Institutions in California


Certification in California

In California, the California State Personnel Board offers a certification examination for interpreters to qualify them for different levels of interpreting. Cooperative Personnel Services--Human Resource Services (CPS) administers the State Certification Exam for Court Interpreters.

State certification exams are offered in 11 designated languages: Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The tested languages may change periodically, depending on the results of studies of language use in the courts. Anyone who wants to interpret in these languages in a legal proceeding must pass the state certification exam, which consists of a written component and an oral component. Candidates are tested on their knowledge of general vocabulary, reading comprehension, protocol, and ethics in the written portion of the exam. Those who pass the written component go on to take the oral component, which tests their skills in simultaneous and consecutive interpretation and sight translation. Interpreters of languages for which there is no state certifying examination are called "Registered Interpreters of non-designated languages." Non-designated languages are languages for which there are no state certifying examinations. Registered interpreters must meet the requirements developed for court interpreters as well as pass an English proficiency exam that tests their knowledge of English, court procedures, and professional ethics.

CPS also administers the testing for Administrative Hearing Certified Interpreters as well as Medical Certified Interpreters. An Administrative Hearing Interpreter interprets during state agency hearings before Administrative Law Judges (Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Labor Relations Board, etc.) and for depositions and other type of assignments related to Workers’ Compensation matters. A Medical Interpreter provides interpreting services at medical exams conducted for the purpose of determining compensation or monetary award in civil or Worker’s Compensation cases.

Persons interested in obtaining an application information packet for designated or non-designated languages should dial the interpreter voice mail system at (916) 263-3490. Messages may be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The interpreters program staff may be contacted weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (916) 263-3600. For further information, write to:

  • CPS--Human Resource Services
  • Interpreter Certification Program
  • 241 Lathrop Way
  • Sacramento, CA 95815

or visit the CPS Web site at www.cps.ca.gov


Universities


UCLA Extension
10995 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Ph: (310) 206-6201
www.unex.ucla.edu
Legal Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program in Spanish/English. One-year program.

UC Riverside Extension
1200 University Ave., Rm. 333
Riverside, CA 92507-4596
Ph: (909) 787-5804 ext. 1624
www.unex.ucr.edu
Spanish/English Interpretation and Translation Certificate Program. One year program.

UC San Diego
Extended Education Department
9500 Gilman Drive, 0170-A
La Jolla, CA 92093-0170
Ph: (858) 964-1051
http://unex.ucsd.edu/ahl
Professional Certificate in Translation and Interpretation (Spanish/English). Two year program. CIMCE credits available for select classes.

Cal State University, Los Angeles
Office of Continuing Education
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8629
Ph: (323) 343-4900
www.calstatela.edu/exed
Spanish/English Certificate Program in Legal Interpretation and Translation. A year-and-a-half program.

Cal State University, Northridge
Division of English as a Second Language
18111 Nordhoff Street - CEES
Northridge, CA 91330-8218
Ph: (818) 677-1200
www.csun.edu/exl
Spanish/English Court Interpreting courses.

Cal State University, Stanislaus
Extended Education
801 West Monte Vista Avenue
Turlock, CA 95382
Ph: (209) 667-3111
Spanish/English Court Interpreting courses.

San Francisco State University
College of Extended Learning
SFSU Downtown Center
425 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph: (415) 405-7770
www.cel.sfsu.edu/interpretation
Legal/Court Interpretation (Spanish/English) Certificate Program



Community Colleges


American River College
4700 College Oak Drive
Sacramento, CA 95841
Ph: (916) 484-8011
Vocational certificate in Sign Language Interpreting; A.A. degree in Sign Language Studies.

East L.A. Community College
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Building J3, Room 101
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Ph: (213) 265-8793
Spanish/English Court Interpretation and Translation Certificate Program. A year-and-a-half program.

El Camino College
Instructional Services Division
16007 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90506
Ph: (310) 660-3296
Sign Language/Interpreter Training Program

Riverside Community College
4800 Magnolia Ave.
Riverside, CA 92506-1299
Ph: (909) 341-8090
Spanish/English Court Interpretation and Translation courses.

Southwestern College
Business Division
900 Otay Lakes Road
Chula Vista, CA 91945
Ph: (619) 421-6700
Spanish/English training and continuing education classes.



Private Institutes and Schools


Del Sol Academy of Interpretation
701 Seagaze Drive
Oceanside, CA 92054
Ph: (866) 722-2378 toll free
www.delsolacademy.com
Court Interpreter Certificate Program in Spanish

Monterey Institute of International Studies
International Interpretation Resource Center
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Ph: (831) 647-6511
www.miis.edu/gsti-progs-short.html
Masters degree in Translation and Interpretation.

National Hispanic University
1427 Story Road
San Jose, CA 95127-3823
Ph: (408) 264-6900
Spanish/English Business, Legal and Medical Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program. One to two year program.

Southern California School of Interpretation
10012 Norwalk Blvd., Suite 120
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Ph: (562) 906-9787
www.interpreting.com
E-mail: scsinter@ix.netcom.com
Spanish/English Court Translation and Interpretation courses for interpreters at pre-certification and continuing education stages. Six month program.