Rule 47.7 - Mandatory continuing educationInterpreters on the Iowa statewide roster of court interpreters must satisfy continuing education requirements to remain on the roster and to maintain a certified status.
(1)Annual report deadline; fee; hours required.a. Annual report deadline. Beginning in 2017, by May 15 of each year, interpreters on the Iowa roster of court interpreters must report to the OPR continuing education hours for the previous calendar year, using a form the OPR provides.b. Annual report fee. Upon the filing of the annual continuing education report, interpreters on the statewide roster must pay a fee of $10 to the OPR.c. Required hours of continuing education. Beginning in 2016, during each calendar year interpreters on the Iowa roster of court interpreters must attend at least six hours of continuing education that contributes directly to the professionalism and competency of the court interpreter. At least one of the six hours must address court interpreter ethics. Court interpreters on the Iowa roster of court interpreters do not have to meet these continuing education requirements during the first calendar year the interpreters are on the roster, but they must file the annual continuing education report and pay the annual continuing education fee by May 15 of the following calendar year.(2)Education program requirements. Either live on-site or live interactive computer-based education may be used to fulfill the continuing education requirements. Up to three hours of the continuing education requirements may be fulfilled by unmoderated activity. "Unmoderated activity" means continuing education activity presented by delayed or on-demand transmission or broadcast, in pre-recorded media such as audiotape, videotape, CD, podcast, CD-ROM, DVD, self-paced computer-based instruction, or another format, which has an interactive component and is approved by the OPR. The Language Access in the Courts Advisory Committee will develop guidelines governing approved unmoderated activity. The OPR may request additional information on a program for which continuing education credit is sought, and may refer the program to a panel of the Language Access in the Courts Advisory Committee for a decision as to whether the program should be approved.(3)Carryover of continuing education hours. Up to six hours of continuing education may be carried over from one reporting period into the next reporting period. There will be no carryover of hours beyond one reporting period, and ethics credits may not be carried over except as regular credit hours.(4)Late filing of report; penalty and suspension. Interpreters who miss the May 15 deadline may file their annual reports on or before August 15, but they must assert good cause for failing to meet the deadline and pay the annual report fee in rule 47.7(1) (b) plus a late fee of $35. Court interpreters who fail to file their reports on or before August 15 will have their names removed from the Iowa roster of court interpreters and their certified status, if any, suspended.(5)Agreement on extension; suspension. Court interpreters who file a report on or before August 15 but cannot report sufficient continuing education hours may apply to the OPR for permission to complete the missing continuing education hours on or before November 15. Court interpreters who do not report sufficient continuing education hours under this rule and do not complete any required continuing education under an agreement with the OPR will have their names removed from the Iowa roster of court interpreters and their certified status, if any, suspended.(6)Application for reinstatement. An interpreter who has been suspended for failure to comply with the reporting requirements of rule 47.7(1) may file an application for reinstatement of the interpreter's name to the Iowa roster of court interpreters and of the interpreter's certified status, if applicable. The application must be filed with the OPR and include payment of a $100 reinstatement fee. The interpreter must file all missing reports, show that all required continuing education hours have been obtained, and pay any unpaid filing fees. The interpreter must also swear or affirm that the interpreter did not provide interpreting services in any legal or court proceeding during the suspension period. The OPR may determine whether any additional conditions for reinstatement are necessary.(7)Certificate of exemption. An interpreter may request a certificate of exemption from the continuing education requirements of this rule. When a certificate of exemption is issued, the interpreter's name will be removed from the Iowa roster of court interpreters. The interpreter may seek reinstatement following exemption under the provisions of rule 47.7(6). If the exemption period exceeds five years, the interpreter may be required to retake the interpreter orientation program and any testing the OPR determines is necessary for reinstatement.Ct. Inte. & Tran. R. 47.7
Court Orders December 22, 2003, April 26, 2004, and September 16, 2004, effective 11/1/2004; 8/28/2006, effective 10/1/2006; 2/14/2008, effective 4/1/2008; 8/10/2009; 12/4/2014, effective 7/1/2015; 5/18/2015, effective 7/1/2015; 12/13/2017, effective 1/1/2018.