Are you looking for an interpreter?

Are you interested in how to train to be an interpreter? Or how to register to be in a qualified interpreter directory?

Interpreter Qualifications

To become a qualified interpreter, the following criteria must be met.

Minimum education
High School or GED Diploma

Oral language proficiency in English
Must have proof of one of the following:

• Graduation from any High School from an English language country or from an American School abroad.
• Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any U.S. institution of higher education
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 570+ on paper; 230+ on computer version; 90+ on iBT
• ACTFL oral exam (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) rating of “Advanced Mid” or above
• Pacific Interpreters’ assessment rating of Good/Competent or Superior/Outstanding

Oral proficiency in other language(s)
Must have proof of one of the following:

• Graduation from any high school in that language(s)
• Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any institution of higher education in that language(s)
• ACTFL oral exam rating (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) of “Advanced Mid” and above
• Pacific Interpreters’ assessment rating of Good/Competent or Superior/Outstanding

Interpreter training
Must have proof of at least 12 hours of formal training on interpreter role, ethics, and interpreting skills

Training

Interpreter basic and medical interpreter training are available at Southern Maine Community College.

• Basic Skills of Interpreting is a two-day 12-hour training introducing bilingual and beginning interpreters to the roles of interpreter, Interpreter’s Code of Ethics, interpretation techniques, and other essential aspects of interpretation.
• Introduction to Medical Interpreting prepares bilingual individuals and working interpreters to become medical interpreters and receive their Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) designation if they pass the written and oral exams.
• Contact Marti Cox at Southern Maine Community College Professional Education Department at 207-741-5862 or mcox@smccme.edu for more information on basic, medical and other specialized trainings.

Court Interpreter Requirements  provides information on interpreter requirements for Maine Courts, application for Maine Court interpreter work, and State of Maine Judicial Branch Standards Of Professional Conduct for interpreters.