The Nebraska Supreme Court requires that individuals who interpret for the court be the most qualified interpreters available. In order to assure this, the court offers a certification program which tests the interpreter’s ability to provide sight, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, all of which may be needed to assist a limited-English-proficient individual who finds him or herself before a Nebraska court.

To determine the qualifications of its interpreters, Nebraska has joined 39 other states in the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification. Through the tests and training materials available through the Consortium, the Administrative Office of the Courts offers certification in Arabic, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, Cantonese, Chuukese, French, Haitian, Creole, Hmong, Ilocano, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Certification as a court interpreter by another Consortium state is recognized in Nebraska, and Nebraska Certification may be recognized in other Consortium states as well.

In order to receive certification as a Nebraska Court Interpreter, an individual must complete the following steps:

1. Attend a 2-day interpreter orientation. This provides an introduction to the courts, ethics, vocabulary, talents and skills needed to pass the certification oral examination and assume the responsibilities of a court interpreter.
2. Pass a written English comprehension exam.
3. Pass an oral examination of the interpreter’s sight, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting skills.

If interested, be sure to check out the training and testing schedules.

If you are interested in becoming a certified court interpreter, please send your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and any questions you may have to Jennifer Verhein.

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.

• Registration Form
• REQUIRED background check authorization form

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.

Click here for more information.