ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard titled Translation services — Requirements for translation services. It defines how Translation Service Providers (TSPs) of any size should organize people, technology, and workflows so translation work is consistent, reviewed, and traceable.
If buyers, regulators, or enterprise RFPs ask whether your quality system is “ISO 17100 ready,” they usually want proof of owned processes—not a marketing claim. That means documented competence, mandatory revision by a second qualified person, client agreements, confidentiality controls, and evidence you can show an auditor.
This guide covers:
- What ISO 17100:2015 is and who TSPs are
- What sits in scope vs out of scope (interpreting, raw MT + post-editing)
- The core process stages: resources, pre-production, production, post-production
- Practical benefits and how certification typically works
GIF via GIPHY
Related guides:
- Who needs ISO 17100 certification?
- ISO 17100 vs ISO 9001: what's the difference?
- ISO 17100 requirements: a complete breakdown
- ISO 17100 translator and reviser competence requirements
- ISO 17100 collection
Key takeaways
- ISO 17100:2015 sets requirements for translation services delivered by Translation Service Providers—not a general IT or security certification.
- Interpreting is out of scope, and raw machine translation with post-editing is typically addressed under ISO 18587, not treated as full ISO 17100 translation production.
- Mandatory revision by a second qualified person (reviser ≠ translator on that job) is a defining production control.
- In many markets, ISO 17100 has replaced EN 15038 in practice as the buyer-facing quality signal for TSPs.
- Certification is issued by accredited certification bodies; costs and timelines vary by size and scope—plan evidence ownership early.
What is ISO 17100:2015?
ISO 17100:2015 is a process and competence standard for organizations that provide translation services. It expects TSPs to define how work is accepted, planned, translated, revised, optionally reviewed or proofread, verified, delivered, and improved after feedback.
Unlike a general quality management system such as ISO 9001, ISO 17100 is translation-specific. It names roles (translator, reviser, project manager, and related resources), qualification routes, and production steps buyers can recognize in RFPs and supplier assessments.
For many language service providers, ISO 17100 became the practical successor signal to EN 15038—the earlier European standard many markets used before the ISO text became the common reference.
| Topic | What ISO 17100:2015 typically means in practice |
|---|---|
| Primary subject | Requirements for translation services |
| Audience | Translation Service Providers of any size |
| Core promise | Controlled process + competent people + traceable delivery |
| Certification | Optional third-party certification via accredited bodies |
| Not a substitute for | Legal advice, sector regulation, or linguistic certification of individuals as a standalone credential |
SecureSlate’s angle for TSPs is operational: policies, ownership, confidentiality and security workflows, and audit-ready evidence. The platform does not replace linguistic certification or the need for qualified translators and revisers.
Who are Translation Service Providers?
A Translation Service Provider (TSP) is any organization that supplies translation services—agencies, multi-vendor LSPs, boutique specialists, and in some cases in-house translation departments that operate as an internal service unit.
Size is not the barrier. A small specialized TSP and a global LSP can both align to ISO 17100 if they can demonstrate the required resources and process controls for the services in scope.
Common TSP profiles:
- Full-service LSPs serving enterprise content, legal, life sciences, or product localization
- Niche agencies focused on one domain or language pair set
- In-house translation departments that behave like an internal TSP for product, legal, or customer content
- Hybrid models that combine staff linguists with vetted freelancers under TSP-managed processes
If you are deciding whether certification is worth pursuing for your model, see Who needs ISO 17100 certification?.
Scope and what ISO 17100 does not cover
Getting scope right prevents wasted implementation effort and awkward auditor conversations.
Typically in scope
- Human translation services delivered under a controlled TSP process
- Related TSP resources: human competences, technical tools, and project management
- Pre-production, production, and post-production activities for translation projects
- Client agreements, confidentiality expectations, feedback handling, and corrective action
Typically out of scope / separately addressed
- Interpreting (spoken/signed communication services)
- Raw machine translation followed by post-editing as a production model covered by ISO 18587 (MTPE), rather than treated as the same as full ISO 17100 human translation production
| Service type | Usually under ISO 17100:2015? | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Human translation with reviser | Yes (core) | Revisers must be a different qualified person |
| Project management for translation jobs | Yes | PM competence and process ownership matter |
| Interpreting | No | Keep out of ISO 17100 scope statements |
| Raw MT + post-editing | Outside ISO 17100 translation scope | Look to ISO 18587 for MTPE requirements |
| General quality system only | Not sufficient alone | Pair with ISO 9001 if buyers expect both |
Write your scope statement so sales, operations, and auditors describe the same services. Ambiguous “we do localization” language often hides interpreting or MTPE streams that need separate handling.
Core process stages under ISO 17100
ISO 17100 organizes TSP work into four practical areas. Teams that implement the standard as a living operating system—not a binder—usually map owners and evidence to each stage.
Resources (human and technical)
You need competent people and fit-for-purpose tools. That includes translators, revisers, project managers, and technical resources (CAT tools, terminology systems, secure file transfer, and related infrastructure). Competence rules for translators and revisers are detailed in ISO 17100 translator and reviser competence requirements.
Pre-production
Before translation starts, TSPs typically confirm client requirements, analyze source material, assess feasibility, plan resources, and agree commercial and confidentiality terms. Weak pre-production is a common root cause of later quality escapes.
Production
Production is where ISO 17100 is most distinctive: translation by a qualified translator, then mandatory revision by a second qualified person. Optional or client-driven steps may include review, proofreading, and final verification before delivery—depending on agreement and risk.
Post-production
After delivery, TSPs handle feedback, complaints, corrective action, and records that support continual improvement and future audits.
For a clause-by-clause style operational breakdown, use ISO 17100 requirements: a complete breakdown.
| Stage | Typical owner | Evidence auditors commonly expect |
|---|---|---|
| Resources | Ops / HR / IT | Competence files, tool inventories, access controls |
| Pre-production | Project management | Specs, feasibility notes, signed agreements |
| Production | Linguistic leads / PMs | Job records showing translator ≠ reviser |
| Post-production | Quality / account leads | Feedback logs, CAPA, closed-loop records |
Competence at a glance
ISO 17100 does not treat “years in the industry” as an informal vibe check. Translator qualification typically requires at least one of:
- A graduate degree in translation, linguistics, or language studies
- Another graduate degree plus two years of professional translation experience
- Five years of full-time professional translation experience
Revisers need translator-level competences plus domain experience relevant to the content. On a given job, the reviser is not the same person who translated the text.
Keep competence evidence current: CVs, diplomas or degree evidence, experience attestations, domain samples, NDA acknowledgements, and assignment records that prove separation of roles.
Benefits of aligning with ISO 17100:2015
Organizations pursue ISO 17100 for commercial and operational reasons:
- Buyer trust: RFPs and vendor security/quality questionnaires often list ISO 17100 as a preferred or required signal.
- Process consistency: Shared stages reduce “hero translator” dependency and undocumented shortcuts.
- Risk reduction: Mandatory revision and clearer agreements catch terminology, factual, and register issues earlier.
- Confidentiality discipline: Client content handling becomes an owned workflow, not an email habit.
- Audit readiness: When records have owners and retention rules, surveillance audits are less disruptive.
ISO 17100 will not, by itself, prove your information security posture. Many TSPs still need complementary security and privacy programs (for example ISO 27001) when clients share regulated or highly confidential source content. SecureSlate helps teams keep policies, ownership, and evidence organized so quality and confidentiality workflows stay reviewable.
How certification typically works
Certification is voluntary and performed by accredited certification bodies. Programs typically involve documenting your management system, implementing it on live work, closing gaps, then undergoing audit. Surveillance audits commonly follow to maintain the certificate.
Costs vary by organizational size, number of sites, language/domain scope, and readiness. Do not rely on generic “penalty” figures—nonconformities and commercial consequences depend on your contracts and certification body findings. For planning next steps, see:
- ISO 17100 certification checklist
- How to get ISO 17100 certified: step-by-step
- How much does ISO 17100 certification cost?
- ISO 17100 audit: what auditors look for
Streamline ISO 17100 readiness with SecureSlate
ISO 17100 readiness fails when competence files, job records, NDAs, and corrective actions live in disconnected folders. SecureSlate helps TSPs operationalize policies, ownership, confidentiality workflows, and audit evidence—without claiming to replace linguistic certification or reviser judgment.
With SecureSlate you can:
- Assign owners for resources, pre-production, production, and post-production controls
- Centralize policies for confidentiality, client agreements, and quality escalation
- Track evidence for competence, role separation (translator ≠ reviser), and closed feedback loops
- Prepare audit packs so Stage and surveillance reviews pull from a living system
- Reuse security-adjacent controls when buyers also ask about access, vendors, and data handling
FAQ: ISO 17100:2015
What does ISO 17100:2015 stand for?
It is the ISO standard Translation services — Requirements for translation services (2015 edition), used by Translation Service Providers to define process and competence requirements.
Does ISO 17100 cover interpreting?
No. Interpreting is typically outside ISO 17100 scope. Keep interpreting services out of your ISO 17100 scope statement unless your certification body explicitly advises otherwise for a related scheme.
Does ISO 17100 cover machine translation post-editing?
Raw MT with post-editing is generally outside the core ISO 17100 translation production model; ISO 18587 is the usual reference for MTPE. Confirm how hybrid workflows are described in your procedures and client agreements.
Is ISO 17100 mandatory by law?
Typically no. It is a voluntary international standard. It may become a contractual or procurement expectation in RFPs and regulated supply chains.
How is ISO 17100 different from EN 15038?
EN 15038 was a widely used European predecessor. In many markets, ISO 17100:2015 is now the common buyer and certification reference that replaced EN 15038 in practice.
Can a freelancer get ISO 17100 certified?
Certification is aimed at TSPs as organizations. Solo freelancers may struggle to demonstrate full TSP processes (especially independent revision). Many freelancers instead work inside certified TSP systems. See Who needs ISO 17100 certification?.
Disclaimer (legal note)
SecureSlate is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute legal advice, certification advice, or an attorney-client relationship. ISO 17100:2015 interpretation, certification scope, and contractual obligations vary by organization, market, and certification body. Confirm requirements with qualified counsel and your auditor or accredited certification body before making compliance or certification decisions.
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