Interpreting in a courtroom is a different discipline from conversation, and the United States federal courts run their own classification system rather than relying on a general language qualification. This article summarises pages published by the US federal judiciary (uscourts.gov) on federal court interpreters, the interpreter categories and the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE). It covers only the federal system, which under the Court Interpreters Act (28 U.S.C. §1827) concerns judicial proceedings instituted by the United States; state court arrangements are separate and are not described here. For the UK equivalent, see the site’s article on what qualifies someone for court, police and NHS interpreting. This is general information, not career advice.
What the law provides
The federal judiciary says the Court Interpreters Act provides that the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe, determine and certify the qualifications of persons who may serve as certified interpreters, when the Director considers certification merited. It applies to people who are hearing impaired, and to people who speak only or primarily a language other than English, in judicial proceedings instituted by the United States. The judiciary says competent interpreters are critical to ensure that justice is carried out fairly, and that the skills needed are highly complex because courtroom communication may involve specialised and legal terminology, formal and informal registers, dialect, jargon and nuances of meaning.
Three categories of interpreter
The Administrative Office classifies interpreters into three categories.
- Certified interpreters have passed the Administrative Office certification examination. The judiciary says certification programmes have been developed for Spanish, Navajo and Haitian Creole, and that those for Navajo and Haitian Creole are no longer offered. Where a certified interpreter exists in these languages, courts will select one if the judge determines that a certified interpreter is reasonably available.
- Professionally qualified interpreters work in languages where the Administrative Office runs no certification exam. They can be categorised as professionally qualified by submitting documentation that they meet one of the listed criteria.
- Language skilled (ad hoc) interpreters do not meet those criteria but can demonstrate to the court’s satisfaction that they can interpret court proceedings from English into a designated language and back.
For languages other than Spanish, Navajo and Haitian Creole, the local federal court decides case by case whether a prospective interpreter is professionally qualified or language skilled.
How to become professionally qualified
The judiciary lists the ways to qualify. An interpreter can have passed the US Department of State conference or seminar interpreter test in a language pair that includes English and the target language (the State Department escort interpreter test is not accepted), or the United Nations interpreter test in a pair including English. They can have passed the full version of an oral certification, criterion-referenced performance examination developed by the National Center for State Courts. They can be a current member in good standing of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) or the American Association of Language Specialists (TAALS), with English and the target language as the pair. For sign language, the qualifying route is the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf’s Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L).
The certification exam
The FCICE is offered for Spanish/English only, which the judiciary says reflects the primary interpreting need in the federal courts. It has two phases. Phase One is a computer-administered written screener with a multiple-choice test of English proficiency and one of Spanish proficiency. It may be taken only once per testing period, and scores are given on the same day. Passing it is required to sit Phase Two.
Phase Two is an oral examination testing the three modes of court interpreting: sight translation, simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpretation of discourse. Candidates must perform these bi-directionally, and test items include formal and informal or colloquial language, technical and legal terminology and specialised vocabulary. The judiciary states that the written and oral examinations will be administered in 2027, that registration is currently closed, and that registration dates will be announced in late December 2026. The exam is not offered continuously, so timing matters to anyone planning a route into this work.
Training and preparation
The federal courts do not offer interpreter training. Prospective interpreters must find training themselves, and the judiciary points to organisations including the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators, the American Translators Association, the National Center for State Courts’ language access section and AIIC. It publishes a Federal Court Interpreter Orientation Manual and Glossary, Standards for Performance and Professional Responsibility, and online practice exams for both phases.
Published daily fees
The judiciary publishes different rates for each category. The current fees are $566 for a full day, $320 for a half day and $80 an hour for overtime for federally certified interpreters; $495, $280 and $70 for professionally qualified interpreters; and $350, $190 and $44 for language skilled interpreters. From 1 October 2026, the judiciary’s fiscal year 2027 fees will apply: $617, $349 and $87 for certified interpreters; $540, $305 and $76 for professionally qualified interpreters; and $382, $207 and $48 for language skilled interpreters. The judiciary says certified and professionally qualified interpreters are paid at a higher rate than language skilled or ad hoc interpreters.
Common questions
Is there a federal certification for French or Mandarin?
No. The judiciary says certification programmes have been developed only for Spanish, Navajo and Haitian Creole, and that the last two are no longer offered. Other languages are classified as professionally qualified or language skilled.
Can I train through the federal courts?
No. The judiciary says it does not offer interpreter training.
The bottom line
The federal system rewards documented qualifications: Spanish/English interpreters can pursue the two-phase FCICE, while those in other languages can apply for professionally qualified status through State Department, United Nations, National Center for State Courts, AIIC, TAALS or RID credentials, or work as language skilled interpreters. Fees rise from 1 October 2026, and the next exams are due in 2027.
Sources
- US Courts, “Federal Court Interpreters” (uscourts.gov)
- US Courts, “Interpreter Categories” (uscourts.gov)
- US Courts, “Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination” (uscourts.gov)