2019 Court Interpreter Workshop Dates Announced

The Hawai‘i State Judiciary, through its Office on Equality and Access to the Courts (OEAC), announced its Court Interpreter Certification Program dates for 2019.  Maui workshops will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13 through 14, 2019.

The Certification Program was established to promote and ensure equal access to Hawai‘i’s courts for limited English proficient, deaf and hard-of-hearing parties by providing the most qualified interpreters available.  Further, the Certification Program sets standards in obtaining certified status for selected languages and alternate credentialing for other languages.

Court Interpreters service the courts as independent contractors and receive compensation starting at $25.00/hour with potential rate increases up to $55.00/hour; roundtrip mileage reimbursement at $.55 per mile; exemption from expired meter parking ticket while on assignment; and commuter time payment, if applicable.

Interpreters must be at least 18 years of age, be authorized to work in the United States and possess a Hawai‘i General Excise Tax License.  The Certification Program requires all interpreters to attend a two-day orientation workshop, pass a written English proficiency exam and basic ethics exam, and clear a criminal background check.  Taking an oral skills exam is optional, however obtaining a passing score on the oral exam will lead to an increased compensation rate.

Offered only once a year statewide, the Basic Orientation Workshop (BOW) is the first mandatory event in the Certification Program.  The BOW is a two-day seminar that provides an introduction to court interpreting, ethics, and the role of the interpreter in court.  Topics covered include: the role of interpreters in the state court system; court interpreting skills; interpreting practice techniques; court interpreter ethics and protocol; legal terms and resources; and next steps in the Certification Program.  Applicants must attend the BOW in order to become qualified to interpret in the Hawai‘i State Courts.

This year, through grant funding, the BOW is being offered at a reduced rate of $50.00.  The fee covers the two-day workshop, course materials, and a resource binder developed especially for Hawai‘i court interpreters.  The deadline to register for this once-a-year workshop is Jan. 31, 2019. However, late registration will be accepted provided that there is still space available.