A certified translation can exist in many ways – however, a certified translation is the one that incorporates the idea of accuracy, such that the translation provided is an exact representation of the original document. The concept of accuracy is further bolstered by the inclusion of a certificate of accuracy – which confirms that the translation assimilates the content of the original manuscript/document. These types of translations are known as attributed translations.

So, what is a certificate of accuracy?

The certificate of accuracy is essentially a paper. It is a paper that is written by a qualified translator who is usually a member of a reigning body. Various countries have various sets of criteria on what is the standard for the certificate of accuracy. However, a certificate of accuracy should usually include a statement on the credentials of translators, a statement supporting the wholeness and preciseness of translations, names of the translated certificate/document, and ID signature, and seal of translator along with the date of the translation.

There are numerous governing/accreditation bodies around the world that usually help promote professionalism in the process of translation. Usually, a seal from these accreditation bodies atop the certificate of accuracy (besides the things mentioned above) places a translated document in high regard (and is thus the industry standard in many countries). Some of the well-known accreditation bodies are listed below:

1. American translators association (ATA): A translation can be certified by anyone in the US, however, translations from members of ATA (American Translators Association) is considered to be the industry standard. ATA is an association (not a public body)– the largest – of translators and interpreters in the United States. Such translations are at high confidence of being acknowledged by the end-user (for example USCIS – requiring USCIS certified translation).
   
2. The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (NAATI) is an Australian certification authority for translators and interpreters of various languages. Certified translations for Australian immigration have to be provided by NAATI certified translators.
   
3. Sworn translators: Countries that run on civil law like Germany, France, and Spain require translation from sworn translators who are chosen/appointed by relevant government bodies. For example, in France, a Traductor assermenté (literally sworn translators), who is recognized as being a ministerial officer, certifies that a text is the faithful and true translation of an original document.
   
4. Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT): It is an international conglomeration of various associations of translators and interpreters. There are more than 100 professional associations that are affiliated to FIT, and that represent over 80,000 translators in 55 countries 

Here are some glossaries of frequently used translation terms:

• Certified Translation: A translation enclosing a certificate of accuracy. This usually encompasses a translation made by recognized translators from various associations/organizations – that may an individual registered at ATA, or NAATI (or any other accreditation body) or sworn translators.
  
• Notarized translation: A notary public (colloquially Notary) is a person, typically a lawyer, who is sanctioned by the government (or legal bodies) to witness the signing of any documents to make them legally valid. Notary thus guarantees the absence of duplicitous activities in the creation and processing of documentation. Notarization of the accuracy certificate and the signature of the translator confirm the accuracy of the translation.
• Professional Translation: A translation performed by a professional translator. A professional translator might be referred to in various words some of which include – expert translator, native translator. Combined with this a certified/registered translator is always a professional translator. The standard practice – the industry standard – is that the translation performed by a professional translator is to be certified (include a certificate of accuracy).
  
• Official Translation: A translation performed for official use is termed as an official translation. This includes the notion of translations performed by sworn translators or by translators mandated by various agencies in respective countries.
  
• Apostilled translation: Only notarized documents can be apostilled. An Apostille authenticates the signature in the official document translation and guarantees that the manuscript is recognized in all states signing/adopting the Hague convention of 1961. The Office of Authentication is the authority providing apostilles in the US.
  
• Legal Translation: The translation of legal documents is termed as legal translation. It can include various types of translation such as disposition, or subpoena, or legislation, court documents, and contracts, etc. This is a niche form of translation performed by legal translators (professionals). Legal translations may or may not be certified. 

The role of Online certified translations 

Online certified translation services make your task of translating and gaining a certificate of accuracy so much easier. The ease provided by online translation services is unrivaled. All you do is upload your documents online. The documents go through a translation process that is highly controlled for quality. The translations are implemented by native certified professionals. The remote translation process provides support for over a hundred languages. Then post-translation the signatures can easily be certified. You hit two birds – one of a certificate of accuracy and other of translation – with a single stone (of certified document translations services).