Magistrad

What Magistrad does

Magistrad is a Quebec-based professional translation continuing education school founded in 2006 by François Lavallée (trad. a.) and headquartered at 2153, route Marie-Victorin, Lévis (Québec), Canada. The company delivers approximately 100 courses covering general and specialized translation, revision, content writing, and translation-business launch topics through its proprietary Epekho online learning platform, supported by a bench of roughly twenty highly qualified trainers. Until April 2020 the school operated exclusively in person; the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a full pivot to online delivery via Zoom for synchronous sessions and self-paced recorded video for asynchronous courses, with replay access to live sessions retained for several weeks on the Epekho platform.

The product surface consists of a self-serve online catalog (catalog, course calendar, trainer profiles, enrollment, and attestation), synchronous live instructor-led courses on Zoom, asynchronous self-paced video courses with no expiration, and a private group-training offering for organizations and associations with customized scheduling and fixed pricing. Magistrad has held official American Translators Association recognition as an approved Continuing Education Points provider since May 3, 2007 (7 CE points for one-day courses, 10 for two-day courses), and operates mutual-discount partnerships with RTE (15% off for members) and OTTIAQ (10% off for members) to channel association members into its catalog.

Magistrad generates revenue through one-time per-course registration fees priced in Canadian dollars: $200 CAD for a 4-hour short format and $275 CAD for a 7-hour standard format, with the member-discount schedule noted above. The school records approximately 1,500 enrollments per year and self-describes a long-tail customer base of practicing professional translators, translation students, and self-taught translators across Canada, Europe, the United States, and French-speaking Africa. In 2024 Magistrad was acquired by Traductions Hermès; the school remains privately held and continues to operate under its existing brand and management structure with no disclosed funding rounds and no publicly available revenue figures.

Name

Magistrad

Legal name

Magistrad

Website

https://magistrad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magistrad is a Quebec-based professional translation continuing education school offering approximately 100 courses via its proprietary Epekho platform, serving around 1,500 practicing translators, revisers, and translation students annually across Canada, Europe, the United States, and French-speaking Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Translation Training

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAEAF

Language & Communication Continuing Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAGAKAD

eLearning & Microlearning Module Development

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Design & Content Development Services

Keywords

• Translation training courses
• Translator continuing education
• Translation professional development
• Translation certification courses
• Translator skill development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lévis

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Course Registration Fees: Revenue generated from individual course enrollments. Each course has a one-time registration fee that provides access to the live session and its replay. No subscription model is indicated; students pay per course. Discounts available for members of RTE (15%) and OTTIAQ (10%).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Magistrad is a professional translation continuing education school offering approximately 100 specialized courses for practicing translators, revisers, and translation students, covering general and specialized translation, revision, content writing, and business launch. Courses are delivered in three formats—synchronous live sessions via Zoom, asynchronous self-paced video, and recorded replays of live sessions—through its proprietary Epekho learning platform. Private customized group training is also offered for organizations, associations, and companies at agreed locations and schedules.

Product overview

Magistrad is a professional translation training school offering approximately 100 courses through two primary delivery channels: the Epekho Learning Platform (for asynchronous and replay content) and live synchronous sessions via Zoom. The course catalog includes offerings in general and specialized translation, revision, content writing, and business development for translators. Additional services include a public course calendar for scheduling and private group training options. The school serves approximately 1,500 students annually with a roster of about 20 trainers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Epekho: The online learning management platform (catalog and course delivery system) used by Magistrad for its course catalog, trainer profiles, and registration (e.g., https://epekho.magistrad.com/catalog).

Products and services

• Magistrad Translation Training Course Catalog A catalog of approximately 100 specialized courses for professional translators, revisers, and translation students, covering general and specialized translation, revision, content writing, and business launch topics. Delivered through the Epekho platform in synchronous live sessions (via Zoom), asynchronous self-paced video recordings, and replay formats with automatic enrollment access to replays of live sessions.
• Private Group Training Customized training sessions delivered to pre-formed groups (translation agency staff, corporate teams, association members) at a location of their choice or online, with flexible scheduling and fixed pricing negotiated directly with Magistrad.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATA Continuing Education Points recognized since May 3, 2007: 7 points for one-day courses, 10 points for two-day courses

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Traductions HermèscoreOthers · 1 January 2024Magistrad was acquired by Traductions Hermès in 2024. This acquisition represents a strategic expansion for Magistrad, strengthening its position in the translation training industry while maintaining its brand and operations.
• American Translators Association (ATA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007ATA officially recognized Magistrad as a source of Continuous Education Points on May 3, 2007. One-day courses qualify for 7 CE points and two-day courses for 10 points. Students must apply through ATA's standard process to receive points.
• Réseau des traducteurs et traductrices en éducation (RTE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRTE members receive a 15% discount on all Magistrad courses. Conversely, anyone registered for a RTE activity receives a discount if they have completed at least one Magistrad course in the preceding twelve months.
• Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et интерпретаторов accrédités du Québec (OTTIAQ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOTTIAQ members receive a 10% discount on all Magistrad courses by using a promotional code obtained from the Order.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wordfast: Wordfast is a CAT-tool vendor that provides training, certification, and tutorials for translators using its platform. It targets the same translator CE market as Magistrad with a more tool-focused curriculum.
• MemoQ (Kilgray) Training: MemoQ offers certified training programs for translators using its CAT tool, serving the same working translator population as Magistrad but focused specifically on MemoQ platform proficiency rather than translation methodology.
• Lionbridge (now RWS) Training: Lionbridge, now part of RWS, has historically offered translator training and certification tied to its localization services. It serves an overlapping translator population but at enterprise scale rather than individual professional CE.
• RWS (SDL Trados training): RWS owns SDL Trados and provides CAT-tool training and certification for translators worldwide. It is a broader incumbent offering training to the same translator base as Magistrad, although its focus is on tooling rather than translation craft and business skills.

Emerging players

• National Center for Interpretation (University of Arizona): The University of Arizona's NCI offers specialized interpretation and translation training programs for working language professionals. It competes with Magistrad for the same audience of practicing linguists, though primarily in interpretation rather than written translation.
• Smartling Training Resources: Smartling is a translation management platform that publishes educational content and certification for translators working in its ecosystem. It targets a more tech-forward segment of the translator market but overlaps with Magistrad on professional upskilling.

Direct peers

• TranslatorsCafe: TranslatorsCafe is a translator community and resource portal that hosts articles, training resources, and forums targeted at working translators. It overlaps with Magistrad in providing educational content and community to professional translators.
• ProZ.com: ProZ.com is the largest online community for professional translators and offers training events, webinars, and powwows alongside its directory and job marketplace. It competes directly with Magistrad for the continuing-education time and budget of the same professional translator audience.

Others

• American Translators Association (ATA): ATA is the principal US translator association that runs its own webinars, workshops, and conferences awarding CE points — Magistrad is an approved ATA CE provider, putting ATA itself in a partly overlapping position as a provider of translator continuing education.
• Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ): OTTIAQ is the Quebec professional order for translators and offers its own training activities to its members. Magistrad has a partnership rather than direct competition with OTTIAQ, but OTTIAQ is an adjacent provider of translator CE in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/magistrad_plus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbc4sUkBa2uafokVSwCF2rQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MagistradMagistrad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magistrad

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Magistrad