An individual who wants to become a certified, provisionally certified, or registered interpreter as defined in these rules, in a particular foreign language, must do the following to protect the integrity of the Nebraska Judicial Branch and the safety of the public, and to ensure an interpreter's record of conduct justifies the trust of the courts, probation, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, parties, and the public.

   (A) Apply to attend the Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation. Upon application for Interpreter Orientation on a form approved by the State Court Administrator, the Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and determine if the applicant meets the initial qualification requirements of §§ 6-705, 6-706, or 6-707.

   (B) Attend Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation. Orientation for interpreters will include an introduction to the courts and probation, the ethics of a court interpreter, vocabulary, the skills needed to assume the responsibilities of an interpreter, and the requirements to be certified, provisionally certified, and registered as outlined in  §§ 6-705, 6-706, or 6-707. The State Court Administrator may waive this requirement for any interpreter who has previously attended a Nebraska Judicial Branch or other state or federal court interpreter orientation within the last 3 calendar years.

   (C) Apply for the Interpreter Written Examination. Only after attending the Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation or the State Court Administrator waiving the requirement to attend the orientation may the applicant submit an application to take the written examination and execute a criminal history record check release on forms approved by the State Court Administrator. The Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and conduct a criminal background check to verify the absence of criminal convictions and/or pending charges. A felony conviction of an applicant shall warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. A misdemeanor conviction in the preceding 5 calendar years manifesting a significant deficiency in the honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability of an applicant may warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of any felony charges less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) shall be the basis for denial of certification. Disposition of misdemeanor charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) may be the basis for denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters.

   (D) Written Examination. The written examination to qualify to take the oral examination of § 6-705(F) or to be considered for provisional certification pursuant to § 6-706(F), shall require no fee for an initial or second attempt for residents of Nebraska. If subsequent attempts are undertaken, a fee as prescribed by the Nebraska Supreme Court shall be assessed per each attempt. For out of state residents, a fee as prescribed by the Nebraska Supreme Court shall be assessed per each attempt of the written examination to qualify to take the oral examination of § 6-705(F) or to be considered for provisional certification pursuant to § 6-706(F). The written examination shall consist of three parts: general English language vocabulary, court-related terms and usage, and ethics and professional conduct. The written examination will be administered at such times and places as designated by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. The State Court Administrator shall waive this requirement for any interpreter who has previously taken the oral examination of § 6-704(F). If the applicant achieves a qualifying score of 80 percent or higher on the written examination, the applicant shall then be eligible to take the oral examination, if available for the interpreter's language, or provide documentation to support consideration for provisional certification. Results of the written examination will be electronically sent to the applicant.

   (E) Applying for the Interpreter Oral Examination. Only after passing the written examination may the applicant submit an application to take the oral examination and execute a criminal history record check release on forms approved by the State Court Administrator. The Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and conduct a criminal background check to verify the absence of criminal convictions and/or pending charges. A felony conviction of an applicant shall warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. A misdemeanor conviction in the preceding 5 calendar years manifesting a significant deficiency in the honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability of an applicant may warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of any felony charges less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) shall be the basis for denial of certification or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of misdemeanor charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) may be the basis for denial of participation within the certification program or removal from the statewide register of interpreters.

   (F) Oral Examination. Oral examinations in specific languages will consist of three components: sight interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation. Such examinations will be administered at such times and places as designated by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. Results of the oral certification examinations will be electronically sent to the applicant.

   (G) Revocation or suspension as an interpreter in any other jurisdiction will preclude certification as a Nebraska Judicial Branch interpreter.

   (H) Confidentiality. All information relating to the examination is treated as confidential by the Nebraska Judicial Branch and test administrators except that aggregate statistical information relating to the examinations and applicants may be released at the discretion of the State Court Administrator.

§ 6-704 adopted October 21, 2009; § 6-704(A)-(D) amended March 16, 2011; § 6-704(B)-(G) amended December 12, 2018; § 6-704(A), (B), and (D)-(G) amended April 14, 2021; § 6-704 amended June 12, 2024.