Title
Title
Court Interpreters | Changes to Certification Requirements (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Court Interpreters Advisory Panel recommends changes to the California court interpreter certification requirements while maintaining the program’s high certification standards. The recommendations include (1) requiring candidates to complete an orientation before taking interpreter examinations; (2) requiring candidates to pass the Oral Proficiency Examination at the Advanced High level before taking the Bilingual Interpreting Examination, which is the oral exam required to obtain certified court interpreter status in major spoken languages; and (3) allowing candidates to retain passing scores on individual sections of the Bilingual Interpreting Examination for up to two years, with a one-time retroactive application for eligible candidates. These recommendations are intended to improve candidate success, expand the pool of qualified court interpreters, and strengthen language access in California’s courts.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Court Interpreters Advisory Panel recommends that the Judicial Council, effective January 1, 2027:
1. Require candidates to complete an orientation before taking interpreter examinations;
2. Require candidates to pass the Oral Proficiency Examination at the Advanced High level or higher before taking the Bilingual Interpreting Examination, the oral certification examination for spoken-language interpreters; and
3. Allow candidates to retain passing scores on individual sections of the Bilingual Interpreting Examination for up to two years, with a one-time retroactive application for eligible candidates.
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Speakers
Speakers
Ms. Anabel Z. Romero, Vice-Chair, Court Interpreters Advisory Panel
Ms. Angela De Leon, Leadership Support Services