A plain-English guide to the standards that show up in translation RFPs — what each one certifies, what it does not, and how to read a certification claim.
View references (3) ↓- Different standards, different scopes
- What to check against the service you are buying
- Read the current certificate, not a slogan
Different standards, different scopes
ISO 9001 concerns a quality management system. ISO 17100 concerns specified translation services, resources and processes. ISO 18587:2017 concerns full human post-editing of machine-translation output. Certification is issued by a certification body, not by ISO itself.
The scopes are not interchangeable. In particular, ISO 17100:2015 excludes raw machine-translation output followed by post-editing. Do not describe an AI draft plus editing as ISO 17100-certified simply because the company holds that certificate.
What to check against the service you are buying
A certificate concerns a stated holder and scope; it does not approve an individual translation or your product. Ask which process applies to this project, what the reviewer does and how acceptance is recorded.
For machine-translation post-editing, ISO 18587 is a relevant reference for a full human post-editing process. It does not automatically apply to light editing or every AI-assisted task. Angel’s published scans establish ISO 17100:2015 and ISO 9001:2015 certificates, not an ISO 18587 certificate.
| Standard | Scope to discuss | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system and certified scope. | Not product approval or a guarantee of error-free translation. |
| ISO 17100:2015 | Specified translation processes, resources and revision requirements. | Excludes raw MT output followed by post-editing and interpreting. |
| ISO 18587:2017 | Full human post-editing and post-editor competence. | Not proof that a particular vendor holds certification. |
Read the current certificate, not a slogan
Our published scans identify ANGEL TRANSLATION CORPORATION, ISO 17100:2015 certificate 20138-UK and ISO 9001:2015 certificate 195947-UK, issued by Bureau Veritas Certification Holding SAS – UK Branch. The printed scope is provision of translation and localization services, and the displayed cycle runs from 29 November 2025 to 28 November 2028.
See the certificate scans and procurement checks for holder, dates and scope. Historical cycle dates do not establish uninterrupted certification under each named standard. Ask for current verification when procurement requires it.
Review and QA reporting remain part of the agreed service level. A certification claim does not add full expert review or a QA report to a tier that does not include them.
Questions
Is ISO 17100 better than ISO 9001?
Does a certification guarantee my translation will be correct?
We use AI drafting — which standard is relevant?
Does a vendor’s certification cover its freelancers?
Sources
- ISO 17100:2015 — scope of translation servicesOfficial scope; excludes raw machine-translation output followed by post-editing and excludes interpreting.
- ISO 18587:2017 — full human post-editingOfficial scope and post-editor competence. A reference to this standard is not a claim that Angel holds this certification.
- ISO — certificationISO develops standards; independent certification bodies issue certificates. Verify holder, scope, version and validity.