RULE 14.210. LANGUAGE SKILLED DESIGNATION

(a) Preferred Appointment, Retention, and Staffing. The language skilled designation represents the highest qualified state-level interpreter designation for languages for which there is currently no state-certifying examination and shall be the preferred designation over non-designated interpreters in selection, appointment, staffing, or private retention of court interpreters in the area of the language skilled individual’s linguistic expertise.

(b) Requirements. An applicant seeking designation as a language skilled court interpreter for which there is no state-certifying examination must:

(1) register under provisions of rule 14.200, complying with subdivisions 14.200(a), (b)(1) through (b)(6), and (b)(8); and

(2) pass an approved oral proficiency interview in English and a non-English language, attaining a minimum score in accordance with standards prescribed by the board and published in board operating procedures, as an assessment of functional speaking ability.

(c) Conditional Designation. In the event a language-specific state- certifying examination becomes available, a language skilled interpreter shall be required to take and pass the certifying examination within 2 years of notice of its availability. Failure to become certified within this two-year period shall result in loss of the language skilled designation, unless the board approves an extension in exceptional circumstances.