Certified Interpreters

Thank you for your interest in becoming a certified court interpreter.  The Administrative Office of the Courts certifies language interpreters in the following languages:  Arabic (Egyptian), Cantonese, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The Levantine and Khmer certification exams are not available for testing at this time.

Written Exam:  The written exam was developed by the National Center for State Courts Consortium on State Court Interpreting.  Candidates for all languages take the exam at the same time.  This proficiency exam includes English language, vocabulary, court related terms, ethics, and translation passages.  You must pass the written exam with a score of 80% or better.  If you wish to be notified when the next written exam is scheduled, please complete and return the Written Exam Notification form to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

Oral Exam:  The oral exam was developed by the National Center for State Courts Consortium on State Court Interpreting, who also coordinates rating.  The exam consists of three sections:  sight translation, consecutive interpreting, and simultaneous interpreting.  The exam is recorded via audio tape and is scored by language professionals recruited nationally.  You must pass the oral exam with a score of 70% or better in all three sections.

Certified Accreditation:  Candidates must complete the following before receiving accreditation as a certified court interpreter: 1) pass the written exam administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) with a score of 80% or better; 2) attend a one-day orientation program sponsored by the AOC; 3) pass the oral exam administered by the AOC with a score of at least 70% in each section; 4) submit to a fingerprint background check (processing fee applies); 5) attend a mandatory class sponsored by the AOC on topics that include, but are not limited to, courtroom protocol, interpreter ethics, and legal terminology and procedure; 6) execute the Oath of Interpreter; and 7) obtain interpreter ID badge for court proceedings.

Compliance Requirements:  Certified court interpreters must complete 16 hours of continuing education, two of which must be at an AOC approved ethics workshop, and verify at least 20 hours of court interpreting for each two-year compliance period.

Employment:  Court interpreters are hired individually by each superior, district, and municipal court.  There are varying numbers of certified court interpreters in different areas of the state, so explore employment opportunities by contacting your local courts before you decide whether to take the exam.  Contact information for certified court interpreters is placed on the courts website at www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_interpreter.

Certified Interpreter Program Brochure  

Certified Interpreter Program Policies Manual

FAQs for Certified Court Interpreters

Information Sheet  
For prospective certified interpreters

Examination Information

• Exam Dates
• Oral Examination Overview  
• Spanish Exam Practice Kit
• Oral Exam Practice Kit (Language Neutral)
• Arabic Exam Information
• Written Examination Notification Form  
• Written Exam Overview  
• Court Interpreter Written Screening Exam (Target Language Assessment)