Program overview for prospective interpreter candidates

An overview of the program required to become an official court interpreter with the Massachusetts Trial Court Office of Language Access (OLA).

Program overview for prospective candidates

Minimum requirements for all prospective candidates

• All candidates must be Massachusetts residents. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.

1. Online orientation and ethics exam - $150

   • All candidates must register and pay $150.00 for a 12-hour online self-paced orientation that includes an ethics test component.
   • The orientation must be completed within 30 days of the enrollment date.
   • Step 1 must be completed to proceed to Step 2.

   Orientation and ethics exam

2. National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Written Examination – No cost

   • All candidates must pass the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Written Examination, achieving at least 75% on each section and a minimum of 80% overall.

   Note:

   Candidates who have previously passed the NCSC Written Examination must have done so within 3 years of registration for the next step. If 3 years have passed, candidates will be required to start at Step 1 and complete the Online Orientation and Ethics Exam component before proceeding.

   • For any NCSC, alternative or abbreviated oral examination.
   • Candidates must wait six months between each exam attempt if they receive a failing score.
   • Candidates will have a total of three attempts to pass the written examination.
   • Step 2 must be completed to proceed to Step 3.

   About the written exam

3. Oral proficiency interview in applicable foreign language – No cost

   • All candidates will be required to take an Oral Proficiency Interview and must score an 11 to advance to the next step. 
   • This Step will be coordinated by OLA and scheduled by the third party.
   • Step 3 must be completed to proceed to Step 4.

   Oral proficiency interview

4. 20 courtroom observation hours – No cost

   • All candidates must complete at least 20 hours of documented courtroom observation before applying for Step 5. 
   • Step 4 must be completed to proceed to Step 5.

   About court observation hours

5. OLA skill-building workshop – No cost

   • All candidates must attend a 6-hour skills-building workshop.
   • Step 5 must be completed to proceed to Step 6.

   OLA workshop schedule

6. OLA-Administered National Center for State Courts (NCSC) oral examination – No cost first attempt

   • Upon completion of Steps 1 through 5, all candidates will be eligible to register for and take an oral exam at no cost. 
   • All candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each modality and a minimum of 65% on each of the sight translation subsections. An 80% is required for the Alternative or Abbreviated Exam for languages not offered by NCSC.
   • Candidates must wait six months between each exam attempt if they receive a failing score
   • All candidates will have to pay approximately $400 for their second attempt. However, if the candidate is hired as a staff interpreter or has worked as a per diem for two years, they will be eligible for reimbursement of the oral examination fee upon passing the oral exam.
   • Step 6 must be completed to proceed to Step 7.

   About the oral exam

7. Official designation registration – No cost

   • Upon completion of Steps 1-6, all candidates must complete the OLA Court Interpreter Designation Registration Form.
   • Step 7 must be completed to proceed to Step 8.

   Registration form

8. Biannual renewal

   • Must complete 10 hours of continuing education credits annually, either directly from OLA or from approved vendors, for a total of 20 hours over the two-year period.
   • Complete 20 law-related interpreting assignments or 40 hours of law-related assignments
   • Submit to a biannual background check.

   About biannual renewal

Program overview for current OLA staff interpreters

1. Online self-paced orientation

   • Current staff will be eligible to take the 12-hour online self-paced orientation from De La Mora Institute for $150.00. The orientation must be completed within 30 days of enrollment.
   • Orientation cost is reimbursable via reimbursement invoice.
   • Step 1 must be completed before proceeding to Step 2.

   Orientation and ethics exam

2. In-person National Center for State Courts written examination – No cost

   • Once the orientation has been completed, staff are eligible to take the Written Exam at no additional cost. 
   • All candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each modality and a minimum of 65% on each of the sight translation subsections.
   • Candidates must wait six months between each exam attempt if they receive a failing score.
   • Candidates hired after July 2026 are eligible to take the NCSC Written Exam a total of three times.
   • Step 2 must be completed before proceeding to Step 3.

   Written exam overview

3. Oral proficiency interview

   • Upon successful completion of Step 2, candidates will be registered for an oral proficiency interview conducted by a third-party vendor. 
   • The vendor will schedule the interview directly with the candidate.
   • Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 11 on the oral proficiency interview to proceed to the next step. 
   • Step 3 must be completed before proceeding to Step 4.

   Oral proficiency interview

4. OLA skill-building workshop – No cost

   • All candidates must attend a 6-hour skills-building workshop.
   • Step 4 must be completed to proceed to Step 5.

   OLA workshop schedule

5. In-person National Center for State Courts, alternative or abbreviated oral examinations

   • Upon completion of steps 1-4, all staff will be eligible to take the oral exam.
   • If the candidate does not pass the oral exam, they must wait six months between each attempt. 
   • Under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office and Professional Employees Union Local 6, OLA will cover the cost of the first two oral examination attempts.
   • Step 5 must be completed before proceeding to Step 6.

   Oral exam overview

6. Designation registration

   • Upon completion of Steps 1-5, the staff interpreter will be designated as Certified. Their designation will be updated in the Team Work system and added to the Public Release Roster accordingly.

   About designation registration

7. Biannual renewal

   • 20 continuing education hours from OLA directly or from approved vendors every two years.
   • Human Resources employment verification

   About biannual renewal

Program overview for per diem interpreters

1. Online self-paced orientation

   • Currently active per diems are eligible to take the 12-hour online self-paced orientation from De La Mora Institute for $150.00 and must complete it within 30 days of enrollment.
   • Step 1 must be completed before proceeding to Step 2.

   Orientation and ethics exam

2. In-person National Center for State Courts written examination – No cost

   • Once the Orientation has been completed, active per diems are eligible to take the written exam at no additional cost. 
   • All candidates must score a minimum of 70% on each modality and a minimum of 65% on each of the sight translation subsections.
   • Candidates must wait six months between each exam attempt if they receive a failing score.
   • Candidates will be allowed to take the NCSC written exam a total of three times
   • Step 2 must be completed before proceeding to Step 3.

   Written exam overview

3. Oral proficiency interview

   • Upon successful completion of Step 2, candidates will be registered for an oral proficiency interview conducted by a third-party vendor. 
   • The vendor will schedule the interview directly with the candidate.
   • Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 11 on the oral proficiency interview to proceed to the next step. 
   • Step 3 must be completed before proceeding to Step 4.

   Oral proficiency interview

4. OLA skill-building workshop – No cost

   • All candidates must attend a 6-hour skills-building workshop.
   • Step 4 must be completed before proceeding to Step 5.

   OLA workshop schedule

5. In-person National Center for State Courts, alternative or abbreviated oral examinations

   • Upon completion of steps 1-4, all active per diems will be eligible to take the oral exam at no cost. 
   • If the candidate does not pass the alternative or abbreviated oral examination, they must wait six months between each attempt. 
   • Current per diems will pay approximately $400 for their second attempt. However, if a per diem interpreter has worked for OLA for two years, they will be eligible for reimbursement of the oral examination fee.
   • Step 5 must be completed before proceeding to Step 6.

   Oral exam overview

6. Designation registration

   • Upon completion of Steps 1-5, the per diem will be designated certified, their designation will be updated in the Team Work and the Public Release Roster as such.

   About designation registration

7. Biannual renewal

   • 20 continuing education hours from OLA directly or from approved vendors every two years.
   • Complete 20 law-related interpreting assignments or 40 hours of law-related interpreting assignments.
   • Submit biannual background check form.

   About biannual renewal

Additional information for all candidates

• Pursuant to the Standards and Procedures Section 5.07 (A). Pursuant to Section 5.07 (F), in certain circumstances, at OLA’s discretion, any of the published requirements may be waived, or additional requirements may be added.
• All scheduled dates are subject to change or cancellation. However, every effort will be made to adhere to the schedule as it appears.
• Interested participants are encouraged to enroll at the earliest possible opportunity because space is limited and exams often reach capacity before the scheduled registration deadline. Confirmation is issued on a first-received basis upon receipt of an applicant’s completed registration form and will be sent after registration closes.
• Upon completion of registration for the online orientation and written and oral examinations, candidates will be sent a confirmation email and a certified mail notification to the email and mailing addresses provided on the registration form.