How to become a certified court interpreter in California

Steps to certification in California

1. 1

   Prepare and self-assess

   California has no orientation prerequisite. The program tells candidates to use the self-assessment tools, review the educational resources page, and observe court proceedings before registering. The state also publishes a PDF list of interpreter training programs (colleges plus private schools) on its resources page.

2. 2

   Pass the written exam (80%)

   The written exam tests English, court terminology and usage, and ethics and professional conduct. You need 80% or higher. The fee is $150, subject to change. In 2026 it is administered by De La Mora Institute at in-person sittings: November 16 (San Jose), November 18 (Anaheim) and November 20 (San Diego), with registration open September 1 to 30, 2026.

3. 3

   Practice for the Bilingual Interpreting Exam

   The BIE is where most candidates stop. It has four sections taken in one sitting: sight translation English to Spanish, sight translation Spanish to English, consecutive interpreting, and simultaneous interpreting, and you need 70% or higher on each of the four sections. Scoring is unit based, like the consortium exam, so accuracy on names, numbers, register and legal terms matters more than fluency. The state's published pass rates (14% in 2021 and 2022) tell you how much preparation the average candidate is missing. The free state materials are written; for graded audio practice at exam pace, CourtFluent's daily drills use the same three modes and unit-based scoring.

4. 4

   Register for and pass the BIE (70% on each section)

   The BIE fee is $380, subject to change. Seats are limited: the fall 2026 window (September 14 to October 16, 2026) sold out, and the program expects spring 2027 registration to open in January 2027. Watch the current testing opportunities page and register the day it opens.

5. 5

   Enroll with the Judicial Council

   After passing both exams you submit an enrollment application packet to the Court Interpreters Program. Once processed you receive an identification badge and are placed on the Master List of certified and registered court interpreters, which is what courts use to hire. Enrollment and any associated fee are described in the packet; we did not find the fee on the public pages.

6. 6

   Renew every year and stay compliant every two years

   Certified interpreters renew annually (the 2026 renewal window is July 1 to November 30) with a $100 renewal fee. Every two-year compliance period you must document 30 hours of continuing education (at least 15 instructor-led hours approved for CIMCE) and 40 assignments of recent professional interpreting experience, and keep the records for five years.