Oral Proficiency Examination
Once candidates complete the Language Screening OPI, Self-Guided Orientation, pass the written exam and completed the Skill-building Workshop they are eligible to take an oral exam.
For foreign language interpreters, the type and format of this performance test depend on the language they interpret, and whether a full, abbreviated or no oral exam is available in their language. Candidates who interpret more than one language must take an oral exam in each language.
Those who interpret in languages with no full or abbreviated exam must pass a Live Video Oral Proficiency Interview at the superior level of 10 on the ALTA grading scale.
Sign language interpreters are exempt from the oral exam requirement but must provide evidence that they passed a RID or NAD proficiency test relevant for legal interpreting as defined by the Court Administrator and the regulations.
Registration
Candidates seeking certification in foreign languages with a NCSC exam cannot register for an oral exam until they receive the results of the written exam and complete the Skill-Building Workshop. Once candidates pass the written exam and complete the Skill-Building Workshop, they may register with the Interpreter Certification Program for the oral exam. Candidates may choose from the dates listed in the interpreter program calendar. Those taking abbreviated oral exams are advised which sections of the test are available to take. Candidates are required to pay a fee of $125 for the simultaneous portion and $175 for the consecutive and sight portions. To learn more about the oral exam and to prepare for the test, candidates should read the Overview of the Oral Performance Examination.
Proficiency Exams
Full Proficiency Exam
Languages: Arabic (Egyptian and Levantine), Cantonese, French, Haitian-Creole, Hmong, Ilocano, Khmer, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese
For the most current list of languages, please visit the NCSC website Written and Oral Exam Resources | NCSC.
The full proficiency exam consists of three parts: simultaneous, consecutive and sight. Interpreters working in languages for which there is a full oral proficiency exam must take and pass all three parts. In Pennsylvania, the exam is administered in two parts: the simultaneous part is administered first followed by the consecutive and sight parts on a separate date.
Simultaneous
Candidates listen through headphones to a recording of a simulated attorney's opening or closing argument; a colloquy between a judge, the attorneys or another party; or a cross-examination of a witness. The candidate then interprets aloud what he or she hears over the headset. This mode of interpreting simulates common situations interpreters encounter in courtrooms while interpreting for defendants during procedural hearings and trials. The statement is approximately 800 to 850 words in length, is recorded at an approximate speed of 120 words per minute and is about seven minutes long.
Consecutive
Candidates interpret English language statements into a foreign language and foreign language responses into English. The candidate must wait until the speaker finishes speaking before delivering the interpretation. The segments are pre-recorded and the candidate may ask to have two of the segments repeated.
Sight
Candidates are asked to interpret a document from English into the foreign language and another from the foreign language into English. Each document is approximately 225 words in length and the candidate is given six minutes to interpret each document.
Abbreviated Proficiency Exam
Languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Marshallese and Turkish
For the most current list of languages, please visit the NCSC website Written and Oral Exam Resources | NCSC.
Candidates must take the simultaneous portion of the exam first. If one does not exist, candidates must take the portions that are available, either consecutive, sight or both. The scores of any passed part of the exam can be carried for a maximum of two years. The same version of the test can be taken a maximum of two times and cannot be retaken more than once in a six months period.
Languages with No Proficiency Exam
When a full or abbreviated proficiency exam does not exist in the candidate’s language, candidates are required to take a Live Video Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and pass at the superior level of 10 on the ALTA grading scale. Candidates in this category must also agree to take and pass a full or abbreviated oral proficiency exam in their foreign language when available.
During the interview, expert raters evaluate the candidate’s foreign language skills during a live video interview. The test is performed using a video connection established inside a web browser, allowing both the candidate and the evaluator to see each other. Candidates are required to provide a valid government issued photo ID and other verifying information. During the interview, the rater assesses the language skills and fluency level of the candidates in their language. Candidates must perform at the superior level. The interview will last between 15-25 minutes depending on the candidate’s skill level. Results are reported back to the ICP and the candidate. The cost of the OPI is currently $90. Candidates who do not pass the OPI must wait 6 months before retaking.
If I fail any part of the oral proficiency exam, can I take it again?
Languages with full oral proficiency exam
Candidates who fail the simultaneous portion of the exam may retake the test again but they must wait at least six months before attempting to retake the test. Candidates that pass the simultaneous portion but fail the consecutive or sight portions must retake whichever part they failed within one year. Candidates must pass all three parts of the oral proficiency exam within two years of the date they passed the simultaneous portion, which is equivalent to one testing cycle. The testing cycle requirement is not triggered until the candidate passes the simultaneous part of the exam.
Languages with abbreviated oral proficiency exam
When candidates fail the simultaneous part of the exam, they must wait at least six months to retake it again. In addition, they must complete the remaining parts within one year of the date they passed the simultaneous portion. They must take whatever parts are available within one testing cycle. The testing cycle requirement is not triggered untilthe candidate passes at least one of the available exam parts.
Special Accommodation
If you require special accommodation because of a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please print and complete the Request for Accommodation and Document of Accommodation forms and mail them with your registration form. Every effort is made to accommodate reasonable requests.