- Service in a recognized organization for at least one (1) year in a full-time post as translator or reviewer/reviser, or three (3) years in a closely related position in which a substantial portion of the time is spent translating.
- Freelance translation under contract in a recognized organization for one year during which time remuneration for this work represents a substantial portion of the Applicant's earnings.
- Published and credited translations.
- Freelance translators working mainly on the private market must submit three (3) references from public or private entities per target language. Such references shall be provided by clients for whom the Applicant has worked during the past three (3) years, specifying the relevant dates and working languages. The Applicant shall also submit a list of other translations, if any, indicating relevant dates and working languages.
An Applicant for readmission in either category shall be presumed to have satisfied the substantive requirements when first admitted.
Applicants for reclassification shall submit only those sponsorships which are pertinent to the reclassification.
If an Applicant, owing to special circumstances, cannot comply with the above requirements, special consideration may be requested. A full explanation of the circumstances must then accompany the application.

B. Formal Requirements

Applications must set forth sponsorship, experience, a professional domicile and requested language classification. The following sponsorships apply:

Interpreters

For an A: three (3) sponsorships with that A
For a B: two (2) sponsorships, one with an A and one with a B or better in that language
For a C: two (2) sponsorships with a B or better in that language

Translators, Reviewers/Revisers

For an A: two (2) sponsorships with that A
For a B: one with an A and one with a B or better in that language

For more details, please visit: https://www.taals.net/en/bylaws/.

Please remember that only complete application packages will be accepted. As an applicant, it is your responsibility to collect the sponsorship forms, assemble the application package and then submit a full package to the Admissions Secretary (scanned submission is preferred).

Deadlines for Submission

Spring Cycle

Please submit your completed application no later than February 15.

Fall Cycle

Please submit your completed application no later than September 15.