Foreign Language Services

Paul F. DeLosh, Director
(804) 786-6455
Language Administrators
(804) 786-6455
[email protected]

Foreign Language Services Organizational Chart

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

  • 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]