Foreign Language Services

Paul F. DeLosh, Director
(804) 786-6455

General Inquiries
(804) 786-6455
[email protected]

Certification Team
[email protected] 

Foreign Language Services Organizational Chart

Certification Calendar

  • The mission of the Foreign Language Services (FLS) Division is to assist individuals with limited English proficiency in overcoming language barriers to ensure equal access to Virginia’s Judicial System. FLS provides interpretation and sight translation services, certifies and hires highly trained interpreters, and establishes and upholds the highest professional standards for the delivery of language services.

  • The Judicial Council of Virginia has developed a process to certify persons serving as foreign language interpreters in court proceedings in the Commonwealth. The goal is to ensure interpreters have the skills they need to perform effectively in a court setting.

    There are two pathways in the program, depending on whether a certification exam is available for a language:

    • Certified Status – For interpreters of languages with a certification exam. Languages include:
      Amharic, Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Levantine), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Cantonese, Filipino (Tagalog), French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese. The National Center for State Courts’ List of Available Oral Exams
    • Qualified Status – For interpreters of languages that do not yet have a certification exam.

    Select the status that applies to you for requirement details:

    Certification Requirements

    Qualification Requirements

  • *Candidates who started the Certification/Qualification Process prior to January 2025 please click here for more information.  

    **Registration forms are only available during registration periods.

    Certification Calendar

    Registration Information

    • Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on the first day of the registration window.
    • Once you complete the registration form, eligible candidates will be directed to the FLS online payment portal to finalize their registration.
    • Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
    • Preference will be given to in-state candidates.

    Please Note: All dates are tentative and subject to change without prior notice. Registration will close either when capacity is reached or on the specified deadline, whichever occurs first. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the calendar.

    Fees

    Oral Proficiency Interviews: $65 per language. 

    Written Exam: $125.00

    Orientation: All Languages $225.00

    Oral Exam: Certification-certified languages candidates only $225.00-$600 (language dependent)

    Notes: 

    • Fees are subject to change without notice.
    • The Supreme Court of Virginia will NOT reimburse your travel, parking, meal or lodging expenses.

    Refund Policy

    Registration Information for Individual Certification Elements:

    Register for Step 1: Webinars
    Open year-round. 

    Complete Step 2: Oral Proficiency Interview
    Open year-round. 

    Register for Step 3: Written Exam
    Registration forms are only available during registration periods.
    The written exam will be administered twice a year. View our Certification Calendar for upcoming registration and exam dates.  
    Complete the Registration Form.

    Register for Step 4: 2-day Interpreter Orientation
    Registration forms are only available during registration periods.
    Orientation will be administered twice a year. View our Certification Calendar for upcoming registration and exam dates.  
    Complete the Registration Form.

    Register for Step 5: Certifiable Languages Oral Exam
    Registration forms are only available during registration periods.
    Oral Exams will be administered twice a year. View our Certification Calendar for upcoming registration and exam dates. 
    Complete the Registration Form.

    For questions, please email [email protected] 

    1. Why Certification?
      In Virginia, while there's no statutory requirement that only certified interpreters be used during court proceedings, preference is given to certified interpreters due to their proven competence and skills. Courts are encouraged to request these certified professionals, as they have undergone a rigorous certification process that ensures they can provide accurate and effective language interpretation services. This emphasis on certified interpreters helps maintain the integrity of court proceedings and ensures that all parties have fair access to justice.

     

    1. What languages are certifiable in Virginia? 
      Virginia certifies all 18 languages certifiable by the National Center for State Courts: {Interpreter info | NCSC}
      Amharic
      Arabic (Egyptian)
      Arabic (Levantine)
      Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian
      Cantonese
      Filipino (Tagalog)
      French
      Haitian Creole
      Hmong
      Khmer
      Korean
      Mandarin
      Polish
      Portuguese
      Russian
      Somali
      Spanish
      Turkish
      Vietnamese

     

    1. What about languages that are not certifiable in Virginia? 
      For languages that are not certifiable through the National Center for State Courts, Virginia offers a “qualified” status. To become qualified the interpreter candidate has to complete steps one through four of the certification process and sign the interpreter’s oath.

     

    1. How do I register to meet step 2, the OPI requirement?
      After completing Step 1 and viewing the required webinars, candidates must submit the Webinar Assertion Form, which provides detailed instructions for completing Step 2: the OPI requirement.

     

    1. What are the minimum requirements for an interpreter candidate to provide interpretation services in Virginia courts?
      For both certifiable and non-certifiable languages, interpreter candidates must complete steps 1–4 of the certification/qualification process, to include:
      1. Completing a court observation period totaling 15 hours
      2. Submitting a resume

      3. Participating in an interview with a member of the certification team

        Once approved, the candidate will be added to the internal list of approved interpreters.

     

    1. How do I register for the written exam?
      Candidates who wish to register for the written exam (step 3 of the certification process) must have completed step 1 (webinars) and step 2 (oral proficiency interviews) to be eligible to register. You can find the schedule for registration dates here.

     

    1. How do I register for the oral exam? 
      Candidates who have completed steps 1 through 4 (webinars, OPIs, written exam, and orientation) may sign up online for the oral exam. The oral exam is given twice a year in two locations. Candidates may not take the oral exam more than once in a 6-month period. Registration is open at announced times until capacity is reached. You can find the schedule for registration dates here.

     

    1.  What if I did not pass the written exam?
      You can take the written exam every six months for up to 3 attempts. Three unsuccessful attempts require the candidate to provide a certificate of completion, at candidates’ expense, of an English course. Acceptable courses:
    • TOEFL Prep Course
    • Upper-level English college course

    • Courses specific to the preparation of the interpreter written exam.

      After completion of a qualified English course, two more attempts will be permitted before disqualification from the program.

     

    1. What if I complete the minimum requirements, steps 1-4, but decide not to take the oral exam?
      Beginning October 2025, interpreter candidates who have completed the first four steps and are eligible to provide in-court interpretation services, must meet the following milestones to continue providing services in Virginia courts:

      Certifiable Languages
      1. Conditionally Non-Certified: Candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be designated as conditionally non-certified. They must take the oral exam and score at least 60% on each section within two years of becoming conditionally non-certified. The oral exam may be taken once every six months.
      2. Non-Certified: Candidates who meet the 60% threshold on each of section of the oral exam will be considered non-certified. They must pass the full oral certification exam within two years. The oral exam may be taken once every six months and in accordance with the conditions set forth in the Certification Program.

    Candidates who do not actively pursue these milestones may be removed from the Virginia interpreter roster until they meet the required standards.

    Candidates currently designated as non-certified interpreters, who have not yet met the minimum requirements and are not actively pursuing certification will have a transition period through January 2027 to achieve compliance. During this time, individuals are encouraged to make progress toward certification. Those who do not meet the requirements or demonstrate effort by the end of the transition period may be reclassified, and individuals who make no progress may be removed from the Virginia Interpreter Roster.

    Note: When scheduling interpreter assignments, preference will be given to non-certified candidates over conditionally non-certified candidates. However, certified interpreters will receive priority over all non-certified designations.

     

    1. I completed the orientation and passed the written exam in another state. May I register for the oral exam in Virginia? 
      With some exceptions, the Commonwealth of Virginia accepts certification components from other states and the federal courts. Please contact the Department of Judicial Services, Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia by email at [email protected] to request an evaluation of your status.
      Note: Preference will be given to in-state candidates. 

     

    1. What other types of certifications does Virginia accept?
      Any person who has met the requirements for federal court certification or certification by a state judicial system participating in the State Court Interpreter Certification Consortium administered by the National Center for State Courts, and the components meet Virginia certification requirements. Please visit the page on Reciprocity Requirements. 

     

    1. If I took the oral exam but did not pass one or more of the sections, do have I have to retake the entire oral exam? 
      Yes. The Supreme Court of Virginia does not offer individual sections of the oral exam.

     

    1. I successfully completed interpreter testing and training elements at Virginia standards, but I would like to retake an exam for a higher score. Can I register to retake an exam?
      Virginia does not administer retakes of certification exams once the candidate has qualified for interpreter certification in Virginia.

     

    1. I am interested in earning federal certification. How do I become a federally certified foreign language interpreter?
      For information on federal certification, visit this page. 

     

    1. I passed my exams and am certified! Am I now an employee of the courts?
      No, you are not an employee of the courts. You are an independent contractor. The Foreign Language Services Division (FLS) keeps a list of certified, non-certified and qualified interpreter contractors. In most cases, when a court needs an interpreter, the clerk requests an interpreter through FLS. Language access coordinators then contact an interpreter to arrange the assignment. Regular employee positions are advertised through Jobs.Virginia.gov.

     

    1. How are interpreters paid?
      Interpreters are independent contractors and must establish their own taxpayer ID number to be paid by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Submitting invoices and receiving payment for interpreting services are covered in detail during the 2-day interpreter orientation.

     

    1. How much are interpreters paid?
      Compensation of an interpreter appointed by the court is fixed by the court, in accordance with guidelines set by the Judicial Council of Virginia. Current rates and guidelines can be found in Chapter 8 of the Language Access Plan 

     

    1. What if I have more questions?
      Please email any questions regarding certification to [email protected]. 

  • This page provides a selection of study materials and resources intended to support interpreters as they prepare for and progress through the certification process. These resources represent only a portion of the many tools available to assist interpreters in developing and strengthening their professional skills. Many of the materials listed may also be used to support continuing education requirements and ongoing professional development.

    The inclusion of any resource on the Study Materials and Resources page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute approval of, endorsement of, or recommendation by the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Judicial Council of Virginia, or the Office of the Executive Secretary of any organization, agency, product, service, or material.

  • The Office of the Executive Secretary has set standards that must be met for a candidate to be granted certification or qualification reciprocity in the state of Virginia. 

    Certification Reciprocity
    If you are seeking certification reciprocity in one of the 18 languages that are certifiable by Virginia (Amharic, Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Levantine), Bosnian Croatian-Serbian, Cantonese, Filipino (Tagalog), French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese), click the link below for more information.

    Qualification Reciprocity
    If you are seeking qualification reciprocity in any language other than a certifiable language, mentioned above, click the link below for more information

  • Virginia Directory of Certified Court Interpreters – Not for Court Use

    Interpreter Directory Information

    The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) of the Supreme Court of Virginia maintains a public directory of certified court interpreters who have agreed to share their contact information for private interpretation services outside the court system. OES does not make recommendations or endorsements.

    Using the Directory
    Search by language to find interpreters for private assignments. Contact interpreters directly to discuss availability, scope of work, and compensation.

    Important Note
    The Office of the Executive Secretary does not coordinate or assume responsibility for any private arrangements concerning interpretation or translation services. These arrangements are strictly between the interpreter and the hiring party. For court-related matters, please contact the clerk’s office where the case will be heard. 

    About Certification
    Certified Court Interpreters have completed a rigorous certification process, which includes:

    • A two-day orientation covering ethics and courtroom protocol
    • A written exam on English vocabulary, legal terminology, and interpreter ethics
    • A comprehensive oral exam assessing proficiency in:
      • Sight translation
      • Consecutive interpretation
      • Simultaneous interpretation

    Certified interpreters are qualified to work in a range of legal and professional settings.

    Questions?
    Please contact the Foreign Language Services Coordinator at: [email protected]

  • Foreign language translations of certain court forms for informational purposes only. All forms filed with the court are required to be completed in English.