Introduction Registered

This manual frames the policies established to direct the operations of the Washington State court interpreter registered category. The policies embodied in this manual constitute the official version of the regulations governing the registered category.

The Washington State Court Interpreter Program operates under the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The registered court interpreter processes exist to aid the courts in identifying interpreters qualified to interpret in court proceedings.

In Washington State, there are three types of interpreters: (1) Certified, (2) Registered, and (3) Non-Credential. A non-credentialed interpreter is one who has not been designated as a certified or registered court interpreter by AOC.

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 Commission (Commission), which was established in 1999 and expired in 2005, to standardize testing and scoring processes, implement a continuing education/court hour requirement, establish a disciplinary procedure, and publish a directory of court interpreters on the AOC website www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_interpret/.

The current Commission was established in 2005 by General Rule 11.1 to develop and maintain policies for the interpreter program and this program policy manual and to function through committees on issues, discipline, and judicial and court manager education.