In re Rules of the State Bd. of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters
| Decision Date | 12 January 2015 |
| Citation | 2015 OK 2 |
| Court | Oklahoma Supreme Court |
| Parties | IN RE: RULES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF CERTIFIED COURTROOM INTERPRETERS |
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma hereby adopts the Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters, submitted to this Court with the unanimous approval of the Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters and set out in the attachment hereto. These rules shall be codified as Rules 1 - 24 in Appendix II to Chapter 23 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes. These rules will replace the Interim Rules currently codified at Title 20, Ch. 23, Appendix II, which are hereby withdrawn.
DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE THIS 12th DAY OF JANUARY, 2015.
/S/CHIEF JUSTICE
Appendix II - Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters
Rule 1. Administration
Rule 2. Levels of Courtroom Interpreter Credentials
Rule 3. General Requirements for Eligibility
Rule 4. Authorized Examinations for Oklahoma Courtroom Interpreter Credentialing
Rule 5. Registered Courtroom Interpreter Requirements
Rule 6. Orientation Training Program
Rule 7. Court Interpreter Written Examination
Rule 8. Foreign Language Basic Proficiency Assessment
Rule 9. Agreement to Comply with Code of Professional Responsibility
Rule 10. Fees
Rule 11. Certified Courtroom Interpreter Requirements and Oral Interpreter Examination
Rule 12. Sign Language Interpreters
Rule 13. Certification by Reciprocity
Rule 14. Background Checks
Rule 15. Notification of Results of Examination
Rule 16. Enrollment
Rule 17. Abbreviations
Rule 18. Certificate Renewal
Rule 19. Continuing Education
Rule 20. Annual Continuing Education Report
Rule 21. Standards Governing Approval of Continuing Education Programs
Rule 22. Voluntary Inactive Certificate Status
Rule 23. Electronic Mail
Rule 24. Immunity
TITLE 20 - Courts
CHAPTER 23 - Courtroom Interpreters
Appendix II - Rules of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters
Rule 1. Administration
The examination of candidates who seek to attain the status of Registered Courtroom Interpreters and Certified Courtroom Interpreters, and the general administration of Oklahoma courtroom interpreter credentials, shall be under the direction and control of the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Certified Courtroom Interpreters (hereinafter "the Board"). Pursuant to Section 1702 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the following Rules are adopted.
The Board designates and authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to receive and accept on behalf of the Board any notice, submission or other correspondence referenced in these rules.
Rule 2. Levels of Courtroom Interpreter Credentials
The following levels of courtroom interpreter certifications are hereby recognized in the Oklahoma courts: Certified Courtroom Interpreters and Registered Courtroom Interpreters. In addition, the Board may maintain a list of Provisional Status Interpreters as provided below.
a) A "Certified Courtroom Interpreter" (also referred to herein as a "Certified Interpreter") is a foreign language interpreter who has achieved certification - the highest credential for courtroom interpreting in Oklahoma -- pursuant to the requirements of these Rules, and who holds a current certification status with the Board.
b) A "Registered Courtroom Interpreter" (also referred to herein as a "Registered Interpreter") is a foreign language interpreter who has not achieved certification, but has met the professional competency standards set forth in these Rules, and who holds a current registration status with the Board. Registered Interpreters hold the second highest credential for courtroom interpreting in Oklahoma.
c) A "Provisional Status Interpreter" (also referred to herein as a "Provisional Interpreter") is a foreign language interpreter who has not achieved certification or registration but has met certain minimum verified requirements as previously authorized by the Supreme Court in its Interim Rules previously promulgated by Order No. SCAD 2014-31 (2014 OK 45). Provisional Interpreters do not possess an official certification and have not achieved the higher levels of training and qualifications required of Registered and Certified Interpreters.
d) Agree in writing to comply with the Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters in the Oklahoma Courts, and
e) Possess one or more of the following:
i. A four (4) year college degree majoring in the language for which provisional status is requested (the applicant's academic major must be the foreign language to be interpreted),
ii. Provisional status, or a similar credential from another state court which, in the discretion of the Board, establishes the candidate is qualified for provisional status in Oklahoma, or
iii. Experience providing professional language services in the courtroom setting which, in the discretion of the Board, establishes that the candidate is qualified for provisional status.
2) Provisional Interpreters are listed on the active Provisional Interpreter registry which is maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts and which may be posted on the Supreme Court's website.
3) Subject to the provisions of 20 O.S. §1710, a Provisional Interpreter may act as a courtroom interpreter in both translation of written text and interpretation of spoken words only when a Certified or Registered Interpreter is not available.
4) The purpose of the interim provisional-status process is to assist the Oklahoma courts in providing qualified language interpreters while Oklahoma's courtroom interpreter credentialing program is under development. It is intended that the granting of the provisional status credential shall be superseded by the Board's permanent credentialing process when it becomes available. The Board, in its discretion, may recommend that the Supreme Court stop accepting applications for provisional status in one or more languages at any time. The Board shall cease accepting provisional status applications when an Oklahoma registration or certification credential becomes available in that language.
5) An interpreter with provisional status shall be required to achieve an Oklahoma interpreter credential (Oklahoma registration or certification) within two (2) years from the date the Board first offers Oklahoma credentialing in that language (in most instances, this will be two (2) years from the date the Board first offers the written interpreter exam and basic proficiency assessment for applicants seeking credentialing in that language). If the interpreter fails to achieve Oklahoma registration or certification as required by this paragraph, his or her provisional status shall expire automatically, without further action of the Board, and the interpreter's name shall be removed from the registry maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts. An interpreter who fails to achieve Oklahoma registration or certification within the time period required by this paragraph may not re-apply for further provisional status.
6) If approved by the Board, a Provisional Status Interpreter may receive a one-time credit in the amount paid for his or her provisional application fee, to be applied to the fees required for Oklahoma registration or certification.
7) The Board may recommend that the Supreme Court remove a Provisional Status Interpreter from the registry if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that such action would be in the best interest of the courts. The Board may recommend that the Supreme Court discontinue maintaining the list of Provisional Status Interpreters in one or more languages if the Board determines that such action would be in the best interest of the courts.
8) Use of an interpreter with provisional status shall not suppress the mandatory audio recording requirement in 20 O.S. §1710.
Rule 3. General Requirements for Eligibility
a) Every candidate who seeks to attain the status of Registered or Certified Courtroom Interpreter shall:
1) Prove to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she is:
a) of legal age;
b) meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness; and
c) has at least a high school education, or the equivalent thereof; and
2) Submit to the Board properly completed application forms, accompanied by such evidence, statements or documents as are required by the Board, along with payment of the fees required by the Board and approved by the Supreme Court.
b) Academic dishonesty during the examination process will result in the...
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