How do I Become a Georgia Court Certified Interpreter?

The Georgia Commission on Interpreters oversees the court interpreter certification process.

The Georgia Commission on Interpreters oversees the certification process for the state's court interpreters. According to the commission, Georgia recognizes three types of interpreter licenses: certified, conditionally-approved and registered. Prospective court interpreters must fulfill the commission's court interpreter program requirements.

Court Interpreter Orientation

The court interpreter program begins with a required two-day orientation training. According to the Judicial Branch of Georgia, the training includes topics in courtroom procedures, the judicial process, interpreter ethics, interpreter techniques and preparation for the written examination. Candidates must complete the training before they can undergo further steps.

Bilingual Language Qualifications

Certified court interpreters must demonstrate bilingual ability in English and a foreign language. Candidates must achieve a score of at least 80 percent on a written examination in English that covers the training material as well as general language proficiency. Each candidate must also demonstrate foreign language ability by passing an oral certification test or by passing two oral proficiency interviews if no test exists for the foreign language of choice.

Court Observation

The Georgia Commission on Interpreters requires each candidate to fulfill and log a certain number of court observation hours. The candidate must complete three hours if observing a proceeding with a certified interpreter present or six hours without a certified interpreter present.

Additional Licensure Requirements

After meeting the training, testing and observation requirements, the applicant must pass a background check and complete the appropriate paperwork to become a certified court interpreter. The candidate can receive a license to work as a certified interpreter upon successful completion of the commission's requirements

References

• Georgia Commission on Interpreters: Georgia Certification
• Judicial Branch of Georgia: Commission on Interpreters: Court Interpreter Program
• Georgia Commission on Interpreters: Steps on Becoming an Interpreter

Resources

• Georgia Commission on Interpreters: Interpreter Resources
• Atlanta Association of Interpreters and Translators: FAQ's
• National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators: Welcome to NAJIT