Certification Requirements

Step 1: Complete a Webinar Series
As the first step in the certification process, candidates must register for and complete three webinars that will familiarize them with the Virginia Judicial System. The webinar consists of three one-hour-long sessions, which must be completed before the candidate can move on to step two of the program.

Step 2: Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)
Candidate must provide scores for an OPI testing of both speaking and listening skills in their non-English language(s).

Step 3: Written Exam
The written test consists of 135 multiple-choice questions that are designed to measure basic, general English language proficiency, and court and ethics knowledge. Candidates must score a minimum of 80% on the written test to be eligible to register for the 2-day interpreter orientation. The test is created by National Center for State Courts and administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, twice a year, in person at 4 different locations: Chesapeake, Hanover, Warrenton and Blacksburg, VA.

Step 4: 2-day Interpreter Orientation
This orientation will familiarize interpreter candidates with the Virginia Judicial System, courtroom protocol, the role of the interpreter, specific skills needed for the different modes of interpreting, and a thorough review of the code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters. The training also includes an overview of self-study techniques, practice sessions, available resources, and suggestions on how to prepare for the oral certification exam.

The orientation is offered twice a year in two locations: Hanover and Warrenton, VA.

Step 5: Oral Exam
Candidates must pass an oral exam, which tests proficiency in the 3 modes of interpretation:

• Sight translation of an English document into the non-English language; and vice versa
• Consecutive interpretation, English to the foreign language and the foreign language to English
• Simultaneous interpretation from English to the foreign language

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 translations portions. The test is created by The National Center for State Courts{link} and administered by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in person, twice a year, in two locations: Hanover and Warrenton, VA.

Step 6: Sign the Interpreter’s Oath
Candidates who successfully complete all four steps become qualified in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, candidates must review and agree to adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility for Foreign Language Interpreters Serving Virginia Courts by signing the Interpreter’s Oath.

Once the oath is signed, the candidate is a qualified interpreter in the state of Virginia.