How to become a certified court interpreter in North Carolina

Steps to certification in North Carolina

1. 1

   Register for orientation and pass the written screening tests

   OLAS runs a two-and-a-half-day orientation with the written screening test on the final half day. The English multiple-choice test requires 80% or better; Spanish, Arabic, French, Mandarin and Russian candidates also take a written test in that language. The current registration fee is reported as $160, covering the session and test rating (from a third-party guide citing nccourts.gov; the 2015 OLAS notice listed $150). Register through the orientation form on nccourts.gov.

2. 2

   Submit the application and pass the criminal background check

   File form AOC-A-207 with OLAS and clear a criminal record check. You cannot have been convicted of a crime that would affect your fitness to serve, and certified interpreters agree to future record checks, renewal fees and post-certification training required by the NCAOC.

3. 3

   Attend an NCAOC-approved Skill Building Workshop

   Candidates in languages eligible for the NCCICE must attend, in its entirety, a skill-building workshop or course approved by the NCAOC before sitting for the exam. OLAS advises taking it well ahead of your exam date so you can apply what you learn. The resources page lists approved providers.

4. 4

   Practice for the NCCICE in all three modes

   The exam has sight translation both directions, consecutive and simultaneous, and you need 70% on all three sections, scored on scoring units. Scoring 80% on every section earns the Master Certified level. OLAS's resource page points to several commercial prep providers; for graded audio practice at exam pace, CourtFluent's daily drills follow the same consortium format.

5. 5

   Register for and pass the NCCICE ($350 in-state, $500 out-of-state)

   The exam fee is $350 for in-state candidates and $500 for out-of-state candidates, credited to a later date if you withdraw by the posted deadline. Passing at 70% on all three sections places you on the Registry as Certified (Level A2); 80% on all three is Master Certified (Level A1). Lower qualifying scores can be classified Conditionally Qualified (Level B), a status OLAS uses when no certified interpreter is available.

6. 6

   Contract with the NCAOC and keep your certification

   Certified Spanish interpreters may contract with the NCAOC and are listed in the directory used by every judicial district. Maintenance includes renewal fees, periodic record checks and continuing education set by the NCAOC; the public pages we reached did not state hour counts, so confirm with OLAS.