Court Interpreter Orientation
Cost for Orientation is $150, including required online information for individual review and a two-day in-person workshop. Scholarships based upon financial need may be considered for qualified Nebraska resident applicants of high-demand languages who are required to travel more than 150 miles (one way) to attend Orientation, and whom have completed of 8 hours of court observation.
- April 17-18, 2021, at Judicial Branch Education, 6001 Central Park Dr., Lincoln, Nebraska.
Completed registration form and check or money order payment due no later than April 1, 2021.
In an effort to maintain the health and safety of all participants, there will be:
- COVID19 screening in the parking lot each morning.
- Social distancing of at least 6 feet
- Face masks for all participants and trainers
To successfully complete Interpreter Orientation and be eligible to sit for the Interpreter Written Exam, registrants must attend and participate in all sessions, both Saturday and Sunday.
- Travel expenses, lodging arrangements and meals are your responsibility.
- Guests/children are not allowed to attend Interpreter Orientation.
- Recording Interpreter Orientation classes/exercises/discussions is not permitted.
Written Exam
Applicants for the written exam for certification must have completed Court Interpreter Orientation to be eligible to sit for the written exam, which is administered approximately one month after Court Interpreter Orientation. Applicants may take the written exam at six month intervals. Exam is regularly administered in Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island. Additional exam locations may be designated on an as-needed basis.
Omaha: May 18, 2021, City Hall, 1819 Farnam Street, Room 1210, 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (test site capacity 15 – social distancing and face masks required)
Lincoln: May 20, 2021, Judicial Branch Education, 5001 Central Park Drive, 1:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (test site capacity 15 – social distancing and face masks required)
Grand Island: May 21, 2021, Hall County Courthouse, 111 W. 1st Street, 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 pm. (test site capacity 5 – social distancing and face masks required)
Written Exam Prerequisite: Completion of the Nebraska Court Interpreter Orientation
Written Exam Registration form, background check authorization, and payment, if required, are due no later than five (5) business days before the Written Exam. Submit required forms to:
Nebraska Supreme Court
Administrative Office of the Courts & Probation
ATTN: Court Services
PO Box 98910
Lincoln, NE 68509-8910
Cost for the Written Exam:
Nebraska Resident: No fee for first two attempts on the Written Exam.
Nebraska Applicants taking the Written Exam for a third or subsequent time must pay a $50.00 re-testing fee.
Out of State Resident: $100.00 each time exam is taken.
Oral Exam
Applicants for the oral exam for certification must have completed Court Interpreter Orientation and passed the written English comprehension exam in order to be eligible. Applicants are eligible to test at six month intervals. Exam is conducted in Lincoln and Omaha.
Cost for the Oral Exam is:
- Nebraska Resident: $225.00 each time exam is taken.
- Out of State Resident: $350.00 each time exam is taken.
Note: For purposes of the oral exam, an interpreter is considered "Nebraska Resident" if he or she lives in the state of Nebraska, or within 50 miles of the Nebraska border and reasonably intends to primarily interpret for the Nebraska Judicial Branch.
- Nothing scheduled at this time; please check back again.
Interpreter Test Preparation Strategies for Written and Oral Exam
A list of test preparation strategies and resources cand be found here. Although various training strategies and resources are included, the State of Nebraska does not endorse any particular program and does not guarantee success on examinations as a result of any training.