Certification FAQs

We provide Court Interpreting Oral Examinations for Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Ilocano, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

What if I speak another language?

If you are interested in becoming an interpreter in a non-OJD certified language, please see the Oregon Registered Court Interpreter Credential page for more information.

How do I become an Oregon Certified Court Interpreter?

Requirements for certification include:

• Pass a criminal history check.
• Achieve a passing score on the Written Examination.
• Attend the Orientation and the Ethics Orientation conducted by CIS.
• Achieve a passing score on the Court Interpreting Oral Examination.
• Achieve a passing score on the Ethics Examination.
• Complete and submit documentation of 20 hours of court interpreting services or court observation during the 12 months prior to application in courts of record in Oregon or Consortium member states, federal courts of record, or where the interpreter is sworn in and the record can be presented into evidence.
• Complete the application process.
• Take the Interpreter's Oath administered by an Oregon State Court judge.

The fees are posted on our website.  As of July 1, 2009 the fees established for Oregon residents are: $65 for the Written Examination, $100 for the Orientation to Interpreting in the Oregon Courts, $325 for the Court Interpreting Oral Examination rating fee and $100 for the Ethics Orientation and the Ethics Examination. The fees for non-Oregon residents are:  $195 for the Written Examination, $150 for the Orientation to Interpreting in the Oregon Courts, $750 for the Court Interpreting Oral Examination rating fee, and $150 for the Ethics Orientation and Ethics Examination. Fees are assessed each time an individual registers for an exam.  For example, if you do achieve a passing score on the Written Examination and choose to attempt it again the following year the registration fee will be assessed both years.   

Can anyone begin the testing cycle at any time?

What does the Written Examination include?

The written examination is a multiple-choice examination designed by the Consortium for Language Access in the Courts to measure general knowledge of the areas of court interpreting: English language, court related terms and usage, and ethics and professional conduct.

What does the Ethics Examination include? 

The Ethics Examination is a multiple-choice examination testing the knowledge and application of the canons of the Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters in the Oregon Courts. 

After passing the Written Examination, and attending the orientation, how long am I eligible to take the Court Interpreting Oral Examination?

The Written Examination can only be taken once within a testing cycle. A passing examination score remains valid for three years.  The Written Examination limitation applies to all interpreters who achieve an appropriate score on the examination after January 1, 2012.  

What does the Court Interpreting Oral Examination include?

The Court Interpreting Oral Examination is an oral examination designed by the Consortium for Language Access in the Courts to measure interpreting skills in the sight, consecutive, and simultaneous modes of interpretation. 

How long does the Court Interpreting Oral Examination take?

It takes about two hours for the examination. If a prospective interpreter arrives late for the exam, s/he may lose the opportunity to test that year and forfeit the exam fee.

What if I pass part of the Court Interpreting Oral Examination and fail another part?

In order to obtain the Oregon Certified Court Interpreter Credential, you must achieve a 70% overall, with at least 70% on simultaneous section, 70% on consecutive section, and a minimum of 65% on each part (2) of the sight translation sections, for an overall score of 70%.  

Who designs the Written Examination and the Court Interpreting Oral Examination? 

The tests are designed through the Consortium for Language Access in the Courts in collaboration with the Consortium Technical Committee, linguists, and highly qualified federal or state court certified interpreters.  

What is the passing rate for the Court Interpreting Oral Examination?

In Oregon, the overall passing rate for the oral exam is 18%.

May I call myself an "Oregon Certified Court Interpreter" in the meantime, while I am waiting to test? 

State law (ORS 45.292) prohibits anyone from using the title or designation of "certified" if the person is not certified by the Office of the State Court Administrator, the U.S. District Courts or another state court system using a test equivalent to the test used by the Oregon Certified Court Interpreter Program.

If I pass the Court Interpreting Oral Examination, am I then considered an “Oregon Certified Court Interpreter?”

Most work for interpreters is freelance work. The Office of the State Court Administrator pays freelance Oregon Certified Court Interpreters $32.50 per hour. All freelance interpreters are called on an “as needed” basis, and there is no guarantee how much in-court work an interpreter will receive. 

Preparation suggestions include:

•  use your “target language” (the language in which you would take the oral exam) as often as possible
• read as much as possible in the “target language”
• expand your English vocabulary by familiarizing yourself with legal terminology
• court observation
• active memory exercises
• purchase and use educational resources (Consortium for Language Access in the Courts Practice Examination Kit; ACEBO materials) 
• see our resources page for more information

I am a certified court interpreter in another state; can I apply for reciprocity with the Oregon Judicial Department?