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Certificate

Translation (Spanish/English)

Specialized Certificate

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About the Translation (Spanish/English) Program

Become a Spanish Translator Online

Designed for bilingual adults who may or may not already be working in the field of translation, the program offers high-level instruction and professional training from active professionals. It can set you apart from the competition and certify to potential employers that you possess the bilingual proficiency, cultural understanding, theoretical knowledge, and skill set they are looking for. Graduates of our program go on to own and operate their own translation businesses, freelance, work for private companies or work within the public sector.
Online
In-class options not available.
15-21 Months
Varies by student and courses taken per quarter.
$3,525
Cost does not include textbooks or additional electives.

What You Will Learn

  • Bilingual proficiency in Spanish-to-English and English-to-Spanish translation.
  • Cultural understandings needed to be a successful translator.
  • Gain a firm understanding of the theory and practice of translation services.
  • Tools and technology of translation to help you advance your skillset.
  • Take optional courses and electives in areas such as Legal or Medical Translation, or choose from Business Translation and Strategic Marketing and Branding for Translators and Interpreters.

Conditions for Admission

Total fluency in both English and Spanish, including the ability to speak, read, and write at a second year university level, is required. Fluency is determined by a written online entrance exam. Select courses may be taken prior to passing the entrance exam.

How to Apply

Students may enroll in individual courses without applying to the certificate program. There is a $0.00 application fee. For students pursuing the certificate, there will be a one-time $125.00 certificate fee.

Get More Information

For detailed information, please contact our Arts, Humanities, Languages & Digital Arts department.

Translation (Spanish/English)
Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List

Information Session

Find out more about the program in a free information session.

PREREQUISITE

Required Courses

All 7 courses are required.

Optional Additional Classes

Please note: Does not apply to certificate; prerequisite requirements apply to some courses.

This Program Is Designed For:

  • Bilingual language speakers who desire to have a Professional Translation Certification.
  • For those who would like to take the ATA exam and become certified translators.
  • Professionals seeking career advancement in the translation field.
  • Medical, legal or business professionals seeking to enrich their ability to communicate with non-Native speakers.

Certificate Guidelines

The Specialized Certificate in Translation (Spanish/English) is issued upon completion of the entrance exam and the total number of required credit units (19.5 quarter units). The approximate cost of the program is $3,525 (includes course fees, entrance exam fee, and certificate enrollment fee) and is paid incrementally as students enroll in courses rather than up front. Cost does not include textbooks or class materials. Course fees and schedules are subject to change.

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FAQs

The employment outlook for translators over the next decade is very good, with an expected increase of 17% overall (learn more from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
Yes, the program is open to non-California residents, including non-US residents. The tuition is the same for all students. If you have questions about how enrolling in courses may or may not affect your visa status, please contact our International Department at ipinfo@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-6784.

Our programs are designed for individuals who are already bilingual in Spanish and English. This signifies written fluency, and an ability to complete college-level studies in both languages. To be admitted, students must complete an entrance exam: a written assessment of vocabulary, reading comprehension, and spelling in both languages. All students who pass the entrance exam are eligible to enroll in either program.

• Offered online once per quarter on a Saturday
• Graded by a qualified, bilingual practitioner in the field
• All exam results are reported to students within three business days
• You are eligible to retake the exam as many times as you need, but it cannot be transferred in or waived

For more information please review the Entrance Exam PDF.
 

Students may enroll concurrently in more than one course, however we recommend participating in the entry level translation courses in the order listed below.
 
We recommend enrolling as soon as possible, as occasionally classes will reach capacity.

Students accepted into this program will take the two courses alongside Scripps Institution of Oceanography(SIO) graduate students in the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MBC). The program will be completed over the established 9-week summer period (June 26- August 28, 2026), by taking the two required classes SIO-295S and SIO-295LS.

To begin your application, click on the "Apply Now" button on the certificate page. If you do not already have an Application Portal and a My Extension student account, you will be prompted to create one for each to complete your application. Once submitted, your application cannot be changed. You can track the progress of your application at My Extension.

Register at: Apply Now
Select the Program of Interest: Interdisciplinary Marine Conservation
Term: Summer 2026
Applications are open until April 30th, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as our available slots may fill. The application includes an application fee of $50 that can be paid with a major credit card. A deposit of $1,000 is required upon accepting the offer of admission. The remaining balance of US $18,995 is due by the start of the program. Payment plans are available.

The name “application” is a bit confusing because this is meant to be completed after passing the entrance exam which is the only formal prerequisite to enrolling in the certificate.  If you submitted a certificate application prior to passing the entrance exam it will be denied however you can enroll in select classes that do not require the exam as a prerequisite and take the exam when it is offered next.  Once you pass the exam, you would then resubmit the certificate application.
Enrollment in a class may be blocked in the following situations:

◦The class is closed (see FAQ on when enrollment closes).
◦The class is at capacity. If the class is at capacity you will only be able to join the waitlist.  
◦The class is cancelled due to low enrollments.
◦The class has prerequisites that you have not completed yet.

For these reasons we recommend that you enroll early.
The refund deadline for translation and interpretation courses is 6 days after the class start date.
The refund deadline for the entrance exam is the day prior to the exam.
The exact refund deadline for each section is listed in the section notes.

When registering, students may choose between a Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass option. As long as a student receives a passing score (70% or higher), they will earn the same certificate of completion and any related documents, regardless of the grading method selected.

If you're pursuing employer reimbursement, we recommend checking with your company to confirm whether a Letter Grade is required for reimbursement eligibility.

Students can update their grading option via their MyExtension student portal anytime before 12:00 a.m. on the final class meeting.

 

Our program is an educational certificate, not a professional certification:
  • Students who complete the UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies Translation certificate earn an educational certificate.  This is different from a professional certification.  Industry certifications are usually earned by passing an exam through the state or federal courts or through professional organizations. 
  • There is currently no national form of certification required for translators in the United States, however there are a variety of exams that you can take to demonstrate your proficiency to your employer.  Some of these exams require previous professional experience as a translator/interpreter or an educational certificate such as the ones available at UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies in order to qualify to take the exam. 
  • You can read additional information about these exams/certifications in our online information session and this Certification Exams PDF.
To summarize:  Our program does not result in a student being "certified" by UCSD Diego Division of Extended Studies since this is an educational certificate, rather than an industry exam, however it will give you the skills needed to work in the field and will be very useful in passing many certification exams. 
 
  • UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies offers continuing education loans through UC Approved Lenders. Each institution offers low competitive interest rates and flexible payment options. You are also encouraged to contact your personal financial institution about possible lending solutions. Direct links to UC Approved Lenders can be found on our website’s Financial Resources page.
  • The Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a comprehensive range of employment and training services in partnership with state and local agencies/organizations. More information is available on their website at edd.ca.gov.
  • Career Centers Located throughout San Diego County offer their communities comprehensive employment and training services benefiting both business and job seekers. More information is available on their website at workforce.org.
  • Please click here for information about Veteran’s Benefits.
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds are limited to degree programs only, and cannot be used for courses or certificate fees at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
Students can transfer in up to two courses that match the content of our required courses. Please email ahl@ucsd.edu for more information about the transferability of previously completed courses.
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies is not a degree granting institution, however many UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses can be transferred to other colleges or universities.

The transferability of credit is determined solely by the receiving institution. Students should discuss how your individual courses will transfer with the Office of the Registrar at the receiving institution prior to enrolling.

Quarter to Semester Unit Conversion

If the receiving institution operates on a semester system, credits will be converted to semester hours during their evaluation. As a general rule, quarter credits are converted to semester credits by dividing the number of quarter credits by 1.5. For example, if the student completed a course worth 4 quarter credits at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, the course would be worth 4 ÷ 1.5 = 2.66 semester credits.
For questions regarding our classes and certificates, please contact us at ahl@ucsd.edu or 858-534-5760.

Advisory Board

Grant Goodall, PhD

Director and Professor, Linguistics Language Program
University of California, San Diego

Marian Greenfield

Owner/Operator, Greensfield Translations
Past President & Chair of Professional Development, ATA

Judy Jenner, MBA

Owner/Operator, Twin Translations; Vice President, NITA
Author, Entrepreneurial Linguist column, The Chronicle, ATA

Mary Negrete, MA

Instructor, Translation and Interpretation
UC San Diego Extension

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