Translator Interpreter Certification

• Develops systems, methods, procedures and policies to certify DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for DSHS bilingual positions, contracted interpreters and translators, and licensed agency personnel.
• Sets and maintains qualification standards for DSHS bilingual positions, interpreters, and translators across languages.
• Administers language proficiency testing to certify/authorize DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for bilingual positions, contracted interpreters, contracted translators, and licensed agency personnel.
• Provides consultation to the department in establishing DSHS policies regarding the quality of language services to LEP clients.
• Manages the roster of certified interpreters and translators; manage the roster of authorized interpreters.

State laws (RCW, , and ) requiring the department to provide language services to its LEP clients and to certify and authorize its language access providers were each amended and enacted during the 2010 legislative session.