Accepted Credentials for Interpreters
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What credentials does L&I accept?
On this page:
- Maintaining credentials
- Credentials required by L&I for interpreters.
- Credentials from other organizations or states.
Maintaining credentials
Interpreters are responsible for maintaining their credentials as required by the credentialing agency or organization. Should the interpreter's credentials expire or be removed for cause or any other reason, the interpreter must immediately notify L&I or self-insurer(s).
Credentials required by L&I for interpreters
Interpreters are required to have at least 1 of the following credentials in order to have an L&I or Crime Victim interpreter account number.
| Credentials | ||
| Agency or organization | Type | Credential |
| WA State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) | Certified Interpreter | Social or Medical Certificate |
| Qualified Interpreter | Letter of authorization as qualified social and/or medical services interpreter. | |
| Certified Translator | Translator Certificate | |
| WA State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) | Certified Interpreter | Certificate |
| NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) | Certified Interpreter |  Certified Advanced (Level 2), Certified Expert (Level 3) |
| Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) | Certified Interpreter | Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), Master Comprehensive Skills Certificate (MCSC), Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L), Certificate of Interpretation and Transliteration (CI/CT) |
| National Association of the Deaf (NAD) | Certified Interpreter | Level 4 and Level 5 |
| National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters | Certified Medical Interpreter | Certificate |
| Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam Program (FCICE) | Certified Interpreter | Certificate |
| Qualified Interpreter | Letter of designation or authorization | |
| US Dept of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - English Language Officers and Interpreters | Certified Interpreter | Verification letter or Certificate |
| American Translators Association (ATA) | Certified Translator | Certificate |
| A state or federal agency; A state or federal court system; Other organization including language agencies; and/or An accredited academic institution of higher education. |
Qualified Translator | Certificate or other verification showing: Successful completion of an exam of written language fluency in both English and in the other tested language(s); and A minimum of 2 years experience in document translation. |
Credentials from other organizations or states
Interpreters located outside of Washington state must submit credentials from their state Medicaid program, state or national court systems or other nationally recognized programs. For interpreters from any geographic area, credentials submitted from agencies or organizations other than those listed above, may be accepted if the testing criteria can be verified as meeting the minimum standards listed below:
| Testing criteria | |
| Interpreter test consists of, at a minimum: | Translator test consists of at a minimum: |
| A written test in English; and | A written test in English and in the other language(s) tested; or |
| A verbal test of sight translation in both English and other tested language(s); and | A written test and work samples demonstrating the ability to accurately translate from one specific source language to another specific target language. |
| A verbal test of consecutive interpretation in both languages. | |
| For those providing services in a legal setting, a verbal test of simultaneous interpretation in both languages. | |
