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About The Committee

The Standing Committee on Court Interpreters (Committee) is the policymaking body appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia to oversee the development of a statewide plan for the use of interpreters in Georgia courts during civil, criminal matters, or court-related events. The Committee is composed of judges, lawyers, non-lawyers, legislators, court administrators, and interpreters.

The Committee on Interpreters’ mission is to provide interpreter licensing and education services for Georgia courts to ensure the rights of non-English speaking persons in Court and during any court-related events.

Created in 2003 by a Supreme Court order, the Committee is charged with regulating a statewide comprehensive court interpreting program, developing the criteria for the training and certification of interpreters, designating languages for which it will require certification, and establishing standards of conduct for interpreters.

Another responsibility of the Committee is to provide access to competent, professional interpreters to ensure understanding and participation for all non-English speaking persons involved in any court event. The Committee does this by providing an online registry of licensed interpreters, which assists the public and members of the Bench and Bar in locating qualified court interpreters throughout the State. The Committee’s staff also trains judges from different levels of courts, court clerks, court staff, and members of the State Bar about its rules and regulations and the proper use and behavior of interpreters in a courtroom setting. The Committee meets quarterly to consider pertinent issues to improve language access resources in Georgia’s courts.

Committee Membership & Advisory Members

Rules for Legal Interpreting in the State of Georgia

Click Here to Access the Rules

How to Become a Licensed Court Interpreter in Georgia

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Orientation Training Session

Step 1

As the first step in the certification process, prospective interpreters must complete the Committee’s 16-hours Orientation Workshop. The cost of the orientation workshop is $200. The online session includes training on interpretation modes, courtroom procedures, legal processes, and interpreter’s ethics. Federal or State Certified interpreters serve as workshop instructors for each session and provide candidates with additional study and professional development resources. Interpreters also receive detailed information on the language proficiency examinations’ content and composition during the Orientation Training Session. PLEASE NOTE: An applicant has two (2) years to complete the licensing and certification process after completing the 16-hour orientation workshop. If the applicant does not complete the program requirements within two (2) years, the applicant must re-start the certification process by retaking the written exam.

Orientation Workshop Schedule

Court Interpreter Written Exam

Step 2

This multiple-choice exam includes sections on ethics, legal process, terminology, English grammar, idioms, synonyms, and antonyms. Candidates must be well-versed in the English language and must score 80% or higher to pass the exam. Any persons registering for the written English exam must have completed the orientation session. The cost of the English written exam is $50.

GA Commission on Interpreters English Written Exam

Oral Certification Exam / Oral Proficiency Interview

Step 3

Oral Certification Exam. Candidates must pass all three parts of the oral exam in one sitting to meet licensure requirements. The Committee recognizes and will grant reciprocity to any candidate seeking licensure if the said candidate took and passed the federal certification exam or the oral certification exam offered in a state that is an active member of the National Center for State Courts, Council of Language Access Coordinators (NCSC-CLAC). For this to occur, the issuing State must have administered the oral certification exam as prescribed by CLAC and taken in one sitting. The cost of the Oral Certification Exam is $250.

Oral Proficiency Interview. The Oral Proficiency Interview is only required if the candidate interpreter wishes to become licensed in a language that does not have a certification exam offered by CLAC. The OPI is a set of telephonic interviews, which generally occur at the Administrative Office of the Courts. The interviews are conducted through a vendor and last approximately 25 minutes each. Candidates are tested in both English and the language in which they wish to become licensed. The exam is designed to evaluate the candidate’s ability, level of knowledge of English and the target language, and education in the language they seek licensure. Candidates must achieve a language scale score of “Superior” in both English and the language for which they want to interpret (target language). Please contact the Committee’s office to determine if you must take this exam. The cost of the OPI is $143. Confirmed candidates will be notified of the date and exact location of the exam. Please keep in mind that Language Testing International conducts exams for various agencies. They have no information as to the purpose of or eligibility of those applying to the test.

For more information, please contact ACTFL-OPI at (800) 486-8444, or visit their WEBSITE.

Please note: The Committee requires the OPI only for languages without a CLAC oral certification exam.

Oral Certification Exam

Court Observation

Step 4

If you are a Conditionally Licensed Legal Interpreter, Licensed Legal Interpreter, or an Apprentice Interpreter, you must complete 20 hours of court observations. Of these, at least 10 hours must be signed off by a Master Licensed Legal Interpreter or a Licensed Legal Interpreter. All candidates are required to log their court observation hours using the Court Observation Form provided by the Committee. Once completed, the form must be uploaded directly to the candidate’s Georgia Courts Registrar profile.

Processing your Application

Step 5

Upon receiving passing scores for the oral certification examination or oral proficiency interviews, candidates must apply for a license to become certified, conditionally approved, or a registered interpreter. The license application is accessible through your Georgia Courts Registrar profile. The application process requires submitting a license application, affidavit of legal presence, background check authorization form, and the application fee of $125. Prospective interpreters must pass the criminal background investigation outlined in Step 6.

Criminal Background Check

Step 6

Candidates must demonstrate good moral character by satisfying the Committee’s fitness requirement. The Committee investigates the candidate’s criminal background history to determine if a candidate is fit to become a licensed interpreter. The Committee determines if an individual is of good moral character if they have not committed or have a conviction for:

  • Felony or misdemeanor crimes involving false statements, fraud or dishonesty; or
  • Crimes punishable by one year or more; unless it has been more than ten years from confinement or conviction; and
  • Crimes involving moral turpitude; unless it has been more than ten years from imprisonment or conviction.

All candidates must pass a criminal background history check. If, after reviewing the candidate’s background check, the Committee or its staff determines that the individual does not have good character, the Committee shall have the authority to deny a license or certification, suspend or revoke a license or certification, or to impose discipline.

Receiving your License

Step 7

The Committee will issue a license to practice the profession of Court Interpreting to all candidates who complete and pass all licensing requirements. The Committee adds the newly-licensed interpreter’s contact information in its registry. The Committee requires that any individual who holds an interpreter license must renew the said license every year. Court interpreters must take the Interpreter’s Oath and agree to abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters.

Upcoming Trainings & Exams

Training & Testing Calendar

Courthouse

Candidates Seeking Reciprocity

Georgia is a member of the National Center for State Courts, Council of Language Access Coordinators (CLAC). The Committee may allow reciprocity to those interpreters who are certified by states that are active CLAC members. The Committee may grant reciprocity may to those persons who:

1

Completed a 16-hour training court offered by the credentialing State.

2

Took and passed the CLAC written exam with a score of 80% or more.

3

Took and passed the CLAC oral exam with a score within our licensing categories (see licensing categories above for more information)

The Committee may extend reciprocity to those individuals who started the process in another state only if the requirements of the State in which the candidate began the process are similar to Georgia.

For example: if the applicant attended an orientation workshop at the State where they started the licensing process and that State requires a candidate to participate in a training that is shorter or radically different than Georgia’s, the Committee will ask the candidate to attend the orientation workshop in Georgia. Please note: All candidates seeking reciprocity in Georgia must have completed the oral exam in ONE seating and not more than one seating. If you meet these requirements, please create a GCR account and e-mail  staff asking for reciprocity and name the State from which you are seeking the same. Once staff receives the request, staff will contact the State from which you are seeking reciprocity, asking for verification of the three requirements above. Candidates will receive a notification upon completion of said verification so the candidate may proceed with attaining their Georgia license.

Interpreter Forms & Additional Resources

Acknowledgement of Interpreter (Secondary Language) Form
Court Observation Form
Form for Use of Non-licensed Interpreters
Waiver of Interpreter Form

Committee Videos

Interpreter Day

Play Video

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Play Video

Minding the Justice Gap

Play Video
Georgia AOC

Interpreter Spotlight

Alejandro Echevarria Gil

Mr. Alejandro Echevarria Gil was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved to Texas in high school due to his mother being a bilingual teacher. He developed a love for language and travel from her. In the U.S.A. he was exposed for the first time to a multicultural and language-diverse community. He studied at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and the University of North Texas earning an associate’s degree in IT management.

In his mid-20’s, with a persistent passion for language, he decided to have an adventure and live in Italy for six months. Alejandro enrolled in Siena Italian Studies learning about the history of Italian emigration and the history of the EU. With Italians as roommates, he dove full-immersion into the language and culture. Those six months turned into almost four years of working with the school and teaching/tutoring English and Spanish. Being a de facto interpreter/translator, working with foreign student’s immigration processes, host family placements and volunteering for service-learning projects was not only a dream job, but kept exposing him to more cultures, languages, and beliefs.

Alejandro returned to the USA and spent ten years working hospitality. Like many others, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he lost his job needing to reinvent himself. His wife suggested interpretation and he listened. The rest is history. Court & Healthcare Certified, Alejandro works all over the state of Georgia and even travels countrywide for immigration courts to assist the DOJ-EOIR. Lingua Interpretation strives to help not just public and private individuals, but also fellow upcoming interpreters with their ability to reach their full potential. Mr. Echevarria was recently appointed President of the Atlanta Association of Interpreters and Translators (AAIT).

Alejandro Echevarria Gil Headshot

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do I have to complete the certification process after attending the Orientation Workshop?

Candidates have 12 months from the date of completing the Orientation Workshop to finish the entire certification process, including passing both the written and oral exams. If the process is not completed within this timeframe, candidates may need to retake the Orientation Workshop.

Do I need to complete the Orientation before taking the Written Exam?

Yes, the Orientation Workshop is a mandatory prerequisite for taking the Written Exam. You must complete the 16-hour Orientation Workshop and receive your certificate before you can register for the Written Exam.

What's the difference between the Oral Certification Exam and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)?

The Oral Certification Exam is specifically designed for court interpreting and tests your ability to interpret legal proceedings accurately. The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is a general language proficiency test that measures your overall speaking ability in the target language. For court interpreter certification, you need to take the Oral Certification Exam, not the OPI.

Can I observe court proceedings before passing the oral exams?

Yes, you are encouraged to observe court proceedings as part of your preparation. However, you must obtain permission from the court and follow their specific guidelines for observers. This observation can help you understand court procedures and terminology before taking your oral exams.

What happens if I don't pass the background check?

If you don’t pass the background check, you will not be eligible for court interpreter certification. The Committee will review the results and may provide you with information about the specific issues found. You may have the opportunity to address these issues or appeal the decision, depending on the circumstances.

Contact Us

244 Washington Street SW,
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30334

Main: (404) 463-3808

Fax: (404) 651-6449

Email: gcr@georgiacourts.gov