Language Access Resources

To become a certified court interpreter, individuals need to have mastered both the English and foreign language they want to interpret and have knowledge of legal terminology. They also need to have strong public speaking skills and the ability to interpret in all modes including consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation.

Please contact the clerk’s office or trial court administrator at your local courthouse to request an interpreter as soon as possible before the scheduled hearing date. 

Candidates can expect to receive their oral or written exam results by mail or email 4-6 weeks after the exam date. 

Please visit Court Interpreter Training and Testing for current information as to any required training and exam registration fees.

The translation of court forms should be conducted by an American Translators Association (ATA) Certified Translator or other professionally certified translator to ensure that the translation is accurate. Although translation software is available, it can be unreliable. To find an ATA Certified or other professionally certified translator, contact the ATA or the Language Access Office.

The Idaho courts do not have a process to certify American Sign Language interpreters. Instead, the courts use the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or other court recognized certifying bodies for court interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing.