How to Become a Certified Court Interpreter

Do you want to know how to become a certified court interpreter or learn about this credential? Then this post is for you!

If you want to skip the read, watch this short video instead.

A few years ago, I earned my court interpreter certification at a master's level in Hawaii. Before I embarked on that journey, the whole process seemed daunting. I had heard so many stories from other colleagues that I didn't even feel I had what it took.

But one day I overcame those fears and decided to go for it. I will explain what the process is like step-by-step hoping this will inspire you and bring you some clarity.

STEP 1 - THE CONSORTIUM

Most states are part of the National Center for State Courts, also known as The Consortium. This organization oversees the certification process, but it varies among states.

Check out their Language Access Program by State map, then click on the state where you want to certify to get the information about their language access program. Then, contact them to find out how to complete the initial application.

STEP 2 - THE APPLICATION

In the application, they’ll ask for details about your education and experience and personal information for them to run a background check. All candidates have to be eligible to work in the US.

STEP 3 - THE WORKSHOP

After you apply, the next step is attending a workshop. Ensure you don’t miss the deadline to register because they have limited seating and only take place on specific dates each year.

In most states, this is a mandatory step. These are usually 2-day events mandatory to get certified, no matter your background.

In these workshops they’ll give you an overview of your state’s court system, where courts are located, they’ll teach you the basics about court proceedings, interpreting techniques, and how to prepare for the next steps.

STEP 4 - THE WRITTEN TEST

Part 1 tests your general language proficiency in English, and there are 135 multiple-choice questions.

The questions range from idioms, legal terms, and finding the right synonym or antonym to finding the correct meaning of high-register words like those you’d find in a GRE exam.

Part 2 tests your knowledge of courtroom ethics and protocol. In my case, it was a multiple-choice test with 40 questions.

The test I took was a paper test. I found that very helpful because I could scribble all over the paper and make notes, which helped me choose the right answers.

Many candidates who tested with me passed, so I’m assuming the passing rate for this exam tends to be high, but don’t underestimate it. The passing score is usually 80%

Once you pass the written test in some states, you will be added to their public roster as a qualified or registered interpreter, but you cannot call yourself a certified interpreter just yet.

STEP 5 - THE ORAL TEST

The next and usually final step is to take the oral exam. Depending on your language, you may have to take a full examination or an abbreviated one. Some states may require a language proficiency interview if no test is available for your language.

If you have to take the full examination, these are the components of the test:

Sight translation of a 225-word text from/into English. It could be a letter to a judge, a police report, or a contract. You have six minutes total to complete each part.

I asked my proctor to count two minutes to tell me when to start interpreting, and it worked out perfectly.

This part can be easily underestimated, but please do not. These sections are short but have 25 scoring units each, which means your chances of making mistakes are minimal.

You have to pass with an average score of 70% and an individual score per section of no less than 65%

Consecutive interpretation is the longest part of the test, taking 22 - 30 minutes. There are between 75 and 90 scoring units, so they seem to be spread around nicely. In my case, the scenario was a witness examination. The utterances were manageable except for two or three. You only get two repetitions, so use them wisely.

Simultaneous interpretation takes about 10 minutes and has 75 scoring units. In this scenario, an attorney delivers either opening or closing arguments at a speed of 120 words per minute, and the presentation is only about 850 words long. With proper practice, this speed is actually very manageable.

Most of it is just the attorney speaking, but one thing that threw me for a loop was an exchange at the end between other voices representing a judge and, I think, another attorney, and I was not expecting that at all.

THE SCORING PROCESS

Two raters score the test, so it takes time to get your grades. It took exactly three months for me to get my scores. The passing score is 70% per section. Once you pass the oral test, you can officially call yourself a court-certified interpreter.

In some states, there is a tier system based on your scores. The higher your score, the higher you get priority, which means more money in your pocket and a great incentive to do well on your test.

Here's the timeline of my entire process, to give you an idea:

December 2018 - I completed my application and registered for the workshop.

February 2019 - Attended the workshop.

April 2019 - Took the written test.

December 2019 - Took the oral test.

March 2020 - I received my scores.

If this is one of your goals, rest assured that you can do it If you work smart and hard. I wish you great success in your journey!