The Court Interpreters Program (CIP) seeks to improve court interpreter services and administration to ensure that courts provide qualified interpreters to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and non-English-speaking persons. The services provided by this program extend to spoken and sign language interpreter recruitment, certification, education, and discipline.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding certification requirements, testing, and employment.

The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch joined the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Court Interpreter Consortium Program in 2001. The Consortium is a program administered by the National Center for State Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia on behalf of the state courts systems in the United States. It was created as a way to develop court interpreter proficiency tests, make them available to member states, and regulate the use of the tests.

Resources for Interpreters by the National Center for State Courts. The mission of NCSC is to improve the administration of justice through leadership and service to state courts, and courts around the world.

All court interpreters candidates for all foreign languages and for the deaf must complete an orientation session conducted by the Administrative Office of the Courts as the first step in the qualification and registration process to become certified court interpreters in the State of Delaware. A written examination is the second step in the credentialing process.

The FCICE program was created and implemented in direct response to the Court Interpreters Act of 1978. Since 1980, the mission of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination program (FCICE) has been to define criteria for certifying interpreters qualified to interpret in federal courts and to assist the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) in maintaining a list of federally certified court interpreters.

The State Courts System has developed a statewide program to assist judges and trial court administrators in assessing the qualifications of court interpreters. This program includes the use of written and oral language qualifications examinations.

Language interpreters play an essential role in the administration of justice. The Hawai'i state courts use interpreters when a party or witness in a court case has limited-English proficiency or is unable to hear, understand, speak or use English sufficiently to effectively participate in court proceedings. Interpreters help such persons have equal access to justice and help court proceedings function efficiently and effectively.

The Indiana Court Interpreter Program is the result of an interim recommendation made to the Supreme Court by the Indiana Commission on Race and Gender Fairness. At the request of the Supreme Court, in 2000, the Indiana General Assembly funded the Indiana Supreme Court Commission on Race and Gender Fairness to investigate ways to improve race and gender fairness in the courts, legal system among legal service providers, state and local governments, and among public organizations.

Skilled court interpreters are an essential part of the Iowa Judicial Branch's mission to provide high quality justice and services to all people. To help ensure high quality interpretation services in Iowa's courts, the Iowa Supreme Court has adopted Court Rules (Chapters 14 and 15) that govern the qualifications and appointment of court interpreters.

In accordance with Rule 16-819 (see Rule 16-819), the minimum requirements for interpreters seeking assignments in the Maryland Courts include the submission of an application form and attendance at a mandatory orientation workshop. Foreign language interpreters must also pass a written examination, an oral proficiency interview and an oral certification examination, if available in the target language.

In an effort to ensure that judges have timely access to appropriately qualified non-English-language interpreters to assist them in conducting court proceedings involving individuals who have a limited ability to communicate in English, the State Court Administrative Office offers testing and certification for court interpreters. The objectives of the Court Interpreter Testing and Certification program are to identify individuals who possess the required knowledge and skills and to expand the pool of qualified interpreters who are available to assist the court in the conduct of interpreted proceedings.

The Court Interpreter Certificate of Proficiency exam ensures that interpreters working in the state, county, or municipal court systems demonstrate the requisite skills for court interpretation that we have helped set for last 25 years. Interpreters who pass the C.I.C.P. exam will prove that they have what it takes to provide court interpreter services at the highest level.

Achieving the credential of Nationally Certified Judiciary Interpreter and Translator (NCJIT) shows your commitment to upholding the highest standards in the profession. Certification by the entity that represents judiciary interpreters and translators throughout the United States is a mark of distinction for those working in the field. It is awarded to those individuals who pass a rigorous examination of overall language skills and the common body of knowledge relevant to the judiciary and related areas, and who have shown an understanding of and willingness to comply with a professional Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities. Passing the NJITCEE examination affords you a unique credential. It indicates that you are a skilled professional who has demonstrated a high level of proficiency and expertise in the field.

The "Orientation Workshop" is the first required step for the Nevada Court Interpreter Certification/Registration. The workshop is followed by an oral examination (applicable for Spanish language only at this time) scheduled once a year.

Provides information for those seeking to become a NJ Court interpreter in a spoken langage, as well as some answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

It is the goal of the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide certified, skilled, professional interpreters to work in our court system. Simply being bilingual is not enough. In many courtrooms, court officials have no way of knowing if an interpreter is competent to interpret for a non-English speaking victim, witness, or defendant. Through state certification, the AOC is better able to guarantee the quality and professionalism of interpreters appointed in courts across the State.

The Judicial System's policy is to ensure that adequate court interpreter services are provided for those persons who are unable to readily understand or communicate in the English language because of a disability or a non-English speaking background. This rule establishes court interpreter qualifications and general procedures to assist in ensuring that effective interpreter services are provided.

Court Interpreter Services is the only organization or body that is legally authorized to certify court interpreters at the state level in Oregon. Oregon offers the certification testing cycle only once per year. The testing cycle for 2008 is now underway and closed to new applicants.

Website of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Interpreter Certification Program. Through this site you will have access to information about how to become a certified court interpreter in Pennsylvania. You will also be able to obtain information about program requirements, orientation and training workshops, testing dates and sites, practice and training materials, policies, registration forms, and other relevant news about the program.

The court interpreter is a specially trained professional who possesses a variety of skills that distinguish him or her from bilingual persons who simply speak two languages. The interpreter plays a vital role in facilitating communication within the judicial system for the non-English speaker and ensures due process by putting the non-English speaker on the same footing as the person who understands English. It is much more than being bilingual. Court interpreters must be able to do sight translation, simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. Summarizing, paraphrasing, changing or omitting is not acceptable.

In an effort to provide all individuals with equal access to the judicial system, the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) created the Court Interpreter Credentialing Program. The program’s purpose is to provide the Tennessee Judicial System with skilled interpreters that accurately and effectively interpret for a witness or party who speaks or understands little or no English. The interpreter program tests each interpreter’s ability to understand English terminology and accurately interpret into the spoken language by those with limited English proficiency.

Licensed Court Interpreters must take written and oral examinations which are developed by the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification part of the National Center for State Courts. The written examination measures the candidates' English comprehension and knowledge of court terms. The oral examination measures the candidates' interpreting skills and is given at one sitting in three parts which are recorded.

The use of competent federal court interpreters in proceedings involving speakers of languages other than English is critical to ensure that justice is carried out fairly for defendants and other stakeholders. The Court Interpreters Act, 28 U.S.C. §1827 provides that the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe, determine, and certify the qualifications of persons who may serve as certified interpreters, when the Director considers certification of interpreters to be merited, for the hearing impaired (whether or not also speech impaired) and persons who speak only or primarily a language other than the English language, in judicial proceedings instituted by the United States.

The Judicial Council of Virginia has developed a process to certify persons serving as Spanish language interpreters in court proceedings in the Commonwealth. The certification process is voluntary for participants. Its purpose is to better ensure that language interpreters are competent to perform such services in a court environment.

At present, Virginia offers court interpreter certification in the Spanish language only. A certified court interpreter is an individual who has fulfilled all the requirements for certification through a program administered by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (federal certification) or by a state that is a member of the State Court Interpreter Certification Consortium administered by the National Center for State Courts.

The opportunity to provide interpreter services to the courts under the direction of the Wisconsin Director of State Courts office, is at the Director’s complete and continuing discretion, because of the critical reliance the courts must have on the skills, performance, and integrity of the interpreter in performing duties for the court. This discretion applies to any person who appears on the Director’s roster of court interpreters, whether the interpreter is certified, provisional or a trainee.