Biannual Reporting Requirements for Certified Interpreters

• Requirements
• Verification of Compliance
• Non-Compliance
• Request for Reinstatement

All interpreters certified by the Administrative Office of the Courts must meet these requirements in order to maintain their certification credential.  There are no exceptions.

1. Continuing Education

   Every certified court interpreter shall complete 16 hours of approved continuing education each two-year compliance period.  At least two (2) continuing education hours must be earned at an AOC approved ethics workshop.

   Certified court interpreters may carry over a maximum of six (6) continuing education credits earned in excess of the requirement in any two-year compliance period to the next compliance period.  If an interpreter earns more than two (2) ethics credits in a review period, the additional credits may carry over as general credits but will not be counted toward the ethics requirement for the next reporting period.

2. Court Hours

   Every certified court interpreter shall complete 20 court hours each two-year compliance period.  The interpreter will document court hours on the compliance form by showing court location, date, case number, and number of hours spent on each case.  A written statement from a court administrator attesting to the approximate number of court hours may be submitted in lieu of a listing of court cases.  Court hours may include interviews, sight translation of documents in meetings with attorneys, or depositions.

3. Interpreter Conduct

   Every two years, certified interpreters shall report whether they have been charged with or convicted of a crime, or found to be in violation of a court order.

4. Execute Oath of Interpreter

   Every two years, certified interpreters shall submit to the AOC a signed oath of interpreter.

Every certified court interpreter is responsible for completing a compliance form the conclusion of each two-year reporting and submitting it to the AOC. To complete the compliance form, the interpreter must document his/her (1) continuing education classes and credits, including ethics; (2) courts hours; and (3) conviction of any crime or violation of any court order. The compliance form must be signed by the interpreter under penalty of perjury. The interpreter must be retain written compliance documentation for a three-year period after submitting the compliance form to the AOC. The interpreter shall show proof of attendance at continuing education classes upon request.

Every certified court interpreter is also responsible for submitting a completed, signed, and sworn oath of interpreter with the compliance form. The blank oath form will be provided to the interpreter with the compliance form. The blank oath form will be provided to the interpreter by the AOC Court Interpreter Program. The interpreter is responsible for bringing the blank oath form to a state or federal court, and requesting that a state or federal court judge administer the oath and sign the oath form.

A certified court interpreter, who fails to submit a compliance form at the end of the two-year reporting period, shall be considered out of compliance.  Upon a preliminary determination of an interpreter's non-compliance by the AOC, the AOC will submit a written complaint of non-compliance, together with supporting evidence, to the Discipline Committee of the Interpreter Commission.  The AOC will send a notice of non-compliance and a copy of the complaint and supporting evidence to the interpreter.  The interpreter may respond within 30 calendar days of the date of notice by submitting to the Discipline Committee a written response.  The response shall be in writing, and may include, affidavits or declarations of witnesses, copies of court records, or any other documentary evidence the interpreter wishes to have the Committee consider.

The Discipline Committee shall meet (in person, via email or telephone conference call) within 40 calendar days of the date of the complaint to review the complaint and supporting evidence to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the interpreter is out of compliance and, if so, impose such disciplinary action as it determines appropriate.

Certified interpreters will not be issued a current ID badge until all continuing education requirements are satisfied.  If the Discipline Committee suspends or revokes the certification of an interpreter, the interpreter's name will be removed from the directory of interpreters found on AOC's website at www.courts.wa.gov/interpreters and an electronic notice will be sent to presiding judges and court administrators/managers.

A certified court interpreter whose credentials has been suspended or revoked may apply in writing to the Discipline Committee for reinstatement pursuant to time frames established in the final notification.  This request shall explain why the applicant believes the reinstatement should occur.  The Discipline Committee shall have the sole discretion whether to grant or deny reinstatement, or to impose conditions upon reinstatement, as it deems appropriate.