“翻译专业资格（水平）考试”(China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters —CATTI )是为适应社会主义市场经济和我国加入世界贸易组织的需要，加强我国外语翻译专业人才队伍建设，科学、客观、公正地评价翻译专业人才水平和能力，更好地为我国对外开放和国际交流与合作服务，根据建立国家职业资格证书制度的精神,在全国实行统一的、面向社会的、国内最具权威的翻译专业资格（水平）认证；是对参试人员口译或笔译方面的双语互译能力和水平的认定。
    翻译专业资格(水平)考试合格，颁发由国家人力资源和社会保障部统一印制并用印的《中华人民共和国翻译专业资格(水平)证书》。该证书在全国范围有效，是聘任翻译专业技术职务的必备条件之一。根据国家人力资源和社会保障部有关规定，翻译专业资格（水平）考试已经正式纳入国家职业资格证书制度，该考试在全国推开后，相应语种和级别的翻译专业技术职务评审工作不再进行。
    根据国家人力资源和社会保障部《翻译专业资格（水平）考试暂行规定》（人发[2003]21号）的精神，翻译专业资格(水平)考试在国家人力资源和社会保障部指导下,由中国外文出版发行事业局(以下简称“中国外文局”)组织实施与管理。根据《翻译专业资格（水平）考试暂行规定》中国外文局组建翻译专业资格(水平)考试专家委员会。该委员会负责拟定考试语种、考试科目、考试大纲和考试命题,研究建立考试题库等有关工作。中国外文局翻译专业资格考评中心负责该考试的具体实施工作。
    2003年人事部制定下发了《翻译专业资格（水平）考试暂行规定》和《二级、三级翻译专业资格（水平）考试实施办法》，2003年7月成立了翻译专业资格（水平）考试英语专家委员会，并于2003年12月6日至7日，全国首次二级、三级英语口译、笔译试点考试在北京、上海、广州三个城市举行。经过多方协商、共同协作和精心组织，圆满完成了本次试点考试任务。考试结束后，人事部专技司、外文局、外专局培训中心和人事部人事考试中心还专门召开了座谈会，认真听取考生对试点考试的意见和建议。据统计，本次试点考试共有1682人报名，1629人参加考试，492人经考试合格取得翻译资格证书。试点考试的参考率高、考生范围广，从各方面反映看，试点工作得到了人事部、外文局领导、各位专家及社会各界的充分肯定。外文局常务副局长、翻译专业资格（水平）考试筹备工作领导小组组长郭晓勇称“考试社会反响良好”。根据考试中出现的问题和考生反映的情况，外文局请英语专家委员会调整了英语考试大纲的部分内容。翻译资格（水平）考试报名条件放开，面向社会，得到广大考生的欢迎和社会的认可，符合人才评价的发展方向。由高等院校和翻译一线的专家承担的命题工作是成功的，起到了通过试点检验命题标准、命题方式和试卷结构的作用，这为在全国继续扩大试点提供了宝贵的经验，得到了广大考生的认可。
    2004年5月下旬，英语二、三级翻译资格试点考试继续扩大。二、三级口译考试扩大到北京、上海、广州、天津、重庆、武汉等六城市，笔译考试除以上六市外还扩大到西安、南京、郑州、成都、长春、福州等共１２个城市。2004年11月13日、14日，英语二、三级翻译资格试点考试笔译考试在全国25个城市、口译考试在全国15个城市进行；法语二、三级考试在北京、上海试点考试；日语二、三级考试在北京、上海、大连试点考试。考试大纲的编写、国家翻译资格考试标准的确定、考试试题的命制等都是由翻译资格考试最高层次的专家组织——日、法语专家委员会的专家们参与完成的。这些专家都是翻译界的资深教授和学者，代表着法语、日语翻译界的最高水平。同时专家委员会对考试制度的建立和完善，对更好地形成一套科学化、社会化、规范化的翻译人才评价制度都发挥了重要作用。人事部专业技术人员管理司司长刘宝英在日法语考试试点成立大会上说：“我们相信，这项资格考试在推行几年、十几年后，中国会有一大批高素质的翻译、翻译家成长起来，更好的为我国的对外开放、经济建设做出重要贡献。”外文局常务副局长郭晓勇说：“在翻译专业中实行资格考试制度，是中国提高翻译人才整体素质和规范国家翻译人才资格标准的重要举措，也是对翻译人才评价方式的重大改革。”
   据全国翻译专业资格（水平）考试专家委员会主任黄友义介绍:预计2005年就将在全国范围内铺开，语种也将逐步扩大为俄、德、西班牙、阿拉伯等多个语种，英语还将开设同声传译。由于一旦某语种相应级别的考试在全国统一进行，将不再实行该语种相应的职称评审工作。停止评审后，专业技术人员只有参加相应的考试，才能具备被聘任的资格。因此，翻译专业技术人员如有再晋升专业技术职务的需要，最好参加更高级别的考试。这项考试分三级、二级、一级口笔译翻译和资深翻译4个等级，大体同目前翻译职称中的初级、中级、副高、正高职称相对应。考试的难度大致为：三级，非外语专业本科毕业、通过大学英语六级考试或外语大专毕业生水平，并具备一定的口笔译实践经验；二级，非外语专业研究生毕业或外语专业本科毕业生水平，并具备3－5年的翻译实践经验；一级，具备8－10年的翻译实践经验，是某语种双语互译方面的行家。资深翻译实行考核评审方式取得，申报资深翻译的人员须具有一级口译或笔译翻译资格（水平）证书；一级口译、笔译翻译实行考试与评审相结合的方式取得。目前我们进行的是二级口译、笔译翻译和三级口译、笔译翻译的考试。
    中国外文局组织实施的翻译专业资格证书与职称挂钩，建立这个翻译人员资格考试制度后，翻译和助理翻译专业职称将不再通过评审，而是由二、三级口译和笔译考试、评定替代，从而改变了过去以单一评审模式对翻译人才进行评价的方式。而且，全国翻译专业资格证书要求的专业性比较强，不仅适合从事外文工作的专业人士考取，也是其他专业人士进入翻译行业的准入证。
    翻译工作是我国对外交流和国际交往的桥梁和纽带，发展翻译事业也是我国对外改革开放的必然要求。为提高翻译人员素质、加强翻译人才队伍建设，进一步推广翻译专业资格考试是顺应国家经济发展的需要的。翻译专业人才在我国经济发展和社会进步中起着非常重要的作用，特别是在吸收引进外国的先进科技知识和加强国际交流与合作方面，翻译是桥梁和纽带。翻译人员的政治素质和业务素质的提高，对于我国在政治、经济、科技等领域全方位加强国际合作起着关键的作用。 党中央、国务院高度关注和重视人才战略的实施，“小康大业，人才为本”。翻译人才是我国专业人才的重要组成部分，将翻译专业资格（水平）考试纳入我国职业资格制度通盘考虑、通盘设计，是进一步规范和提高翻译人员的业务素质，适应我国加入世贸组织和提高翻译队伍的要求，也是为了改革、改进、完善翻译专业技术职务评审和聘任制度。
    此外，现行的各级翻译人员的评审按地域或行业组织，因此，其评价水平也体现了地域性标准。实施翻译专业资格考试制度，将有助于翻译标准的社会化。全国翻译专业资格（水平）考试，作为国家的一种资格制度建立并组织实施，应当是翻译界的一件大事，它是为培养高层次翻译人才做的一项制度建设，是为推动翻译队伍建设所作的一件大事。国家实施学历证书和职业资格证书并重的制度是在党的十四届三中全会决定中提出的，目前已建立和实施31项。职业资格是人才评价的重要手段和机制，当前正处于起步阶段，将来的发展领域会很广，任务会很艰巨。我们要从实施人才战略的要求出发，规划好、设计好、实施好我国的职业资格制度，通过建立具有中国特色的专业技术人员职业资格制度体系，将中国人才评价工作推向新的阶段，以适应我国人才战略的要求。

Introduction to CATTI
(China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters)

       China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters (CATTI) is the most authoritative translation and interpretation proficiency qualification accreditation test which is implemented throughout the country according to uniform standards and in compliance with the national system of professional qualification certificates and which meets social needs. It is designed to meet the needs of a socialist market economy and China’s accession to WTO, build a large contingent of translators and interpreters in our country, appraise their proficiency and competence scientifically, objectively and fairly and better serve the opening up. It is an authoritative accreditation test for examinees’ bilingual translation or interpretation proficiency.

       CIPG is responsible for organizing, implementing and administering the test under the guidance of the Ministry of Personnel of the People’s Republic of China. If an examinee passes the test, he/she is awarded the Translation and Interpretation Proficiency Qualification Certificate of the People’s Republic of China. The Certificate is valid throughout the People’s Republic of China. It is one of the prerequisites for translation and interpretation professional and technical post. According to the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Personnel of the People’s Republic of China, translation and interpretation proficiency qualification test has been incorporated into the national system of professional qualification certificates. After the test is introduced to the whole country, appraisal of translation and interpretation professional and technical posts for corresponding foreign languages and levels will cease.

 I. Languages to Be Tested

 English, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Arabic and other languages

II. Levels and Professional Competence

(1) Senior Translator and Interpreter: Candidates have been engaged in translation and interpretation for a long time, have extensive scientific and cultural knowledge, reach advanced level in bilingual translation and interpretation, can solve major difficult problems arising in translation and interpretation and make great contributions to developing translating and interpreting undertakings and training translators and interpreters in both theory and practice.

(2) Translator and Interpreter of Level 1: Candidates have rich scientific and cultural knowledge and a high competence for bilingual translation and interpretation, can be qualified for extensive and difficult translation and interpretation, solve difficult problems arising in translation and interpretation and are capable of interpreting at important international conferences or finalizing translations.

(3) Translator and Interpreter of Level 2: Candidates have some scientific and cultural knowledge, have a good competence for bilingual translation and interpretation and are capable of translating and interpreting in some areas and with some difficulties.

(4) Translator and Interpreter of Level 3: Candidates have rudimentary scientific and cultural knowledge and a general competence for bilingual translation and interpretation and can accomplish general translation work.

III. Methods of Test and Appraisal

       The titles of Senior Translator and Interpreter are acquired through the method of appraisal, and candidates for Senior Translator and Interpreter must obtain the Translation and Interpretation Proficiency Qualification Certificates for Translator and Interpreter of Level 1. The titles of Translator and Interpreter of Level 1 are acquired through the method of test and appraisal. The concrete methods of appraisal of Senior Translator and Interpreter and Translator and Interpreter of Level 1 will be formulated separately.

       The methods of tests based on uniform outlines, uniform test papers and uniform standards are adopted for Translator and Interpreter of Level 2 and Translator and Interpreter of Level 3.

IV.  Parts of Tests

       The test for interpreter consists of two parts: Interpreting Comprehensive Aptitude and Interpreting Practice. The Interpreting Practice in the test for Interpreters of Level 2 consists of two specialities: Consecutive Interpreting and Simultaneous Interpreting.

       The test for translator consists of two parts: Translating Comprehensive Aptitude and Translating Practice.

V.  Methods of Tests

       The test for Interpreting Comprehensive Aptitude proceeds by listening to the tape and answering questions in writing as required. Consecutive Interpreting and Simultaneous Interpreting in the Interpreting Practice in the test for Interpreters of Level 2 and the Interpreting Practice in the test for Interpreters of Level 3 proceed by on-site recording. The time for the Interpreting Comprehensive Aptitude and Consecutive Interpreting and Simultaneous Interpreting in the Interpreting Practice in the test for Interpreters of Level 2 is 60 minutes. The time for Interpreting Practice for Interpreters of Level 3 is 30 minutes.

       Tests for Translating Comprehensive Aptitude and Translating Practice proceed by writing directly on test papers. The time for Translating Comprehensive Aptitude is 120 minutes, and the time for Translating Practice is 180 minutes.

VI. Awarding of Certificates and Regular Registration

       Candidates must pass two parts of tests for translator or interpreter at corresponding levels once and obtain the Translation and Interpretation Proficiency Qualification Certificate of the People’s Republic of China printed and sealed by the Ministry of Personnel of the People’s Republic of China. The Certificate is valid throughout the People’s Republic of China.

       The system of regular registration is implemented for the Certificate, and registration is handled every three years. A bearer of the Certificate should handle formalities for re-registration in the designated office according to regulations prior to the expiration of the period of validity of the Certificate. The bearer of the Certificate needs to show the certificate for continuation education or professional training at the time of re-registration.

       In light of needs, employers can give corresponding posts to those candidates who obtain the Translation and Interpretation Proficiency Qualification Certificate for Translator or Interpreter of Level 2 or Translator or Interpreter of Level 3 and who meet qualifications for posts of translator or interpreter or assistant translator or assistant interpreter as prescribed in the Regulations on Posts of Translator and Interpreter for Trial Implementation.