Information about RID certifications

NIC (National Interpreter Certification)

Individuals achieving certification at the NIC, NIC Advanced or NIC Master level are all professionally certified interpreters. The National Interpreter Certification exam tests interpreting skills and knowledge in three critical domains:

general knowledge of the field of interpreting through the NIC Knowledge written exam
ethical decision making through the Interview portion of the NIC Performance test and
interpreting and transliterating skills through the Performance portion of the test.

In all three domains, certificate holders have demonstrated professional knowledge and skills that meets or exceeds the professional standards to perform in a broad range of interpretation and transliteration assignments.

NIC

Individuals who achieve the NIC level have passed the NIC Knowledge written exam as well as scored within the standard range of a professional interpreter on the Interview portion and Performance portions of the test.

NIC Advanced

Individuals who achieved the NIC Advanced level have passed the NIC Knowledge written exam, scored within the standard range of a professional interpreter on the Interview portion, and scored within the high range on the Performance portion of the test.

NIC Master

Individuals who achieved the NIC Master level have passed the NIC Knowledge written exam and scored within the high range of a professional interpreter on both the Interview portion and Performance portion of the test.

Individuals who achieve any of the three NIC certification levels are to be commended.

From the beginning of test development, under the mandate of the NAD-RID National Council on Interpreting (NCI), the subject matter experts on the test development committee were given the task of developing a test that "raised the bar" for ASL/English interpreting/transliterating standards. This means that the NAD-RID NIC is a challenging test.

Passing the test at the NIC level indicates that the interpreter has demonstrated skills in interpreting that meets a standard professional performance level and should be able to perform the varied functions of interpreting on a daily basis with competence and skill. It also shows that an individual has passed a test with both interpreting and transliterating elements, as opposed to one or the other.

Additionally, with increasingly higher standards for the NIC Advanced and NIC Master levels of the test, progressively fewer individuals will meet these requirements. Achieving either the Advanced or Master level is an accomplishment and indicates that the individual exceeds the professional standards established in most routine interpreting assignments. Individuals holding the NIC Advanced and/or Master level certifications may be expected to perform competently in all routine interpreting assignments as well as in assignments that may be more complex in nature or require interpreting skills above standard levels.

For more information on the NIC you may visit : http://www.rid.org/nic.html

Current Certifications Offered by RID:

(Certificate of Interpretation)

Holders of this certificate are recognized as fully certified in Interpretation and have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign. The interpreter's ability to transliterate is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CI are recommended for a broad range of interpretation assignments.

CT (Certificate of Transliteration)

Holders of this certificate are recognized as fully certified in Transliteration and have demonstrated the ability to transliterate between English-based sign language and spoken English in both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign. The transliterator's ability to interpret is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CT are recommended for a broad range of transliteration assignments.

CI and CT (Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration)

Holders of both full certificates (as listed above) have demonstrated competence in both interpretation and transliteration. Holders of the CI and CT are recommended for a broad range of interpretation and transliteration assignments.

For more information on the CI and CT you may visit: http://www.rid.org/cict.html

CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter)

Holders of this certification are interpreters who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing and who have completed at least 8 hours of training on the RID Code of Ethics, and 8 hours of training in general interpretation as it relates to the interpreter who is Deaf or hard-of-hearing and have passed a comprehensive combination written and performance test. Holders of this certificate are recommended for a broad range of assignments where an interpreter who is Deaf or hard-of-hearing would be beneficial.

CDI Defined

The Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) is an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to proficient communication skill and general interpreter training, the CDI has specialized training and/or experience in the use of gesture, mime, props, drawings and other tools to enhance communication. The CDI has knowledge and understanding of deafness, the Deaf community, and Deaf culture. The CDI possesses native or near-native fluency in American Sign Language.

For more information on the CDI you may visit: http://www.rid.org/cdip.html

OTC (Oral Transliteration Certificate)

Holders of this generalist certificate have demonstrated, using silent oral techniques and natural gestures, the ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and the ability to understand and repeat the message and intent of the speech and mouth movements of the person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing.

For more information on the OTC you may visit: http://www.rid.org/oral.html

Specialist and Provisional Certifications Offered by RID:

SC:L (Specialist Certificate: Legal)

Holders of this specialist certificate have demonstrated specialized knowledge of legal settings and greater familiarity with language used in the legal system. Generalist certification and documented training and experience is required prior to sitting for this exam. Holders of the SC:L are recommended for a broad range of assignments in the legal setting.

For more information on the SC:L you may visit: http://www.rid.org/legal.html

CLIP-R (Conditional Legal Interpreting Permit-Relay)

Holders of this conditional permit have completed an RID recognized training program designed for interpreters and transliterators who work in legal settings and who are also Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Generalist certification for interpreters/transliterators who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing (RSC, CDI-P, or CDI) is required prior to enrollment in the training program. This permit is valid until one year after the Specialist Certificate: Legal written and performance test for Deaf interpreters is available nationally. CLIP-R holders must take and pass the new legal certification examination in order to maintain certification in the specialized area of interpreting in legal settings. Holders of this conditional permit are recommended for a broad range of assignments in the legal setting. The CLIP-R is still offered.

For more information on the CLIP-R you may visit: http://www.rid.org/cdip.html

For an explanation of all RID certifications offered past and present you may visit: http://www.rid.org/expl.html