Overview
ISO/TS 6253:2024 - Requirements and recommendations for training programmes in community interpreting - is a Technical Specification from ISO that defines core competences and guidance for designing, delivering and assessing community interpreting training programmes. Applicable to both spoken and signed languages, the standard covers modes such as consecutive interpreting, simultaneous (including whispered) interpreting and sight translation. It also identifies the core competences expected of educators, language tutors and interpreting tutors who deliver such programmes.
Key topics and requirements
The document sets out requirements and recommendations across the following technical areas:
- General competences for community interpreters (professional standards and conduct).
- Constituent elements of training programmes, including:
- Linguistic competences (language command, registers).
- Interpreting competences: foundations, practice, skills, ethical guidelines and codes of conduct.
- Information acquisition competences (research, terminology preparation).
- Interpersonal and intercultural competences (communication, cultural mediation).
- Technical competences (use of interpreting equipment and remote platforms).
- Business practices relevant to community interpreters.
- Competences and qualifications for educators: general expectations, education and relevant experience for interpreter educators.
- Guidance for language tutors and interpreting tutors who support learners.
- Definitions and terminology aligned with existing ISO vocabularies (e.g., ISO 20539).
- Annex material (informative) on interpreting models and a bibliography.
Note: ISO/TS 6253:2024 contains no normative references and is intended to complement - not replace - post-secondary qualification frameworks; it does not set academic staff or administrator qualifications for higher education institutions.
Practical applications
ISO/TS 6253:2024 is practical for organizations involved in interpreter education and workforce development:
- Designing or updating community interpreting curricula and learning outcomes.
- Benchmarking and assessing training programmes for comparability and quality assurance.
- Recruiting, hiring and specifying professional development for interpreter educators, tutors and trainers.
- Guiding language service providers (LSPs), public-sector bodies, healthcare organizations, legal services and NGOs that commission or deliver community interpreting services.
- Supporting continuing professional development (CPD) planning for working interpreters.
Who should use this standard
- Interpreter educators and training institutions
- Language service providers and platform operators
- Public-sector organizations (healthcare, social services, law enforcement)
- Curriculum developers and accreditation bodies
- Community interpreters seeking professional benchmarks
Related standards
Use ISO/TS 6253:2024 alongside:
Keywords: community interpreting training, interpreter education, interpreting competences, ISO/TS 6253:2024, signed language interpreting, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, sight translation.