Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security ("MOHRSS") and the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration ("CFLPA") have jointly issued the Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Professional Title System for Translation Professionals (the "Opinions").
The Opinions highlight the following breakthroughs in the reform of the professional title system for translation professionals. The first is unifying the names of professional titles; the second is clearly specifying the professional title evaluation criteria; the third is making different channels open for professional title evaluation; the fourth is promoting the globally mutual recognition of the professional translation title evaluation results; the fifth is furthering the integration of professional title evaluation and talent cultivation; and the sixth is optimizing services for professional title evaluation. Among others, the Opinions clearly state that the reformed framework of professional titles for translation professionals comprises junior, intermediate, and senior titles which are further divided into associate senior titles and senior titles. The junior, intermediate, associate senior, and senior titles correspond to different names, i.e. Level III translators, Level II translators, Level I translators, and translation revisers. Compared with the previous system, the reformed system addresses the issue that the names of professional titles for some languages that are granted via examination are inconsistent with those of professional titles for other languages. Moreover, the Opinions call for accelerating the efforts to have the professional translation qualification mutually recognized in the globe.