ISO 17100 vs EN 15038: What Changed and Why It Matters in 2026

If you have been in the translation industry for more than a decade, you likely remember EN 15038 — the European standard for translation services that was, for many years, the benchmark for quality in the profession. Today, however, EN 15038 is obsolete. It was withdrawn in 2015 when ISO 17100:2015 was published, and any agency still claiming "EN 15038 compliance" is citing a standard that no longer exists.

This article explains the history, what actually changed, and what procurement teams and LSPs need to know in 2026.

A Brief History: From EN 15038 to ISO 17100

EN 15038 was published in 2006 by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It was the first pan-European standard specifically addressing translation services, covering translator competencies, workflow requirements, and quality assurance processes. For European LSPs, EN 15038 certification became a recognised mark of professionalism and was widely referenced in procurement documents across the EU.

However, EN 15038 had limitations. It was a European standard, not a global one. Translation is an inherently international industry, and the lack of a globally recognised benchmark was a genuine gap. The ISO Technical Committee responsible for translation-related standards (ISO/TC 37) took up the challenge of creating an international equivalent.

In May 2015, ISO 17100:2015 was published. Following ISO's standard practice, national standards bodies across Europe (including BSI in the UK, DIN in Germany, and AFNOR in France) simultaneously withdrew their national adoptions of EN 15038. The European standard was effectively replaced in its entirety.

Key Differences: EN 15038 vs ISO 17100

Aspect	EN 15038 (2006)	ISO 17100:2015
Scope	European regional standard	International standard (190+ countries)
Translator competency	Required recognised qualification or equivalent	More detailed competency criteria; five-year experience route formalised
Revision requirement	Required, but less prescriptive	Explicitly requires a second qualified linguist; reviser qualification documented
Technology	Minimal reference to CAT tools/TM	Addresses translation technology, TM management, and terminology tools
Pre-production	Basic feasibility checks	Formalised pre-production including specification analysis and resource planning
Documentation requirements	Less prescriptive	More structured; aligns with ISO 9001 quality management principles
Status in 2026	Withdrawn / Obsolete	Current and valid

In terms of the core workflow requirements — translation by a qualified translator, followed by revision by a second qualified linguist, then review — the two standards are broadly similar. The main advances in ISO 17100 are:

• Internationalisation — Recognition beyond Europe; now used in procurement globally
• Technology acknowledgement — Addresses the reality of modern translation workflows using CAT tools and translation memories
• Harmonisation with ISO management system principles — Making ISO 17100 compatible with ISO 9001 and other management system standards in integrated audits
• Clearer competency pathways — More explicit guidance on how to document and assess translator qualifications

Is EN 15038 Still Valid in 2026?

No. EN 15038 was officially withdrawn in 2015. It cannot be newly certified against, and no accredited certification body issues EN 15038 certificates. Any agency claiming EN 15038 certification for work completed after 2015 should be treated with scepticism — either they are citing an outdated credential that was issued before withdrawal, or they are misrepresenting their certification status.

Procurement teams and enterprise buyers should check that translation vendors hold current ISO 17100 certification from an accredited body. EN 15038 references in tender responses in 2026 indicate that a vendor's quality credentials have not been updated in over a decade.

It is worth noting that some agencies that held EN 15038 certification did transition their certification to ISO 17100 in 2015–2017. Those agencies hold valid credentials. The issue arises when EN 15038 is cited as a current qualification rather than historical context.

What Clients and Procurement Teams Look for Now

In 2026, enterprise buyers and government procurement officers looking for quality assurance in translation services will look for:

• ISO 17100:2015 certification — The primary quality standard for translation services. Certification from an accredited body (not merely "compliance") is the expected evidence.
• ISO 27001 for sensitive content — Government, legal, medical, and financial clients increasingly require demonstrated information security management alongside translation quality certification.
• ISO 18587 for MTPE work — Agencies offering machine translation post-editing as a service are expected to reference ISO 18587 in addition to or instead of ISO 17100 for that workflow.
• Accreditation body transparency — Professional buyers check that the issuing certification body is legitimately accredited. BALTUM Bureau, which powers TranslationCert, operates with full transparency on its certification scope and processes.

Practical Guidance for LSPs

If your agency is still operating under EN 15038 credentials or has not yet obtained ISO 17100 certification, here is what to do:

1. Stop referencing EN 15038 — Remove all EN 15038 references from your website, marketing materials, and tender responses. It creates a negative impression with informed buyers.
2. Assess your ISO 17100 readiness — Most agencies that held EN 15038 certification already have the core processes in place for ISO 17100. A gap assessment typically reveals only minor documentation updates are needed.
3. Certify with an accredited body — TranslationCert, powered by BALTUM Bureau, provides ISO 17100 certification with a fully online audit process. The transition from a prior EN 15038 baseline is typically straightforward.
4. Update your procurement documentation — Once certified, update all tender templates, vendor questionnaire responses, and quality documentation to reference ISO 17100:2015.

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