Certification Requirements

Certification Calendar

  • *Candidates who started the Certification/Qualification Process prior to January 2025 please click here for more information. 

    Certification is available in the following languages:
    Amharic, Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Levantine), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (abbreviated exam), Cantonese, Filipino (Tagalog), French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish (abbreviated exam), Vietnamese. 
    **Certification and Qualification Reciprocity are available. 

    Beginning in October 2025, all interpreters of certifiable languages in Virginia will be assigned to one of the following designations, based on their fulfillment of the requirements outlined below:

    • Conditionally Approved
    • Non-Certified
    • Certified

    Transition Period for Non-Certified Interpreters Currently Serving in Virginia Courts
    non-certified interpreters currently working in Virginia courts have until January 30, 2027, to comply with the new requirements. During this transition period, interpreter designations will be updated as candidates take the oral exam and receive their scores. Interpreters are encouraged to actively work toward certification during this time. Interpreters who do not actively pursue these milestones by registering for and participating in the required elements of the certification program to demonstrate progress may be removed from the Virginia Interpreter Roster until the required standards are met.

    Conditionally Approved

    Candidates who meet the following requirements will be designated as Conditionally Approved. Conditionally Approved interpreters are authorized to provide interpretation services in Virginia’s lower courts.

    Requirements:

    • Complete the first four steps of the certification process.
    • Achieve an oral exam score of at least 50% on all sections of the oral exam (oral exam rules apply).
    • Submit a resume documenting relevant interpreting experience. Instructions for submitting a resume will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirements.
    • Participate in an interview with a member of the Certification Team. The interview will assess the candidate’s courtroom observation experience, prior interpreting experience, and understanding of the ethical responsibilities of interpreters. Instructions for scheduling your interview will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirements.
    • Sign the Interpreter’s Oath

    Note: The Certification Team retains full discretion to review all exam scores, consider a candidate’s experience and demonstrated skills, and determine whether the candidate meets the qualifications required to provide interpretation services in Virginia’s courts.

    Once designated as Conditionally Approved, candidates have two years to progress toward the next designation, Non-Certified (oral exam rules apply). Candidates who do not actively pursue certification within this timeframe may be removed from the Virginia Interpreter Roster until they meet the required standards.

    Non-Certified

    Candidates who meet the following requirements will be designated as non-certified. 

    Requirements: 

    • Complete the first four steps of the certification process
    • Achieve an oral exam score of at least 60% or more on all sections of the oral exam. (oral exam rules apply)
    • If not previously completed, submit a resume documenting relevant interpreting experience. Instructions for submitting a resume will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirements.
    • If not previously completed, participate in an interview with a member of the Certification Team. The interview will assess the candidate’s courtroom observation experience, prior interpreting experience, and understanding of the ethical responsibilities of interpreters. Instructions for scheduling your interview will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirements.
    • Sign the Interpreter’s Oath

    Once classified as Non-Certified, interpreters have two years to pass the full oral certification exam (oral exam rules apply). Candidates who do not actively pursue certification within this timeframe may be removed from the Virginia Interpreter Roster until they meet the required standards.

    Note: When assigning interpreters, preference will be given to non-certified interpreters over Conditionally Approved interpreters. However, Certified interpreters receive priority over all other designations.

    Certified

    Candidates who meet the following requirements will be designated as Certified. 

    Requirements: 

    • Complete the first four steps of the certification process
    • Achieve an oral exam score of at least 70% or more on each of the three sections of the oral exam with no less than 65% on either of the sight translation sections.
    • If not previously completed, submit a resume documenting relevant interpreting experience. Instructions for submitting a resume will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirement.
    • If not previously completed, participate in an interview with a member of the Certification Team. The interview will assess the candidate’s courtroom observation experience, prior interpreting experience, and understanding of the ethical responsibilities of interpreters. Instructions for scheduling your interview will be provided upon satisfaction of applicable requirements. **This does not apply to interpreters before 2026.
    • Sign the Interpreter’s Oath

    Note: Certified interpreters are expected to meet the certification renewal and continuing education requirements established by the Court Interpreter Program. These requirements will be announced in 2026.

    Step 1: Complete a Webinar Series
    As the first step in the certification process, candidates must register for and complete three webinars that will familiarize them with the Virginia Judicial System. The webinar consists of three one-hour-long sessions, which must be completed before the candidate can move on to Step 2 of the program.

    Step 2: Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
    Candidate must provide scores for an OPI testing of both speaking and listening skills in English and their non-English language(s). If candidates do not have previous OPI scores, they can register to take the Oral Proficiency Interviews through the FLS Division. Refer to the PDF link for additional information.

    Step 3: Written Exam
    The written test consists of 135 multiple-choice questions that are designed to measure basic, general English language proficiency, and court and ethics knowledge. Candidates must score a minimum of 80% on the written test to be eligible to register for the 2-day interpreter orientation. The test is created by the National Center for State Courts and administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, twice a year. Refer to the PDF link for additional information.

    Step 4: 2-day Interpreter Orientation, Court Observation and Interview Requirement
    The orientation will familiarize interpreter candidates with the Virginia Judicial System, courtroom protocol, the role of the interpreter, specific skills needed for the different modes of interpreting, and a thorough review of the code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters. The training also includes an overview of self-study techniques, practice sessions, available resources, and suggestions on how to prepare for the oral certification exam. Refer to the PDF link for additional information.

    Step 5: Oral Exam
    Candidates must pass an oral exam, which tests proficiency in the 3 modes of interpretation:

    • Sight translation of an English document into the non-English language; and vice versa
    • Consecutive interpretation, English to the foreign language and the foreign language to English
    • Simultaneous interpretation from English to the foreign language

    Candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each section to pass the oral exam. Additionally, a candidate may score no lower than 65% on either of the two sight translations portions. The test is created by the National Center for State Courts and administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in person, twice a year. Refer to the PDF link for additional information.

    Note: Certain certifiable languages have abbreviated examinations and will not include testing in all three modes of interpretation. Visit the National Center for State Courts for more information.

    Step 6: Sign the Interpreter’s Oath
    Candidates who successfully complete the necessary requirements to provide interpretation services in Virginia courts must review and agree to adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility for Foreign Language Interpreters in Virginia by signing the Interpreter’s Oath.