Certlingo | Resources

Understanding the Importance of Certification

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How to Choose the Right Language Service Provider

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Preparing for a Successful Interpretation Session

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Translation Project Checklist

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The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) certifies interpreters to serve in federal courtrooms—the highest level of legal interpreting in the United States. AOUSC certification is regarded as the gold standard for court interpreters.
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Candidates must pass the demanding Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE), which evaluates their skills in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting as well as sight translation. This rigorous process ensures interpreters can navigate complex legal terminology and high-stakes courtroom scenarios with precision. The FCICE certification is currently offered only in Spanish.
AOUSC-certified interpreters are trusted nationwide to provide impartial and accurate language services, protecting defendants’ rights and ensuring fairness in the federal justice system.
To learn more, visit AOUSC.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) develops and maintains the Court Interpreter Certification Program used by most state courts in the U.S. The NCSC program establishes consistent standards for interpreters working in state-level judicial proceedings.
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NCSC’s certification process includes both written and oral performance exams designed to assess an interpreter’s knowledge of legal terminology, ethics, and interpreting skills in courtroom settings. NCSC currently offers certification in eighteen languages. The actual certification is granted by the judicial branch of each respective state.
Interpreters certified through NCSC are highly qualified to provide accurate and professional language services in state courts, ensuring meaningful access to justice for limited-English-proficient individuals.
To learn more, visit NCSC.

The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) is one of the two nationally recognized entities offering medical interpreter certifications in the United States. CCHI certifications are designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in interpreting medical information accurately and effectively.
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CCHI offers certification in several language pairs, including Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic. Candidates pursuing certification through CCHI must pass a two-phase testing process that includes a computer-based knowledge exam and an oral performance exam. These exams evaluate an interpreter’s understanding of medical terminology, cultural competency, and interpreting skills in healthcare settings.
CCHI’s certification is recognized nationwide and ensures that interpreters are equipped to bridge the communication gap between patients and healthcare providers, safeguarding patient care and compliance with federal regulations.
To learn more, visit CCHI.

The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) is the other leading certifying authority for medical interpreters in the United States. NBCMI offers the Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) credential, which assesses an interpreter’s proficiency through a rigorous testing process.
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NBCMI provides certification in multiple language pairs, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Korean, and Vietnamese. To earn a CMI credential, candidates must pass both a written exam and an oral performance test. The exams are tailored to evaluate interpreters’ linguistic abilities, ethical decision-making, and knowledge of medical procedures and terminology.
NBCMI’s certification is highly respected and enables medical interpreters to deliver reliable and effective services in critical healthcare settings. This credential is vital for interpreters who wish to work in hospitals, clinics, and other medical environments where clear communication is essential.
To learn more, visit NBCMI.

The American Translators Association (ATA) is the most reputable certifying body for professional translators in the United States. The ATA certification is the translator’s seal of excellence, demonstrating a translator’s expertise in their chosen language pair.
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ATA currently offers certification in ten languages and over 30 language pairs. These certifications are available in specific language combinations, such as English into Spanish, French, German, and others, as well as from those languages into English.
ATA certification is awarded after candidates successfully pass a challenging examination that evaluates their translation accuracy, language proficiency, and understanding of cultural nuances. The exam covers various text types, including legal, technical, and literary content, ensuring that certified translators can handle diverse projects with precision.
By choosing an ATA-certified translator, you are guaranteed a professional who has met the industry’s highest standards. This certification provides assurance that your translations will be accurate, culturally appropriate, and tailored to your specific needs.
To learn more, visit ATA.

Federal Court-Interpreter Certification Exam

The federal-court interpreter certification is granted by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) when a candidate passes the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE).

The FCICE is a two-phase examination process which includes a written and an oral test. The oral exam is the actual credentialing instrument; the written exam is more of a prerequisite for the oral exam. The oral exam tests candidates in each of the three modes of interpretation: consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation. According to the AOUSC, the examination was “developed by a diverse team of language professionals whose areas of expertise included language testing, language teaching, linguistics, and court interpreting.” It is a robust testing instrument that demands a high degree of language literacy. The federal certification is recognized as a valid credential by both state and federal courts in the U.S. It is essentially the highest interpreting credential granted in the U.S. However, it is currently available only in the English-Spanish combination.

State Court-Interpreter Certification Exam

The state-court interpreter certification is granted by the judicial branch of each respective state. Like its federal counterpart, the state certification requires a rigorous two-phase examination process which includes a written and an oral exam.

The oral exam is the actual credentialing instrument; the written exam is more of a prerequisite for the oral exam. The oral exam tests candidates in each of the three modes of interpretation. The exams themselves are developed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Each individual state (except for New York) then implements these exams in their state-court interpreter programs. Using the NCSC’s exams allows state courts to use professionally-rated testing instruments to assess aspiring interpreters; additionally, it ensures a uniform performance standard for all court interpreters nationwide. As of May 2025, the NCSC has developed oral examinations for 18 languages. Each state offers certification in select languages from this list.

Certification Tiers for State Court Interpreters

Certification schemes and standards aren’t the same in every state—and neither are the certification titles or designations. Understanding your state’s credentialing tiers is key to choosing the right interpreter
While all states (except for New York) use the exams developed by the NCSC, each state sets its own passing scores.

Additionally, most states don’t have a simple pass or fail system. Instead, most states have some form of multi-level credentialing scheme. So, the same state can, for example, grant one interpreter a master certification while it grants another interpreter a basic certification. The certification designation each interpreter gets is based primarily on the interpreter’s exam scores, but the exam language can sometimes play a determining role as well. The chart below illustrates the certification designations for California and Texas. Certification Tiers in California and Texas State Designation Testing Instrument Score Language1 CA Certified NCSC Oral Exam 70+ Certified Registered Oral Proficiency Exam AH2 Non-certified TX Master NCSC Oral Exam 70+ Certified Basic NCSC Oral Exam 60+ Certified 1A certified language is a language for which there is an NCSC oral exam available. If there is no NCSC oral exam available for a given language, the examinee is tested using an alternative testing instrument. 2AH = Advanced High The credentialing levels under the designation column are known as certification tiers. Each state is responsible to develop its own scheme of certification tiers. This means different states choose different labels for their certification tiers. Additionally, there are no standard definitions across all states for the different certification tiers that are used. So, a “registered” interpreter in one state is not necessarily equivalent to a “registered” interpreter in another state. Understanding the certification tiers of your state allows you to make informed decisions when choosing an interpreter. At Certlingo, we understand the complexities of certification tiers. Let us help you select the interpreters who meet the highest standards in your state.