La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § VII-1301

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section VII-1301 - Certification Standards

A. Certification Statement. All individuals who use the title Sign Language Interpreter must be certified by and registered with the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.

1. Recognition of situational specialties will require action of the appropriate subcommittees of the Interpreter Certification Board.

a. Qualifications for certification:

i. be at least 18 years of age; and

ii. possess a high school diploma/GED; and

iii. submit completed application forms and required documentation; and

iv. pass appropriate examination(s); and

v. possess no felony or misdemeanor convictions for offenses which directly relate to the duties and responsibilities of an interpreter/transliterator; and

vi. abide by state laws, rules and regulations; and

vii. abide by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) Code of Ethics.

b. In addition, applicants shall agree to:

i. sign a release of information form allowing LCD to gain examination results from examining agency(ies); and

ii. pay membership and related application fees to contracted examining agency(ies).

c. Application. An individual interested in certification must contact the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD).

B. Examinations. The State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program includes the following.

1. Screening. To begin the certification process, the candidate must successfully pass a screening instrument which will be determined by the ICB as approved by the LCD.

2. Written/Verbal/Performance Components. Upon successful completion of screening, the candidate will be eligible for the written examination(s), which will assess knowledge of the general field of deafness including deaf culture; the profession of interpreting/transliterating for persons who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing and application of the RID Code of Ethics.

a. Upon successful completion of the written examination(s), the candidate will be eligible for the verbal and/or performance examination(s).

b. The verbal examination(s) may include but not be limited to assessing knowledge of the general field of deafness including deaf culture, the profession of interpreting/transliterating and application of the RID Code of Ethics.

c. The performance examination will assess the candidate's ability to interpret and/or transliterate in the appropriate mode(s).

3. Examination Instrument. The Interpreter Certification Board will determine the examination(s) to be administered as approved by the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.

4. Examination Dates. Administration of examination(s) will be scheduled by the Interpreter Certification Board.

5. Notification of Examination(s) Results. Individual candidates will be notified of results. Results of any part of the examination(s) will be maintained in confidential files, however, successful completion of the Interpreting/ Transliterating Certification Program will be a matter of public record.

6. Re-Application. Persons who do not successfully pass any section(s) of the examination may apply for re-examination of said section(s) after a waiting period as outlined in the State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program Procedures Manual.

7. No Shows. Failure to appear at an examination site at the appropriate time, for other than just cause as determined by ICB, will result in being placed at the bottom of the waiting list for the next available date.

C. Certificates

1. Certificate Criteria. The candidate:

a. must successfully complete the written examination(s); and

b. must successfully complete the verbal and/or performance examination(s);

c. must successfully complete a performance examination;

d. will be awarded various levels as outlined in the procedure manual of the Interpreter Certification Board.

2. Certificate Duration/Maintenance. Certificates shall be continuous as long as the individual interpreter meets certificate maintenance requirements as outlined in the State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program Procedures Manual. Certificate maintenance requirements shall include but not be limited to professional growth and development, and field work.

a. Certificates shall be terminated when maintenance requirements are not met, but may be restored as outlined in the State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program Procedures Manual.

3. Recognition. Recognition of interpreting/ transliterating certificates shall be approved as outlined in the State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program Procedures Manual.

4. Appeals. Individuals who disagree with the examination procedure and/or decisions of the Interpreter Certification Board have the right of appeal as outlined in the State Interpreter/Transliterator Certification Program Procedures Manual.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § VII-1301

Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services, Commission for the Deaf, LR 17:389 (April 1991), amended LR 18:968 (September 1992), LR 19:905 (July 1993), LR 21:838 (August 1995), LR 26:1489 (July 2000).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:2351-2354 and 46:2361-2374.