How to Demonstrate the Quality of Translation Services with BS EN 15038

The BS EN 15038 standard ensures the consistent quality of translation services from Translation Service Providers (TSP) and Language Service Providers (LSP).

The standard ensures that the professional competences of participants in the translation process, such as translators, reviewers, revisers and proofreaders, are specified by the Translation Service Provider, whilst also offering clients a description and definition of the entire service provided.
What are the requirements of BS EN 15038?
Translation Service Providers operating under BS EN 15038 must demonstrate the professional competences of translators by meeting at least one of the following three requirements set out by the standard:
•  Advanced translation studies (recognized qualification)
•  Equivalent qualification in another specialization, plus a minimum of two years documented experience in translation.
•  At least five years of documented professional experience in translation.

In addition to the above requirements, reviewers must also have translation experience of the subject in question.
About the Standard

Over the years, numerous translation and language companies have searched for a reliable method of demonstrating the quality of their translation services to customers and, prior to 2006, when BS EN 15038 was first introduced, many of these organizations turned to ISO 9001.
However, ISO 9001 alone was not always recognized within this industry as a demonstration of a quality service because it did not directly address the translation-specific processes that translators consider when determining quality translation outcomes.
As a result of this, BS EN 15038 was developed by the European Committee of Standards (CEN) to encompass all of the core translation processes, as well as other related aspects involved in providing translation services, such as:
•    Commissioning
•    Translation
•    Proofreading
•    Review
•    Project Management
•    Quality control
•    Traceability
•    Delivery
 
Currently, the BS EN 15038 standard does not include interpretation services.  Even though interpretation would have added value within the scope, the committee developing the standard believed that managing the quality of interpretation would complicate the development of the standard.
Therefore,  BS EN 15038 unifies the terminology used in the translation and language field, defining basic requirements for translation service whilst also creating a framework for the interaction between customers and service providers in terms of their contractual needs.
How do I become certified to BS EN 15038?
Translation Service Providers interested in gaining a BS EN 15038 Certification should note that in order to meet the requirements of this standard you must have a well documented Quality Management System in place that is proportionate to the size and structure of your organization.
Translation Service Providers that do not already have a documented Quality Management System in place are advised to gain an ISO 9001 Certification. The ISO 9001 will not only deliver an internationally recognized Quality Management System that will help them to streamline their processes,  but  many of the ISO 9001 requirements are equivalent to those within the BS EN 15038, making the standards fully compatible.
Source: BSI