Interpreter Training and Testing Dates/Registration Forms 2008/2009

The first step in the process of becoming an Approved or Certified Court Interpreter is to submit an application. The application will be used to conduct a criminal background check.

Written English/Foreign Language Diagnostic Test

All interpreters are required to pass a written English/Foreign Language Diagnostic Test prior to attending the workshops. Pre-registration is required. Upon registration, a test overview will be sent. The test will be administered on the following dates:

2008

  • April 4, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
  • August 1, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
  • October 17, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

2009

  • January 23, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.
  • April 17, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

The tests will be administered in several locations throughout the state of Utah. The exam will test English skills in sentence completion and the understanding of English synonyms, antonyms, and idioms. Spanish speaking candidates will also take a short translation test that consists of 10 English passages. Based on the results of the English part, other language candidates will be scheduled for a short oral foreign language assessment test. The cost for the test is $25.00 and is non-refundable. A registration form for the test is posted below. The registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the test date. No registrations will be accepted after that time.

Interpreter Workshops (Non-Language Specific)

The following one-day workshops have been scheduled for interpreters who want to complete requirements to be placed on the APPROVED court interpreter list. These are non-language-specific workshops and provide a general introduction to the profession of court interpreting and the Court Interpreters' Code of Ethics (this workshop is not required for certification).

There is no cost for these workshops. Enrollment is limited and pre-registration is required. The registration form is posted below.

2008

  • April 25, 2008 in Cedar City
  • July 11, 2008 in Provo
  • October 3, 2008 in Ogden

2009

  • January 30, 2009 in Salt Lake City
  • April 24, 2009 in Provo

Spanish Court Interpreter Certification Program 2009 (Given annually)


After submitting the interpreter application:

Step 1: English/Foreign Language Diagnostic Test:
Interpreters wishing to take the two-day certification orientation workshop for Spanish speaking interpreters must first pass the written English/Foreign Language Diagnostic Test. A passing score on the test is 70% or higher. See above for test dates in 2008/2009. Cost is $25.00.

Step 2: Spanish Certification Orientation Workshop: The next step is to complete the two-day certification orientation workshop. The next workshop date is TBA. Pre-registration is required – fees are $100. Registration forms will be posted at the bottom of this page.

Step 3: Spanish Language Skill-Building/Test Preparation Workshops: After completing the Spanish certification orientation workshop, interpreters must register for the Spanish skill-building/test prep workshops. One must attend all five of the Spanish skill-building/test prep workshops, as the content of each successive workshop builds upon the previous ones. Pre-registration is required – fees for the entire 5 days are $150.

The next workshops are TBA and will be held in Salt Lake City.

The cost for the package of five one-day workshops must be paid at the time of registration. Enrollment is limited to those who have passed the English/Foreign Language Diagnostic Test, and have completed the Spanish certification orientation workshop. Registration forms will be posted at the bottom of this page.

Step 4: Spanish Oral Certification Exam: An interpreter must have completed steps 1 - 3 above in order to take the Spanish Court Interpreter Certification exam. A passing score on the certification exam is 70% on each part of the exam (simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting and sight translation). The cost for the entire certification exam for Utah residents is $200. Out-of-state interpreters who wish to take the test in Utah must pay the out-of-state rate of $400 to take the exam. Pre-registration is required. The entire three-part exam will be given in one sitting. The next Spanish certification exam is TBA. Registration forms are available only to those who complete all of the previous requirements. Please e-mail Rosa P. Oakes at rosao@email.utcourts.gov for registration.

Those who are interested in becoming state certified in the Spanish language before 2009 may pursue certification in one of the neighboring consortium states offering the consortium exam. Utah will grant certification testing reciprocity to anyone who successfully passes the state consortium exam in another consortium member state. A list of member states can be found at the website of The National Center for State Courts www.ncsconline.org

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Page Last Modified: 4/7/2008