Annual Renewal, Compliance, and Continuing Education

2024 Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance Cycle

The 2024 Court Interpreter Renewal and Compliance cycle for active certified and registered interpreters launched on September 16, 2024. All superior courts and active credentialed interpreters have been notified by e-mail. All active certified and registered court interpreters are required to pay the annual renewal fee of $100 and attest to completion of their continuing education and professional assignments requirements (if due) by December 31, 2024. Interpreters may pay their annual renewal fee and attest to compliance (if due) online through the interpreter portal of the Court Interpreter Data Collection System (CIDCS). If an interpreter is paying his/her annual fee by check and attesting by paper form (if due for that interpreter), the Court Interpreters Program must receive the annual renewal fee and attestation form by December 31, 2024, to avoid suspension and a negative impact to his/her credential.

Note: Effective January 1, 2025, the Court Interpreters Advisory Panel revised the annual compliance requirements for court interpreters and removed late fees and automatic revocation for interpreters who are out of compliance. Instead, interpreters who do not pay by December 31, 2024, will be suspended and removed from the Master List but will be able to become active again at any time by paying the annual fee ($100) and reinstatement fee ($250), for a total of $350. To avoid suspension and payment of the reinstatement fee, please ensure that we have received your annual renewal payment of $100 by December 31, 2024. The revised Compliance Requirements can be previewed 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.                                                        

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 approved continuing education providers 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 will be considered. Please note that an application fee may apply. 

Forms and Resources for Continuing Education