About Interpreting - Evaluations & Certifications

Educational Interpreter Evaluations are offered by the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf .

Evaluation

 

The EIE is being offered, for more details. EIE Page

Katharine Robertson, EIE Chair, EIE@FRIDcentral.org
FRID EIE Applications
P.O. Box 4500
Tampa, FL 33677
Visit the EIE web page to get more information.

A preparational/study packet is available to download here.

 

Jamie Aranda, QA Chairperson, QA@FRIDcentral.org

Those wanting to participate in the Quality Assurance Screening can contact:

Ms. Sandy Rodriguez at QAscheduler@FRIDcentral.org

Applications are accepted online click here to go to the QA web page

The QA study manual can be downloaded here.

I. Florida Accepted Evaluations/Screenings

 

The evaluation tools developed by the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (FRID): Educational Interpreter Evaluation (EIE) and Quality Assurance Screening (QA) do not meet the national criteria for validity, reliability and fairness for testing and credentialing set forth by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). However, use of the tools during the last 20 years show they provide valuable information about an individual's interpreting/ transliterating abilities.

 

Educational Interpreter Evaluation (EIE) Functional Descriptors

*In NO cases are EIE-leveled interpreters qualified to interpret for legal (including DCF) or medically critical situations. In anticipation of such occurrences, schools/districts are advised to have contact numbers on hand for the closest certified interpreters.

 

LEVEL ONE: Denotes an educational interpreter (K-12) with entry-level abilities, who accurately received and expressed at least 60% of the material presented during the Educational Interpreter Evaluation. An interpreter with this level should be able to competently handle interpreting situations in which there is an opportunity to stop the student/professional for clarification or repetition.*

 

LEVEL TWO: Denotes an educational interpreter (K-12) with intermediate abilities who accurately received and expressed at least 75% of the material presented during the Educational Interpreter Evaluation. An interpreter with this level should be able to effectively handle more difficult, faster paced communication where there may or may not be an opportunity to stop for
clarification or repetition.*

LEVEL THREE: Denotes an educational interpreter (K-12) with advanced abilities who accurately received and expressed at least 90% of the material presented during the Educational Interpreter Evaluation. An interpreter with this level can proficiently handle a full range of complex communication situations occurring in an educational environment.*

Quality Assurance (QA) Screening Functional Descriptors

Level 1 - Basic Apprentice Interpreter
Work with supervisor, one-on-one where apprentice has opportunity to stop
communication for clarification; example situations - social and recreational (i.e. YMCA, gyms, etc.), informational meetings and non-technical situations, library, parks, arts and crafts, non-academic adult ed., on-the-job training (not computer or technical), routine employment (not firings, reprimands, promotions, etc. - where consumer impact is high); small group or limited platform interpreting with extensive prior preparation, where there is minimal impact on the consumer.
Do Not Use In - legal of any kind*, mental health, serious medical situations, educational, interviews, formal platform, critical situations of any nature - where impact on the consumer is moderate to high.

 

Level 2 - Intermediate Apprentice Interpreter
Discretion should be used according to the situation and the language level of the consumer; be able to function expressively and receptively with interpreting and transliterating; educational tutorial situations, informational meeting, daily living skills training, routine medical appointments, childbirth classes, some eligibility and welfare, some technical meetings, some K-12 and undergraduate course work; one-on-one easy voicing; limited voicing and limited platform (without much opportunity for preparation).

Do Not Use In - legal of any kind*, critical or life threatening medical, mental
health.

Level 3 - Advanced Apprentice Interpreter
Can function in many situations; where there may not be the opportunity to stop for clarification; situations as noted in Level 1 and 2, including public meetings, interviews, some mental health (routine), non-critical and non-life threatening medical situations.
Do Not Use In - legal of any kind*, critical or life threatening medical, extensive mental health.

 

*including but not limited to courtroom, civil or criminal hearings, police
interrogation, consultation with a lawyer

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II. Nationally Accepted Certifications

 

National Council on Interpreting (NCI)
www.rid.org

This joint NAD-RID effort created a new national interpreter testing and certification system in 2005. This new test will have 3 parts: written, interview, and performance. There are three levels of certification: NIC (Certified), NIC Advanced and NIC Master. All levels are considered professional-level certified interpreters and all are eligible, as long as they meet the application criteria, to apply to take the Specialist Certificate: Legal Examination.

 

NIC: individuals who achieve the NIC level have passed the NIC Knowledge exam. They have also scored within the standard range of a professional interpreter on the interview and performance portions of the test.

 

NIC Advanced: Individuals who achieve the NIC Advanced have passed the NIC Knowledge exam; scored within the standard range of a professional interpreter on the interview portion; and scored within the high range on the performance portion of the test.

 

NIC Master: individuals who achieve the NIC level have passed the NIC Knowledge exam. They have scored within the high range of a professional interpreter on both the interview and performance portions of the test.

 

 

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) Functional Descriptors
The RID National Testing System (NTS) strives to maintain adherence to nationally recognized testing industry standards of validity, reliability and equity. An independent psychometrician is retained by RID and oversees test development and revision processes. RID maintains affiliation with the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) the entity that sets national criteria for validity, reliability and fairness in testing and credentialing.

Ed: K-12 (Educational Certificate: K-12) - Holders of this certificate have demonstrated the ability to expressively interpret classroom content and discourse and the ability to receptively interpret student or teen sign language. It is not limited to any one sign language or system. This certificate is issued to interpreters who work with students and teenagers who use predominately American Sign Language (ASL), Manually-Coded English (MCE) and Pidgin Sign English (PSE). Holders also demonstrate proficiency in the voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice interpreting skills of interpreters who work in the elementary and secondary school classroom setting. The examinations for this certificate are developed and maintained by the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) and is administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

Certificate of Interpretation (CI) – holders of this certificate are recognized as fully certified in Interpretation and have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign. The interpreter’s ability to transliterate is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CI are recommended for a broad range of interpretation assignments.

 

Certificate of Transliteration (CT) - holders of this certificate are recognized as fully certified in Transliteration and have demonstrated the ability to transliterate between English-based sign language and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign. The transliterator’s ability to interpret is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CT are recommended for a broad range of transliteration assignments.

 

Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC) – holders of this certificate have demonstrated that ability to interpret between American Sign Language and spoken English and to transliterate between spoken English and a English-based sign language. The CSC examination was offered until 1987. Holders of this certificate are recommended for a broad range of interpreting and transliterating assignments. This test is no longer offered.Master

 

Comprehensive Skills Certificate (MCSC) – the MCSC examination was designed with the intent of testing for a higher standard of performance than the CSC. Holders of this certificate were required to hold the CSC prior to taking this exam. Holders of this certificate are recommended for a broad range of interpreting and transliterating assignments. This test is no longer offered.

 

Certification of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration (CI and CT) – holders of both certificates have demonstrated competence in both interpretation and transliteration and have the same flexibility of job acceptance as holders of the CSC. Holders of the CI and CT are recommended for a broad range of interpretation and transliteration assignments.

 

Interpretation Certificate/Transliteration Certificate (IC/TC) – holders of this partial certificate demonstrated ability to interpret between American Sign Language and spoken English and the ability to transliterate between English and a signed code for English. This individual received scores on the CSC examination which prevented the awarding of full CSC certification. The IC/TC is no longer offered.

 

Interpretation Certificate (IC) – holders of this partial certificate demonstrated ability to interpret between American Sign Language and spoken English. This individual received scores on the CSC examination which prevented the awarding of full CSC certification or partial IC/TC certification. The IC is no longer offered.

 

Transliteration Certificate (TC) – holders of this partial certificate demonstrated ability to transliterate between English and a signed code for English. This individual received scores on the CSC examination which prevented the awarding of full CSC certification or partial IC/TC certification. The TC is no longer offered.

 

Oral Transliteration Certificate (OTC) – holders of this generalist certificate have demonstrated ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and the ability to understand and repeat the message and intent of the speech and mouth movements of the person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This test is currently available.

 

Oral Interpreting Certificate: Comprehensive (OIC:C) - holders of this generalist certificate have demonstrated ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and the ability to understand and repeat the message and intent of the speech and mouth movements of the person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This certification is no longer offered. Individuals wishing oral certification should take the OTC exam noted above.

 

Oral Interpreting Certificate: Spoken to Visible (OIC:S/V) - holders of this partial certificate demonstrated the ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This individual received scores on the OIC:C examination which prevented the awarding of full OIC:C certification. The OIC:S/V certification is no longer offered. Individuals wishing oral certification should take the OTC exam noted above.

 

Oral Interpreting Certificate: Visible to Spoken (OIC:V/S) - holders of this partial certificate demonstrated the ability to understand the speech and silent mouth movements of a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and to repeat the message for a hearing person. This individual received scores on the OIC:C examination which prevented the awarding of full OIC:C certification. The OIC:V/S certification is no longer offered. Individuals wishing oral certification should take the OTC exam noted above.

National Association for the Deaf (NAD) Interpreter Certification Program Functional Descriptors
The evaluation tool developed by the National Association for the Deaf (NAD: Interpreter Certification program does not meet the national criteria for validity, reliability and fairness for testing and credentialing set forth by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). However, use of the tool has shown it provides valuable information about an individual's interpreting/transliterating abilities. This evaluation is no longer offered but individuals holding Levels 3, 4 or 5 are considered certified interpreters. Certified Assessment Levels:

Level III (Generalist) - Average Performance
The individual who attains this level possesses above average voice-to-sign skills and good sign-to-voice skills, and demonstrates the interpreting skill necessary for some situations.

 

Level IV (Advanced) - Above Average Performance
The individual who attains this level possesses excellent voice-to-sign skills and above average sign-to-voice skills, and demonstrates the interpreting skill necessary for most situations.

 

Level V (Master) - Superior Performance
The individual who attains this level possesses superior voice-to-sign skills and excellent sign-to-voice skills, and demonstrates the interpreting skill necessary for just about all situations.

EIPA – Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment Functional Descriptors
The Revised/Standardized Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment is a nationally normed test to determine interpreting/ ransliterating skills for individual working in educational settings. The test developers have completed extensive reliability and validity studies on this instrument.

 

EIPA 3.0 - 3.9: Intermediate
Demonstrates knowledge of basic vocabulary, but may lack vocabulary for more technical, complex, or academic topics. Individual is able to sign in a fairly fluent manner using some consistent prosody, but pacing is still slow with infrequent pauses for vocabulary or complex structures. Sign production may show some errors but will not interfere with communication. Grammatical production may still be incorrect, especially for complex structures, but is in general, intact for routine and simple language. Comprehends signed messages but may need repetition and assistance, and voiced translation often lacks depth and subtleties of the original message. An individual at this level would be able to communicate very basic classroom content, but may incorrectly interpret complex information resulting in a message that is not always clear. An interpreter at this level needs continued supervision, and should be required to participate in continuing education in interpreting.

 

EIPA 4.0 - 4.9: Advanced Intermediate
Demonstrates broad use of vocabulary with sign production generally correct. Demonstrates good strategies for conveying information when a specific sign is not in their vocabulary. Grammatical constructions are generally clear and consistent, but complex information may still pose occasional problems. Prosody is good, with appropriate facial expression most of the time. May still have difficulty with the use of facial expression in complex sentences and adverbial non-manual markers. Fluency may deteriorate when rate or complexity of communication increases. Uses space consistently most of the time, but complex constructions or extended use of discourse comprehension may still pose problems. Comprehension of most signed messages at a normal rate is good but translation may lack some complexity of the original message. An individual at this level would be able to convey much of the classroom content, but may have difficulty with complex topics or rapid turn-taking.

 

EIPA 5: Advanced
Demonstrates broad and fluent use of vocabulary, with strategies for creating and communicating new words. Sign production errors are minimal and never interfere with comprehension. Prosody is correct for grammatical, non-verbal markers, and affective purposes. Complex grammatical constructions are typically not a problem. Comprehension of signed messages is very good, communicating all details of the original message. An individual at this level is capable of clearly and accurately conveying the majority of interactions within the classroom.

Cued Language Transliterator National Certification Examination (CLTNCE) Functional Descriptors

TSC (Transliteration Skills Certificate): Expert: Performs with comprehensive skills and knowledge of function.

 

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Questions?

 

eip@unf.edu

Educational Interpreter Project

University of North Florida
Bldg. 57/3500
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville FL 32224

 

Toll Free 1-866-697-7150
Local 904-620-1386
Fax 904-620-3895 (ATTN: EIP)

 

or

 

Shannon C. Simon, M.S.; CI, CT, CSC, OIC:C
Professional Development Coordinator

 

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