OBJECTIVES: Non-technical skills (NTS) refer to social, cognitive, interpersonal and emotional skills, and are seen as important contributor in reducing adverse events and improving medical management in healthcare teams. The objectives of the present study was to review the existing literature on translation guidelines and to establish translation and cross-cultural adaptation guidelines for NTS rating scales. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic online database search of Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Firstly, the authors used the keywords “non-technical skills” alone and in combination with “translation”, “evaluation methods”, “cross-cultural adaptation”, “guidelines”, “translation guidelines”, and “assessment” with no time limitations. Secondly, the authors used the keywords “translation, cross-cultural adaptation” to find guidelines on the translation and cross-cultural adaptation for rating scales published in the preceding 10 years. Finally, the authors then synthesized the results into translation and cross-cultural adaptation guidelines for NTS rating scales. RESULTS:  Together the searches found 12 distinct guidelines. The authors combined the most widely used guidelines. The proposed guidelines for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the NTS rating scales consist of two forward-translations by two independent translators who are native-speakers of the language of the target population, a synthesis of these two versions, and a back-translation by at least one translator fluent in the language of the original instrument and familiar with the culture of the target language. Thereafter, a back-translation panel reviews the back-translation, and a multidisciplinary committee reviews the overall process. This latter group then harmonizes the produced version with other cross-culturally adapted versions of the instrument. The pre-final version then undergoes pilot-testing, including cognitive debriefing, with at least five evaluators. Finally, the committee reviews the outcomes and has the final version proofread. CONCLUSIONS: The present study produced structured guidelines for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the NTS rating scales, thereby filling a methodological gap.