Administration of the Bilingual Interpreting Examination (BIE)—Registration CLOSED 

Registration is closed for the 2024 Summer/Fall administration of the Bilingual Interpreting Examination (BIE). Candidates seeking to test in all available languages for which there is an exam and raters will have an opportunity when testing resumes in 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to frequently visit this page for the latest interpreter exam updates.

Candidates testing during the Summer/Fall administration can access test center location details by clicking here

 

 Registration for the Written and Oral Proficiency Examinations is Open Year-Round 

 

Registration for the Written and Oral Proficiency Examinations (OPEs) is available year-round. Candidates interested in taking these examinations are encouraged to register.

 

To register for the Written Examination, click here.

To register for the OPE, click here.  

 

California Court Interpreting Testing Program

California court language access providers have important jobs serving the needs of limited English proficiency (LEP) court users. Providers assist LEPs by providing bilingual spoken services or interpreting assistance in court proceedings for parties and witnesses with limited English skills. As a California court language access provider, you can help make justice more accessible for millions of people by working at one of three levels within a language access career pipeline. These three categories of language access providers who serve the courts are: bilingual staff, registered status court interpreters, and certified status court interpreters.

 

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Bilingual Staff

California courts employ many bilingual staff members and according to the Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts, all bilingual staff must meet a minimum standard of “Intermediate” competency as tested on the Oral Proficiency Exam (OPE).

One resource available for testing bilingual staff members’ speaking proficiency is the OPE available in 70 languages. The OPE measures the ability of an individual to communicate in the language being tested.

Judge in courtroom

Registered Interpreters

Registered court interpreters have passed the Written Exam and Oral Proficiency Exams in English and the non-English language(s). You can take these exams in any order. OPE’s are available in 70 languages. If there is not an OPE in your working language, you still must take and pass the Written Exam and the English OPE.

 

Two men look at a paper

Certified Interpreters

Certified court interpreters have passed the Written Exam and the Bilingual Interpreting Exams which test their ability in simultaneous and consecutive interpreting and sight translation skills. Currently, there are certification exams in 15 spoken languages.

Our goal is to provide a quality exam and testing experience for every candidate. If you are dissatisfied with either and believe we can correct the problem, you may submit an appeal. Grounds for an appeal include evidence of bias, fraud, discrimination, significant irregularity in the exam administration, or inappropriate application of ADA or other accommodations. Appeals based on exam content will not be considered.

If you would like to submit an appeal concerning examination content, registration, scheduling or test administration (testing site procedures, equipment, personnel, etc.), please submit an appeal by visiting appeals.

The Appeals Team will review your concern and send you a written response within 20 business days of receipt.

Important Notice: Disagreement with scores is not grounds for an appeal.  Additionally, an appeal will not result in the re-rating of an exam or a retesting opportunity unless an administrative error warrants these actions.

Please contact Prometric if you any additional questions or concerns.

Prometric
Appeals
7941 Corporate Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236
1-800-853-6769