Introduction Certified

This manual frames the policies established to direct the operations of the Washington State Court Interpreter Program. The policies embodied in this manual constitute the official version of the regulations governing the Court Interpreter Program.

The Washington State Court Interpreter Program operates under the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The court interpreter certification process exists to aid the court in identifying interpreters qualified to interpret in court proceedings.

The AOC is responsible for establishing and administering a comprehensive testing and certification program for language interpreters (RCW 2.43.070). The AOC worked with the Court Interpreter Certification Commission (Commission), established in 1999, to standardize testing and scoring processes, implement a continuing education/court hour requirement, establish a disciplinary procedure, and publish a directory of certified court interpreters on the AOC's website at www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_interpret/.

The Commission is convened pursuant to General Rule 11.1 that directs the Commission to maintain the program policy manual and staff committees on Issues, Discipline, and Judicial and Court Manager Education.

Washington State offers certification in the following languages: Arabic (Egyptian or Levantine), Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Cantonese, French, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese.