“Expert” is a title regulated and protected by law in France.
Using the title of “Expert”, if not certified to do so, is an offence punishable by one-year imprisonment, a fine of up to fifteen thousand Euros, and a complementary five-year ban from teaching in the profession.
A certified translation is a translation intended for an authority or an administration. It is carried out by an authorized translator abiding by specific rules and formalities. By signing and stamping it, the translator is swearing an oath to the authority concerned. He asserts that his translation is true to the meaning of the original document.
The rules governing the status of “Expert” and the requirements attached to certified translations are not clearly established at national level. As a consequence, abusers take advantage of the blurred lines around these notions. Don’t allow this to happen to you!
Recently, the SFT published a leaflet with guidelines establishing Good Practice regarding certified translations. Although it has not been translated yet, please have a look at it by clicking here.
