OCRID - Ohio Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

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"The mission of the Ohio Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf is to foster relationships which further the profession by providing opportunities for growth through development and support."

Credentials of Interpreters

As in many other professions, appropriate credentials can be a useful indication of an interpreter's qualifications.

More and more interpreters have completed preparation programs designed specifically for sign language interpreting. While many of these programs offer two-year associate degrees, bachelors and masters degrees in interpreting are also available. Interpreters may hold degrees in other fields of study as well.

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certifies interpreters. The RID certification test requires interpreters to demonstrate their skills and knowledge regarding language, communication, the interpreting process, ethics, culture and professionalism. RID tests include a written test and a performance test.

Common certifications which interpreters may have earned from RID include:

CI - Certificate of Interpretation

CT - ertificate of Transliteration (transliteration is transmitting a message between English and English-like signing, rather than between English and American Sign Language)

CDI - Certified Deaf Interpreter

OTC - Oral Transliteration Certificate(oral transliteration is transmitting a message between a person speaking English and a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person who relies on speech reading)

SC:L - Specialist Certificate: Legal

CSC - Comprehensive Skills Certificate (no longer available)

IC - Interpretation Certificate (no longer available)

TC - Transliteration Certificate(no longer available)

RID encourages and monitors continued skill development of their certified interpreters through the Certification Maintenance Program (CMP). To retain certification, interpreters must earn eight CEUs (80 hours of documented professional development experiences) within four years. CEUs can be earned through RID approved sponsors, including the CMP Coordinator for OCRID.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has also certified interpreters in the past, and many interpreters still hold NAD certification. NAD and RID established the National Council on Interpreting to develop a new National Interpreter Certification (NIC) test, portions of which became available starting in 2004.

© The Ohio Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 2004