The content of this Pathway has been agreed by Instructus. This is the only Interpreting and Translation Apprenticeship Pathway in the Business & Management sector approved for use in Wales that is eligible for Medr funding.
Learning Programme Content
The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:
- Qualifications,
- Essential Skills
- On/off the job training
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 4 Pathway Interpreting is 59 credits.
The total minimum credit value required for the Level 4 Pathway Translation is 52 credits.
Entry requirements
Due to the level and complexity of this Apprenticeship Pathway, it is essential that learners come in with a minimum level of language skills. This can be demonstrated through one of the following:
- Minimum grade C A-Level in chosen language or equivalents ( BTEC Extended Diploma, IB Higher Language minimum 5)
- Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma (core plus principal learning) with a pass in the Core and a language A-level
- achievement of QCF Awards, Certificates or Diplomas Level 3 in modern languages
- achievement of a Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma with a Principal Learning Qualification, of which have underpinning language themes
Providers and employers are encouraged to accept appropriate alternatives to Qualifications when entering on to this apprenticeship to ensure equality of access for people with different learning styles. These alternatives include volunteering, employment, portfolios of evidence and completion of non-accredited courses.
Potential apprentices must be able to demonstrate the appropriate level of language skills in both their target and source languages. For interpreters these skills need to be oral and for translators the skills are required to be written.
Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)
Level 4: Interpreting
Level 4: Interpreting Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following combined qualification(s) below.
| Level 4 Diploma in Interpreting Practice | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| Agored Cymru | C00/0708/8 | 41 | 410 | Combined | English-Welsh |
Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualification.
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 4: Interpreting | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1 | 6 |
| Application of number | 1 | 6 |
| Digital literacy | 1 | 6 |
Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4: Interpreting | 336 | 186 |
On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
Level 4 Diploma in Interpreting Practice - 41 credits / 201 Hours
The total on and off the job training hours for this Pathway is 522 hours
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Communication
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Digital Literacy
Level 4: Translation
Level 4: Translation Qualifications
Participants must achieve one of the following combined qualification(s) below.
| Level 4 Certificate in Translation Practice | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarding Body | Qualification No. | Credit Value | Total Qualification Time | Combined / Competence / Knowledge | Qualification Assessment Lanaguage(s) |
| Agored Cymru | C00/0708/7 | 34 | 340 | Combined | English-Welsh |
Please see Annex 2 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge units within the combined qualification.
Essential Skills Wales (ESW)
| Level 4: Translation | Level | Minimum Credit Value |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1 | 6 |
| Application of number | 1 | 6 |
Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-
On/Off the Job training
| Pathway | Minimum On the Job Training Hours | Minimum Off the Job Training Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 4: Translation | 303 | 170 |
On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
Level 4 Diploma in Translation Practice - 34 credits / 185 Hours
The total on and off the job training hours for this Pathway is 473 hours
On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Communication
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number
- 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Digital Literacy
Progression
Level 4: Interpreting
Progression into this higher apprenticeship in Interpreting may be from a number of routes due to the varying backgrounds, past academic and work related experiences. Such routes will include having:
- achieved QCF Certificates or Diplomas at Level 3 in a chosen language
- achieved A-Levels
- achieved Extended Diploma
- achieved a Welsh Baccalaureate, including a pass in the Core
- worked in interpreting support roles
Learners will need to meet the Pathway entry requirements to progress into the Higher Apprenticeship in Interpreting.
Progression from the Higher Apprenticeship in Interpreting Apprentices wishing to further their careers in interpreting and achieve professional recognition can progress onto:
- a range of interpreting or interpreting related Professional Qualifications at level 5 and above
- higher education interpreting or language qualifications including university Degrees or Masters
- professional recognition through specialised qualifications such as, Police, public service or conference interpreting
With additional qualifications and experience apprentices will be able to progress their careers to more professional and senior roles, they may also gain status to become members of professional interpreting bodies and gain professional recognition.
Level 4: Translation
Progression into this higher apprenticeship in Translation may be from a number of routes due to the varying backgrounds, past academic and work related experiences. Such routes will include having:
- achieved QCF Certificates or Diplomas at Level 3 in a chosen language
- achieved A-Levels
- achieved Extended Diploma
- achieved a Welsh Baccalaureate, including a pass in the Core
- worked in interpreting support roles
Learners will need to meet the Pathway entry requirements to progress into the Higher Apprenticeship in Translation.
Progression from the Higher Apprenticeship in Translation Apprentices wishing to further their careers in translation and achieve professional recognition can progress onto:
- a range of translation or translation related Professional Qualifications at level 5 and above
- higher education translation or language qualifications including university Degrees or Masters
- professional recognition through specialised areas such as, literary, legal, medical, science or politics
With additional qualifications and experience apprentices will be able to progress their careers to more professional and senior roles, they may also gain status to become members of professional translation bodies and gain professional recognition.
Apprentices will work in job roles such as junior interpreter or junior translator.
Equality and diversity
It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.
The Protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.
Training providers and employers must also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics.
The identification of reliable information in relation to equality and diversity within the interpreting and translation occupations is problematic. However, there are certain inferences that can be drawn from the nature of the job roles. As the job roles of interpreter and translator involve the use of multiple languages (from multiple practitioners), it will inherently attract individuals with differing native languages, and so, from differing national, ethnic or racial backgrounds.
In addition to this, as there is a tendency in this area for employment to be on a contract or freelance basis, or through agencies – there are few interpreters and translators who work on a full-time basis – female employment in this area could be enabled; the predominance of work on this basis can enable women to balance child-care and family life with a career.
However, historically employment in these areas has predominantly come through study at Higher Education Institutions up to post-graduate level. This could disadvantage some individuals who may view the debt that comes with university study to be something that is not affordable. This apprenticeship can act as a means of opening up access to these professions through a route where apprentices can earn as they learn.
This apprenticeship will support the development of interpreting and translation skills across all age groups and sexes by providing a new entry route into interpreting and translation roles, with no barriers to entry.
Apprenticeships are perceived as a vital route to encouraging and facilitating talent in a diverse set of individuals. Entry conditions to this apprenticeship do not discriminate against any individuals, with the apprenticeship being open and accessible to all potential apprentices provided that they meet the general entry requirements.
Mentoring is also promoted within the apprenticeship to provide additional support and increase the chances of apprentices staying.
Skills CFA will monitor take up and achievement of all Apprenticeships and take steps to address any barriers to take up and achievement.
Employment responsibilities and rights
Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory. But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government/Medr Apprenticeships Guidance.
Further information may be obtained from: Medr
Annex 1 Interpreting - Level 4
Relationship between competence and knowledge qualifications
The Level 4 Diploma in Interpreting Practice includes both competence and knowledge units.
Learners must complete a minimum of 41 credits, all from mandatory units.
The requirement for at least 10 credits on the QCF for the knowledge element and 10 credits
for the competence element will be completed through the mandatory units. By completing the mandatory units the apprentice will achieve 15 credits for competence and 26 credits for knowledge:
- Ethics in interpreting and translation practice (9 credits knowledge)
- Principles of Language use and variation (6 credits knowledge)
- Develop and maintain interpreting skills (2 credits competence; 2 credits knowledge)
- Prepare for interpreting commissions (2 credits competence; 2 credits knowledge)
- Interpret one and two-way (4 credits competence; 4 credits knowledge)
- Enhancing own performance as an interpreter (4 credits competence; 1 credit knowledge)
- Work in a team of interpreters (3 credits competence; 2 credits knowledge)
As part of the evidence requirements for Apprenticeship Completion certification, a copy of a completed, current Apprentice certificate claim form must be uploaded to ACW
Please note: those who have already achieved competence and/or knowledge qualifications prior to this Apprenticeship must select options which will equip them with new skills and prior to this Apprenticeship must select options which will equip them with new skills and learning.
Annex 2 Translation - Level 4
Relationship between competence and knowledge qualifications
The Level 4 Diploma in Translation Practice includes both competence and knowledge units.
Learners must complete a minimum of 34 credits, all from mandatory units.
The requirement for at least 10 credits on the QCF for the knowledge element and 10 credits
for the competence element will be completed through the mandatory units. By completing the following mandatory units the apprentice will achieve 12 credits for competence and 22 credits for knowledge:
- Ethics in interpreting and translation practice (9 credits knowledge)
- Principles of Language use and variation (6 credits knowledge)
- Develop and maintain translation skills (3 credits competence; 2 credits knowledge)
- Manage translation commissions (3 credits competence)
- Translate written texts (4 credits competence; 3 credits knowledge)
- Enhancing own performance as a translator (2 credits competence; 2 credit knowledge)
As part of the evidence requirements for Apprenticeship Completion certification, a copy of a completed, current Apprentice certificate claim form must be uploaded to ACW (http://acwcerts.co.uk).
Please note: those who have already achieved competence and/or knowledge qualifications prior to this Apprenticeship must select options which will equip them with new skills and prior to this Apprenticeship must select options which will equip them with new skills and learning.