Program Information and Registration

Certification is available in the following languages: 
Amharic, Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Levantine), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Cantonese, Filipino (Tagalog), French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese

  • As the first step in the certification process, candidates must register for and complete three webinars and a two-day orientation that will familiarize students with the Virginia Judicial System, courtroom protocol, the role of the interpreter, specific skills needed for the different modes of interpreting, and "do's and don'ts" on the job. 
    Note: Please read this entire document before filling out the registration form.

    • Registration for the virtual orientation September 12–13 is now closed.
    • Registration for the in-person orientation November 14–15 will open August 16 and close August 30.

    Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive a link to the webinars and an electronic binder with information on how to access court-related glossaries and documents describing the court system and legal procedures. The training also includes an overview of self-study techniques, practice sessions, available resources, and suggestions on how to prepare for the oral exam.

    Three-part Webinar Series
    The webinar component consists of three pre-recorded sessions, each one hour long. All three sessions must be completed before the orientation.

    Two-day Orientation
    The two-day orientation may be held virtually or in person in Hanover, VA. The orientation covers general information for court interpreters and is not intended as preparation for the written or oral exams.
    Note: There is a fee of $225 for Orientation.

  • The written test is an intermediate-level exam and requires extensive self-preparation. It consists of 135 multiple-choice questions that measure basic, general English proficiency as well as court and ethics knowledge. The test is written by the National Center for State Courts and administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia.
     

    Candidates must score a minimum of 80% on the written test to pass. You must pass the written test before you can register for the oral exam. The written exam may be taken only one time within a 6-month period.
     

    • Registration for Step Two will be open one more time in 2024.
    • Registration for the written exam held on November 15 will open on August 16 and close August 30.
    • There is a fee of $125 for the written exam. The written exam is available to all languages. Candidates of non-certifiable languages who wish to achieve the “qualified” status in Virginia are required to attend the orientation and pass the written exam with a minimum score of 80%.

  • This exam tests proficiency in the 3 modes of interpretation:

    1. Simultaneous interpretation from English to the foreign language;
    2. Consecutive interpretation, English to the foreign language and the foreign language to English;
    3. Sight translation of an English document into the foreign language; and vice versa

    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 translation portions.

    The Oral Exam is administered in-person at the Virginia Public Safety Training Center in Hanover, VA. The Oral Exam may be taken only one time within a 6-month period.

    • There are no further registration opportunities for the oral exam in 2024.
    • Oral exams for 2025 have not yet been scheduled.
    • There is a fee of $225 for the oral exam.

  • Non-Certified Languages

    Though certification is not available for all languages, interpreters of all languages are encouraged to participate in the orientation and to take the written exam. Interpreters of non-certifiable languages who successfully complete the orientation and written exam in a 3-year period will be considered qualified interpreters in Virginia.

    Registration forms are only available during registration periods.

    Notes about pre-registration, space, and payment:

    • Candidates are registered in the order in which the registration forms are received. Space is limited. Once our registration limit has been met, participants will be placed on a wait list on a first-come, first-served basis. (Please note that preference will be given to in-state candidates).
    • You will receive payment instructions via email. You must mail in your payment. You may not pay in-person at the Supreme Court or anywhere else.
    • Your payment deadline will be specified in your confirmation email.
    • If payment is not received by the deadline, your spot will be given to someone on the waitlist. No late payments will be accepted. No refunds will be given.
    • Please do not send any payment unless you receive a confirmation email of registration.

    2024 Certification Calendar
    Note: All dates are tentative and may be subject to change without prior notice. Registration will close on specified dates, please refer to the calendar.

    Fees
    Orientation: All Languages $225.00
    Written Exam: $125.00
    Oral Exam: Certification candidates only $225.00

    • Fees are subject to change without notice. There are NO refunds given to those who register and do not attend the class or exam. 
    • If, after registering, you ask to postpone the class or exam, you will receive a credit for the amount that you paid minus a $50.00 rescheduling fee.  We cannot guarantee that there will be space in the next class or exam or that there will not be a fee increase.  You will have to determine whether the postponement still allows you to complete all three elements (orientation, the written exam and the oral exam) within the allotted 3-year period. 
    • The Supreme Court of Virginia will NOT reimburse your travel, parking, meal or lodging expenses.

    Recertification Workshop
    Virginia courts qualify interpreters and encourage recertification through continuing education opportunities. This will be updated when modules are available.
    For questions regarding recertification, please email [email protected].

    Register for Step One: Webinars and Orientation

    • Registration for the virtual orientation held on September 12–13 is now closed.
    • Registration for the in-person orientation held November 14–15 will open August 16 and close August 30.

    Register for Step Two: Written Exam
    Registration for the written exam on November 15 will open August 16 and close August 30.

    Register for Step Three: Oral Exam
    There are no further registration opportunities in 2024. Oral exams for 2025 have not yet been scheduled.