Virginia Board of Accountancy: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about VBOA

VBOA requirements in detail

The order that works in Virginia

Virginia reverses the usual sequence at the end: the firm may send its evaluation only after your official VBOA application exists (VBOA education evaluation firms).

The translation comes first, since the firm needs it to evaluate records not in English; then the evaluation; then your application; then the firm's report to VBOA.

If you have the report sent to you, keep it sealed until VBOA receives it (VBOA education evaluation firms).

VBOA leaves it to you to confirm that the report contains what Virginia requires, including which courses are upper- and lower-level (VBOA education evaluation firms). The Board's education requirements page explains the course content (VBOA education requirements).

Translation rules across the six firms

ECE accepts any complete, literal translation, or translates internally for its report for an added fee (ECE). IERF accepts outside translations but may require professional ones (IERF).

NIES accepts ATA members, universities and ministries, not private providers outside the US (NIES). ACEI and Josef Silny take US translations only from ATA-certified translators (ACEI, JS&A); for those, see the ATA section below.

Documents applicants usually translate

• University transcripts or mark sheets
• Degree certificates and diplomas
• Records showing which courses are upper-level

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to VBOA

• The translation goes to the evaluation firm with your records, following the firm's instructions; the firm sends the evaluation to VBOA once your application is on file (VBOA education evaluation firms).

• eVerbary can mail the translation to the firm in a sealed, signed envelope: choose the hard copy at checkout with the firm's address ($19.95 Priority or $37.95 Express in the US) and write in the order notes that it is for the Virginia CPA evaluation.

If you need a translator certified by ATA

Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for VBOA, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).

We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.

For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions