text: It just depends... in the past, all that was needed was bi-lingualism, and a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time. In the modern day, some regulation is being brought to the art... I think Bath runs an MA in translation that's supposed to be really good, I've just finished Newcastle university's MA in translation studies... there are professional associations as well, from memory I think the ILT is the British one, the Institute of Linguists and Translators- I think they have their own tests. To do free-lance work, you don't need any of this- http://www.translatorsbase.com is one example of a website which you pay a registration fee for, and then you can bid on projects that conform to your speciality. \n\nI think free-lance can be a bit rough though- from what I've read, to make a living from it, you need to be working in a disciplined manner throughout the week, translating thousands of words a day, and your income is based upon how much you can put out- maybe you're talented enough for that, I don't know... I mean, talent and language ability is a big part of translation, but you can learn a lot about theory as well, either on a course, or through your own research. I'm aiming for an in-house post, I mean, in some company where senior staff will be able to offer guidance and advice, and I think the MA's going to be a boon in that...\n\nI think there are quite a few options available in post-graduate courses, and possibly shorter courses offered by other institutions as well.  I'd encourage you to think about it. For one thing, you can learn tips about the trade that you may not think of if you start freelance straight off, and have  your work looked at by people with experience at the kind of jobs you're aiming for on a weekly basis. Secondly, it raises the bar. Compared to other professions, there is a feeling that translation and interpreting is not fully fledged as yet, and income is relatively lower. Of course, I'm a bit biased having just come off the course, but I think it's helped a lot. Being in groups with other translation students is pretty helpful, you can learn from other people's style, everyone benefits.