|Language Services Home|

Becoming a NJ Court Interpreter in a Spoken Language

September 2008

How Does One Become an Approved or Registered Court Interpreter in a Spoken Language?

All persons who wish to become court interpreters and work in New Jersey's courts must complete the following steps in the order they appear :

1. Score 70% or higher on the written qualifying test.  Pre-registration is required for this test. It is offered periodically throughout the year, according to a published schedule. Click here to read information regarding the written qualifying test, including dates and instructions for registering.



2. Complete the Orientation Seminar.  This one-day seminar is offered periodically several times throughout the year. In order to receive credit for completing the seminar one must attend the full session.  While we prefer participants to attend one all-day session, if conflicts arise, arrangements can be made to attend the morning portion on one date and the afternoon portion on another.   Please do not register for this seminar until you have qualified to attend it; after the written test.   Click here to get a list of seminar dates. (Note: If you think you may be eligible to waive the seminar, please click here to read important information.)



3. Complete whatever additional testing is required.

   If one's language is included in the list below, the corresponding interpreting exam is required. These exams are scheduled on an ad hoc basis at least three weeks after the orientation seminar.   (Note: To view important information for your language(s), click the language name below.)

   Arabic (Modern Standard, Egyptian Colloquial, Levantine), Bosnian, Cantonese, Croatian, French, German, Haitian Creole, H'mong, Italian, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, or Vietnamese

   
   
   

   Tests are being developed in the following additional languages and will become required as soon as they are available: Chuukese, Hindi, Ilocano, Marshallese, and Panjabi (Eastern).

   
   
   

   Candidates in other languages not listed above take a test of spoken English proficiency. Click here to view additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Are Required to Be a Court Interpreter?



2. What is the difference between an "approved" court interpreter and a "conditionally approved" court interpreter?



3. What is the difference between an “approved” or “conditionally approved” court interpreter and a “registered” court interpreter?



4. How Does an Interpreter Credentialed Elsewhere Become Eligible to Work as a Contract Interpreter in New Jersey?



5. How Does One Request and Obtain a Waiver of the Orientation Seminar?