Interpeter Certifications/

Assessments

Interpreter Certification is an important goal to obtain by many mentees. Over the past years, I have worked to obtain both the Texas BEI Basic Certification and have also taken the EIPA Assessment. Each certificaiton test is different and the requirements that one complete also differs with each test. The two certification exams listed below discuss the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters Certification (BEI) and the National Interpreter Certification (NIC). The assessment that is listed is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment. The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment focuses on educational interpreting, while the other exams content have a broader spectrum of test material. Depending on the exam the mentee is planning to take, I will work with each one in determining the best activities and material to practice to work on the skills needed for each exam.

Are you interested in becoming certified? Listed below are resources pertaining to the BEI, NIC, and EIPA.

What is the BEI?

BEI stands for the Board of Evaluation of Interpreters.

As Stated by the Texas Health and Human Services website:

"The Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification program is responsible for testing and certifying the skill level of individuals seeking to become certified interpreters in Texas."

"The primary goal of the BEI certification program is to ensure that prospective interpreters are proficient in their ability to meaningfully and accurately comprehend, produce, and transform ASL to and from English."

How to Apply for BEI Test of English Proficiency (TEP)?

Applicants may subit a completed application form for the desired test:

Link to the application form: https://hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/provider-portals/assistive-services-providers/board-evaluation-interpreters-certification-program/bei-forms
Complete, sign and mail this form and the following to HHS DHHS.
Copy of a valid photo ID.
Sealed Official college transcript
Applicable testing fee int he form of a check, cashier’s check, or money order (non-refundable).

How to Apply for BEI Performance?

Applicants may submit a completed application formfor the desired test and include:

An applicable testing fee in the form of a check or money order.
A copy of driver's license.
A copy of valid certificate card, if applicable
An official college transcript.

A link to the BEI Study Guide:

https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/laws-regulations/handbooks/bei_study_guide.pdf

Link to BEI Website: https://hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/provider-portals/assistive-services-providers/board-evaluation-interpreters-certification-program/bei-registry-interpreters

Resources for the BEI TEP

SAT Flashcards

Link to Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/McGraw-Hills-Vocabulary-Flashcards-Mark-Anestis/dp/0071766413/ref=sr_1_18?keywords=SAT+flash+cards&qid=1574893778&s=books&sr=1-18

Links to my Personal Study Material:

Links:

https://www.testprepreview.com/modules/sentence-correction.htm

https://www.majortests.com/gmat/sentence_correction.php

http://acceptedtocollege.com/tests/grammar/

https://www.majortests.com/sat/identify-sentence-errors-test01

https://quizlet.com/33326668/sat-homonyms-flash-cards/

https://www.teachingtreasures.com.au/teaching-tools/Basic-worksheets/worksheets-english/upper/homophones-list.htm

https://www.majortests.com/sat/grammar.php

http://www.betterendings.org/homeschool/words/root%20words.htm

https://www.varsitytutors.com/sat_writing-understanding-homonyms-problem-32339

http://www.idiomsite.com

Links to Study Material- Reading Comprehension Website:

Links:

http://www.majortests.com/sat/reading-comprehension-test12

http://www.majortests.com/sat/critical-reading.php

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/reading1.htm

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/readingmainidea.htm

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/readingtest2.htm

http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/authors-purpose.htm

EIPA

What is the EIPA? EIPA stands for Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment. The EIPA is an assessment screening.

As stated by the EIPA Website:

"One of the greatest factors affecting the education of deaf and hard of hearing students in the regular education setting is the interpreter. A highly qualified interpreter is required to provide basic access to the classroom. When an educational interpreter lacks interpreting skills and knowledge needed to work as an effective educational team member deaf and hard of hearing students cannot access the full content of the classroom. Because of this, they are not receiving an appropriate education.""

In 1991, Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska responded to requests for tools that could assess the proficiency of educational interpreters by developing the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment ® (EIPA). The EIPA offers a family of products designed to provide:

Accurate and timely assessment of educational interpreters
Assessment of content knowledge needed to work in an educational setting
Information for school administrators, educators and parents regarding the role and function of educational interpreters and the need for competent services
Guidance to Departments of Education at both the federal and state levels regarding issues of educating deaf and hard of hearing students in inclusive settings

"EIPA products and services are provided through the EIPA Diagnostic Center at Boys Town National Research Hospital. In keeping with the Hospital’s mission, the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA), and No Child Left B

How to Apply for Testing?

One must register for the Performance Test and the written Test seperately!

Link to register for the performance test: https://www.classroominterpreting.org/EIPA/performance/index.asp
Link to register for the written test:

https://www.classroominterpreting.org/EIPA/standards/index.asp

Link to the EIPA Knowledge Standards (Study Guide)

Link: https://www.classroominterpreting.org/EIPA/standards/contentstandards.asp

NIC

What does NIC stand for? NIC stands for National Interpreter Certification.

As stated by the Registry of Intepreters for the Deaf (RID) Website:

"Holders of this certification have demonstrated general knowledge in the field of interpreting, ethical decision making and interpreting skills. Candidates earn NIC Certification if they demonstrate professional knowledge and skills that meet or exceed the minimum professional standards necessary to perform in a broad range of interpretation and transliteration assignments. This credential has been available since 2005."

"The NIC certification process begins with a multiple-choice NIC Knowledge Exam. Candidates are eligible for the NIC Knowledge Exam if they are at least 18 years old. Candidates who have passed the knowledge exam within 5 years and meet RID’s educational requirement may then take the NIC Interview and Performance Exam. The NIC Interview and Performance Exam is a vignette-based assessment using video to deliver and record the assessment."