Annual Renewal, Compliance, and Continuing Education

2025 Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance Cycle

The renewal period for certified and registered court interpreters is open from July 1, 2025, to November 26, 2025.

  • All active interpreters must:
    1. Pay the $100 annual renewal fee.
    2. Confirm (if due this year) that they have completed their required continuing education and professional assignments.

You can do both online through the Court Interpreter Data Collection System (CIDCS).

If you are paying by check and using a paper form, the Court Interpreters Program must receive your payment and form by November 26, 2025. If they are late, your credential will be suspended.

Important changes starting January 1, 2025:

  • Late fees and automatic revocation have been eliminated.
  • If you miss the November 26 deadline, you will be suspended and removed from the Master List.
  • You can be reinstated at any time by paying both:
    • The $100 annual renewal fee, and
    • A $250 reinstatement fee (total $350).

To avoid suspension and the extra fee, make sure your $100 payment arrives by November 26, 2025. The revised Compliance Requirements are available here. A summary chart provides an overview of the changes. 

For completing the compliance requirements online, please note:

  • The Interpreter Portal only accepts Visa and Mastercard
  • Use a non-Apple device
  • Use Google Chrome
  • Clear the browser cache

Resources:

  • A memorandum to all active certified and registered court interpreters discusses the new online process, provides all necessary forms, and includes an instructional PowerPoint on how to use the new payment and attestation functions of CIDCS.
  • An instructional video on how to use the new payment and attestation functions of CIDCS. It is also available here.
  • All compliance requirements are outlined in the Compliance Requirements for Certified Court and Registered Interpreters (2025).                                                       

In accordance with Government Code section 68562, all spoken language interpreters must meet annual renewal requirements to maintain their credentialed status as a California certified court or registered interpreter. 

The Court Interpreters Program reserves the right to audit and request documentation verifying completion of compliance requirements. Interpreters are responsible for ensuring that that the Court Interpreters Program has their current contact information in its records. An interpreter who does not ensure that the Court Interpreters Program has his/her current mailing address and e-mail address is not exempted from fulfilling his/her compliance requirements. Interpreters may update their contact information by utilizing the Interpreter Portal in the Court Interpreter Data Collection System (CIDCS), e-mailing updates to courtinterpreters@jud.ca.gov, or completing and mailing the Information Update/Verification form. 

Minimum Continuing Education Requirements

Interpreters are required to retain documentation as proof of having met their Continuing Interpreter Minimum Education (CIMCE) requirements, as well as their professional assignment requirements, for five years. Educational providers include CIMCE numbers on certificate(s), transcripts, and letters. If you lose your certificate of completion or other documentation verifying course attendance, you must contact the provider. The Court Interpreters Program does not maintain a list of course availability. Please consult the list of continuing education providers with approved courses for contact information to inquire about current course offerings. 

We highly encourage interpreters to seek out courses offered by providers whose educational activities are approved by the Court Interpreters Program for CIMCE. However, interpreters who have taken non-CIMCE approved courses and wish to apply for credit must complete an application for approval and submit it to the Court Interpreters Program at cimce@jud.ca.gov. Only courses that meet the criteria found in the Compliance Requirements for Certified and Registered Court Interpreters (2025) will be considered. Please note that an application fee may apply. 

Forms and Resources for Continuing Education