translation
Certifications & Qualifications
To demonstrate the quality of its translations objectively, ip-pro pursues certification under international standards and encourages its translators to earn professional qualifications.
ISO 17100 certification
ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation service providers (TSP). It sets out the requirements for delivering translation services — the competences and qualifications of translators, the process (including revision by someone other than the translator), facilities and resources, and the management of projects and their progress.
ip-pro holds ISO 17100 certification in the patent and IP field (Japanese-English and English-Japanese), and works in accordance with the requirements the standard sets.
Translator requirements defined by ISO 17100
ISO 17100:2015, the international standard for translation services, defines the qualifications a translator must meet.
A degree in translation from a higher education institution
A degree from a higher education institution in a field other than translation, plus two or more years of hands-on translation experience
Five or more years of hands-on translation experience
A translator registration system is also in place. For patent translation, those who pass Grade 1 of the Intellectual Property Translation Examination held by the Japan Intellectual Property Translation Association qualify as Senior Professional Translators, and those who pass Grade 2 qualify as Professional Translators.
Qualifications and certifications
ip-pro also recognizes the need to demonstrate translation quality objectively. Each of our in-house staff members holds externally recognized qualifications in intellectual property rights and in language.
Intellectual Property Translation Examination
ip-pro encourages its staff to sit and pass the Intellectual Property Translation Examination administered by the Japan Intellectual Property Translation Association (NIPTA), a specified nonprofit corporation. Grade 1 in particular is regarded as demanding, and few candidates pass. As of 2026, our certified passes are as follows.
Technical English Proficiency Test (Gijutsu Eiken)
The Technical English Proficiency Test, administered by the Japan Society for Technical Communication, assesses English proficiency in the fields of science and technology. It offers an objective measure of the accurate, clear, and concise English that technical documents demand — the foundational skills behind technical translation, including patent specifications. ip-pro encourages its staff to sit and pass it as well.