How to Become a Certified Spoken Language Court Interpreter
A certified spoken language court interpreter is an individual who has passed the Written Examination and the Bilingual Interpreting Exam in one of California’s certified spoken languages and enrolls with the Judicial Council.
Step: 1 Select Your Language(s)
The certified spoken languages are:
| Arabic | Armenian (Eastern) | Armenian (Western)* | Cantonese |
| Farsi (Persian) | Filipino (Tagalog) | Japanese* | Khmer |
| Korean | Mandarin | Portuguese | Punjabi (India) |
| Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese |
*The Bilingual Interpreting Examination (BIE) is not available for this language.
Preferred language not listed?
Click here for information on becoming a registered spoken language court interpreter.
Step: 2 Prepare for the Examinations
NEW! Explore our six-part BIE video series and gain valuable tips for exam preparation.
Take the candidate self-assessment tests to see if you’re ready for the exams.
- Court Interpreter Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Court interpreter Self-Assessment Practice Exercises
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Court Interpreters
Use the additional resources below to learn about the skills needed to pass the examinations.
- Suggested Reading
- Instructions for Court Interpreter Practice Materials
- Skill-Building Exercises
- Self-Assessment Tool and Study Resources
- Resource Guide for Court Interpreters
- Legal Glossaries and Dictionaries
For more on becoming an interpreter, review Prometric's Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) below.
Step: 3 Pass the Written Exam
Candidates must first pass the Written Exam with a score of 80% or higher.
What is in the Written Exam?
The Written Exam tests a candidate’s knowledge of the English language, court-related terms and usage, and ethics and professional conduct. See the Written Exam Overview for more information.
When can I take the exam?
The exam can be taken throughout the year by appointment.
What is the exam fee?
$141.80
This fee is subject to change.
Step: 4 Pass the Bilingual Interpreting Exam (BIE)
The BIE is a four-part exam that candidates must pass in one seating with a score of 70% or higher in each section. The test is an oral exam that measures language knowledge and fluency in both languages and the ability to successfully interpret in three modes of interpreting.
What is in the BIE?
1. Sight translation - English into non-English language: oral interpreter of a document written in English into the non-English language. Non-English language into English: oral interpretation of a document written in the non-English language into English. See Sight Translation Exercises.
2. Consecutive interpretation - interpretation from English into the non-English language and from the non-English language into English.
3. Simultaneous interpretation - interpretation from English into the non-English language, see Simultaneous Interpretation Exercises.
When can I take the exam?
Registration for the Summer/Fall BIE is expected to open in late May 2024, or early June 2024, for all available certified languages.
What is the cost of the exam? *Exam cost subject to change.
$367.71
Step: 5 Congratulations on passing the exams!
Now that you have passed the exams, you are ready to enroll with the Judicial Council as a certified spoken language court interpreter. The Court Interpreters Program will email you the application packet.
Once we have processed your application, your name will be added to the Master List of Certified and Registered Court Interpreters, and your new identification badge will be mailed to you.
If you have passed all exams and have not received the enrollment packet, please email: CourtInterpreters@jud.ca.gov
The Court Interpreters Program welcomes you to this profession, which provides essential language access to the largest judicial system in the nation.