Work as a Court Interpreter at DC Courts
The DC Courts maintain an Interpreter Registry of certified and qualified freelance interpreters who may be hired on a contract basis when needed. We welcome interpreters of all languages.
Types of Interpreters
- Certified Interpreters
You may join the registry as a certified interpreter if you have passed an approved court interpreter certification exam in your language. - Qualified Interpreters
If your language does not have an available certification exam, you may join the registry as a qualified interpreter after meeting certain requirements.
The DC Courts Interpreter Registry
Download the DC Courts Interpreter Registry
How to Join the Interpreter Registry
For Certified Interpreters
You must:
- Be certified by one of the following:
- National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
- Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam (FCICE – Spanish only)
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
- U.S. Department of State – Conference Level Exam
- A recognized state court certification exam (if NCSC certification is unavailable)
- Submit:
- Your résumé
- Proof of certification, send to: interpreters [at] dcsc.gov
- Register as a contractor in SAM.gov (System for Award Management) and submit your Unique Entity ID and CAGE number to OCIS staff.
- Pass a criminal background check
- Complete required training
- Watch the Interpreter Code of Ethics video and pass the quiz
- Attend the New Interpreter Orientation Workshop
- It may be necessary to fulfill additional requirements to join the Registry, such as observing court proceedings
For Qualified Interpreters
You may join as a qualified interpreter if no certification exam exists for your language. You must:
- Email your résumé and a statement of interest to interpreters [at] dcsc.gov. OCIS will review and provide next steps.
- Register with SAM.gov and provide your Unique Entity ID and CAGE number.
- Complete one of the following:
- Pass the DC Courts:
- Written English exam
- Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in English
- OPI in your target language
- Pass the U.S. Department of State Seminar Level Exam in your language
- Pass the DC Courts:
- Pass a background check
- Complete required training:
- Watch the Interpreter Code of Ethics video and pass the quiz
- Attend the New Interpreter Orientation Workshop
- It may be necessary to fulfill additional requirements to join the Registry, such as observing court proceedings
Registry Status
Changing Your Status
If a qualified interpreter later becomes certified, their status will be updated on the registry.
Staying on the Registry
To remain active, all interpreters must complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years.
Amharic Interpreter Certification Exam
DC Courts offer an annual certification exam for Amharic interpreters.
Eligibility Steps
- Pass the NCSC Written English Exam (Covers English vocabulary, court terms, and interpreter ethics)
- Pass an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in:
(must pass written exam first)- English
- Amharic
What the Exam Includes
- Sight Translation
- English → Amharic and vice versa
- 6 minutes per document (12 minutes total)
- Consecutive Interpretation
- Listen to a Q&A between attorney and witness
- Interpret both sides aloud
- 22 minutes total
- Simultaneous Interpretation
- Listen to a recording of a lawyer’s speech
- Interpret aloud into Amharic in real time
- 12 minutes
Check back for 2026 exam dates and registration information.
Questions?