<h3>Office of Language Access</h3><link rel="stylesheet" href="/court_interpreters/LangAccess.css" /><div class="tabbable" id="LATabs"><ul class="nav nav-tabs"><li><a href="/LanguageAccess"><span style="font-size:small;">Overview</span></a></li><li class="active"><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=BecomeInterpreter"><span style="font-size:small;">Become an Interpreter</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=ResourcesCourts"><span style="font-size:small;">Resources for Courts</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=ResourcesInterpreters"><span style="font-size:small;">Resources for Interpreters</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=OLATraining"><span style="font-size:small;">Training</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=ContinuingEducation"><span style="font-size:small;">Continuing Education</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageComplaints"><span style="font-size:small;">Complaints</span></a></li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess?p=LAContact"><span style="font-size:small;">Contact</span></a></li></ul><div class="tab-content clearfix"><div class="tab-pane active" id="BecomeInterpreter"><p> </p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col col-md-12"><div style="float:right;padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:1em;"><div class="panel panel-primary"><div class="panel-heading">Quick Links</div><div class="panel-body"><ul><li><a href="https://www.ncsc.org/Education-and-Careers/State-Interpreter-Certification/Legal-Glossaries-and-Dictionaries.aspx" target="_blank">Legal Glossaries and Dictionaries</a> </li><li><a href="/court_interpreters/Forms/LEP_Application_for_Reciprocity.pdf" target="_blank">Application for Reciprocity</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><h4>Introduction</h4><p>Court interpreting is a rewarding profession that requires dedication, practice, study, and, most importantly patience. Not only does the interpreter need to be bilingual, he or she also needs to be proficient in the English language and knowledgeable with court-related terms and usage. For many individuals, the process to become a successful court interpreter takes many years of study and experience. </p><h5>There are two types of credentialed court interpreters in Louisiana: </h5><ol><li><a href="/LanguageAccess#Registered"><em>Registered</em></a>: Designed for individuals who are beginning and seeking entry into the profession of court interpreting. </li><li><a href="/LanguageAccess#Certified"><em>Certified</em></a>: Designed for individuals who are already a registered interpreter and are seeking to advance their career or individuals who are certified in another jurisdiction and have applied for and received <a href="/court_interpreters/OLA_Policy_3_Reciprocity.pdf" target="_blank">reciprocity</a>. For more information about the process for becoming certified, go <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/38088/Oral-Examination-Overview-for-Candidates-5-22-20.pdf" title="National Center for State Courts Exam Overview (PDF)" target="_blank">here.</a> </li></ol><p> </p><h4>How to become a credentialed (registered or certified) court interpreter? </h4><p>There are <em>two </em>ways to become a credentialed court interpreter in Louisiana: </p><ul><li>Become a <a href="/LanguageAccess#Registered">Registered Interpreter</a>: Attend a OLA Court Interpreter Orientation, pass a translation (written) examination from English into your target language, pass a general English language proficiency examination (including court terms, ethics, and professionalism), pass a background check, and agree to OLA policies. After a six month period, you may take a oral examination to become a certified interpreter. </li><li>For <em><a href="/LanguageAccess#Certified">certified </a></em><a href="/LanguageAccess#Certified">interpreters</a> or credentialed interpreters in other states (if and only if your language is not tested by the National Center for State Courts), you may apply for reciprocity. </li></ul><p> </p><h5><strong>In order to become a registered interpreter in Louisiana:</strong> </h5><ul class="checkbox"><li>(1) You must attend a <a href="#TrainingSchedule">two-day orientation</a> that introduces individuals to the profession of interpreting in the Louisiana court system. Please note: The orientation is not designed to teach individuals how to be a court interpreter. The interpreter-candidate is responsible for studying the materials necessary to pass the examinations needed to become a registered interpreter. (<a href="#TrainingSchedule">Check the orientation schedule here.</a>)<br /><br /></li><li>(2) You must pass a <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/38083/Written-Examination-Overview-for-Candidates-5-22-20.pdf" title="Natonial Center for State Courts Written Exam Overview PDF" target="_blank">multiple-choice exam</a> (in English) of 135 questions by 80% consisting of the following core subjects: (a) English Language including but not limited to vocabulary and idioms; (b) Court-Related Terms and Usage, (c) Ethics and Professional Conduct (ethical behavior and professional conduct based on the <a href="/Supreme_Court_Rules?p=PartGSection14">Code of Professional Responsibility</a>).<br /><br /></li><li>(3) You must pass a translation (written) exam in your language of expertise. The translation exam is pass/fail/borderline and graded by rater trained and certified by the National Center for State Courts. You will be provided limited feedback of your results that outline areas of improvement. <br /><br /></li><li>(4) You must pass a background check.<br /><br /></li><li>(5) You must agree to be bound by all policies of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s interpreter program including the <a href="/Supreme_Court_Rules?p=PartGSection14">Code of Professional Conduct</a> and <a href="/court_interpreters/OLA_Policy_2_Continuing_Education_and_Reporting_Policy.pdf" target="_blank">Continuing Education Policy.<br /><br /></a> </li></ul><p>If you are uncertain of your language skills or whether you are ready to be an interpreter, please take this <a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Interpreters/Short Mock Written Exam.pdf" title="Exam Self Assesment (PDF)" target="_blank">self-assessment</a>. If you have any questions or need further information, please email the Office of Language Access at <a href="mailto:ola@lasc.org">ola@lasc.org</a>. </p><p> </p><h5><strong>Recommendation: If you are interested in joining the court interpreter profession, you are advised to complete one or more of the following: </strong> </h5><ul class="checkbox"><li>(1) Read the <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/38083/Written-Examination-Overview-for-Candidates-5-22-20.pdf" target="_blank">Court Interpreter Written Exam Overview</a>, including Appendices 2 and 3, identifying your strengths and weaknesses in core subjects.<br /><br /></li><li>(2) Attend a court interpreter-training program. For example, the <a href="https://www.uno.edu/academics/colaehd/la/english/translation-interpreting" target="_blank">University of New Orleans Certificate Program in Translation and Interpreting</a>.<br /><br /></li><li>(3) Study and master the <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/education-and-careers/state-interpreter-certification" target="_blank">resources offered by the National Center for State Courts</a>. This includes English proficiency, familiarity with court-related terms and usage, and translation from English into the target language.<br /><br /></li><li>(4) Study <a href="https://www.ncsc.org/education-and-careers/state-interpreter-certification/legal-glossaries-and-dictionaries" target="_blank">legal glossaries and vocabulary resources</a>.<br /><br /></li><li>(5) Observe court interpreters in action by seeking out a professional court interpreter as a mentor.<br /><br /></li></ul><h5><strong>Common Misperceptions</strong></h5><ul><li><em>Bilingualism is all that is necessary to become a court interpreter.</em> <br />Court interpreting is a profession and takes some individuals many years of study, dedication, and practice. In the very least, to become a registered court interpreter, in addition to being bilingual, you must also have a mastery of the English language and legal terminology.<br /><br /></li><li><em>Attending the two-day court interpreter orientation is all you need prior to sitting for the multiple-choice and translation examinations.</em><br />There is no way a two-day orientation can teach all that is required to become a successful court interpreter. While the orientation covers very important information, the most successful candidates have completed some or even all of the recommendations listed above prior to testing.<br /><br /></li><li><em>It is common for candidates to pass both examinations on the first try.</em><br />Many candidates have to take one or both examinations several times prior to passing. The retesting fee is $50. </li></ul><p> </p><h4>Court Interpreter Orientation (for new interpreter candidates)</h4><p>The Louisiana Supreme Court’s court interpreter orientation is specifically designed for bilingual individuals who are interested in becoming registered court interpreters. In these highly focused classes, participants will be exposed to the: </p><ul><li>structure of Louisiana’s judicial system & legal terminology; </li><li>Louisiana’s Code of Professional Responsibility for Language Interpreters; </li><li>role of the interpreter in the various legal and court proceedings; and </li><li>modes of interpretation including consecutive, simultaneous, and sight. </li></ul><p>The orientation, which is conducted primarily in English, is conducted by a certified court interpreter who has many years of interpreting, training, and testing experience. The classes are highly interactive, which means the participants will practice various interpreting modes and techniques, discuss shared challenges, and take part in insightful exercises designed to build court interpreting skills. Participants are expected to already possess a bilingual level of fluency in both English and the language or languages in which they desire to become registered. </p><p>On Day 3, participants who desire to be listed as a registered interpreter by the Louisiana Supreme Court, must take and pass two written examinations: </p><ul><li>Part 1 - Translation exam from English into the target language; and </li><li>Part 2 - General English Language Proficiency, Court Related Terms, Ethics & Professionalism. </li></ul><p>Interpreters for the hearing impaired are welcome to attend the training sessions but should note that the classes focus primarily on the spoken languages. </p><p>We hope you decide to join us for an upcoming interpreter orientation program and begin a rewarding journey toward becoming a professional court interpreter. </p></div><div class="col col-md-12"><div class="anchor" id="TrainingSchedule"></div><!--<h4>Upcoming Classes and Exams</h4>
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<p> </p><p>If you have any questions about the court interpreter program or to be placed on a notification list of future orientations and exams, please contact <a href="mailto:ola@lasc.org">ola@lasc.org</a> or by phone at 504-310-2540. </p></div><p> </p></div>