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.
    Oral-Exam-Ready-for-Administration-August-2023

    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 two 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).

    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.

    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.

    • 4.1 Court Observation Requirement (15-Hours)
      Following completion of the 2-day orientation, candidates are required to complete 15-hours of courtroom observation.

    • 4.2 Resume Submission and Interview
      After fulfilling the courtroom observation requirement, candidates must submit a resume of their relevant experience and participate in an interview with a member of the certification team. The interview will address the candidate’s courtroom observation experience, prior interpreting experience, and understanding of the ethical responsibilities of interpreters.

      Interpreter Candidates that have completed the first four steps are considered non-certified interpreters and are allowed to provide interpretation services in Virginia courts.

      Beginning in October 2025, all interpreter candidates who have completed the first four steps must meet the following milestones to continue providing services in Virginia courts:

      • Conditionally Non-Certified: Candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be designated as conditionally non-certified. They must take the oral exam and score at least 60% on each section within two years of becoming conditionally non-certified. The oral exam may be taken once every six months.
      • Non-Certified: Candidates who meet the 60% threshold on each section of the oral exam will be considered non-certified. They must pass the full oral certification exam within two years of meeting this milestone. The oral exam may be taken once every six months and in accordance with the conditions set forth in the Certification Program.

    Candidates who do not actively pursue these milestones may be removed from the Virginia interpreter roster until they meet the required standards.

    Candidates currently designated as non-certified interpreters, who have not yet met the minimum requirements and are not actively pursuing certification will have a transition period through January 2027 to achieve compliance. During this time, individuals are encouraged to make progress toward certification. Those who do not meet the requirements or demonstrate effort by the end of the transition period may be reclassified, and individuals who make no progress may be removed from the Virginia Interpreter Roster.

    Note: When scheduling interpreter assignments, preference will be given to non-certified candidates over conditionally non-certified candidates. However, certified interpreters will receive priority over all non-certified designations.

    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.
    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 certification process must review and agree to adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility for Foreign Language Interpreters in Virginia by signing the Interpreter’s Oath. 

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