(Added 09/09)
(Revised 12/09)
The trilingual certification tests verify a candidate's proficiency in spoken English, spoken Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL). To be awarded trilingual certification, a candidate must
To be eligible for Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) trilingual certification, an applicant must
(Revised 04/11)
DHHS is committed to providing equal access to certification candidates without compromising the quality of services or integrity of the certification testing process. Requesting an accommodation and submitting documentation of need from a certified diagnosing professional are the first steps to advising DHHS of an applicant's disability. All requests are reviewed by the Health and Human Services Commission's Civil Rights Office for a determination. When DHHS receives the determination, DHHS notifies the applicant of the outcome and proceeds accordingly.
DHHS requires documentation from a certified diagnosing professional (that is a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist) that is dated less than two years before the application for the test. This documentation must
The purpose of the criminal conviction records check is to determine whether there are any criminal convictions that might disqualify or make the individual ineligible to hold BEI interpreter certification, or warrant suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action against current certificate holders.
For more information, see Chapter 2: Criminal Conviction Records, especially 2.4.1 Use of Criminal Conviction Records in the BEI Certification Process.
(Revised 04/11)
To apply for the TSP, the applicant must
For more information on fees, see 5.6.3 Trilingual Testing Fee Schedule.
When DHHS receives the application and fee, a BEI staff member performs a criminal conviction records check. If the check produces no finding of criminal convictions, the staff member informs the applicant by email or regular mail
If the criminal conviction records check indicates that the applicant has a criminal conviction, the application (for renewal or certification) process is suspended until DHHS receives additional information from the applicant (or certificate holder). The DHHS staff requests in writing that applicants (or certificate holders) provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances of the conviction and the underlying criminal acts. An applicant's failure to respond in writing within 30 days of DHHS' request for information results in forfeiture of the application and any fees, and the applicant or certificate holder will have to start the process over.
The BEI staff or a designee must administer the TSP at a site determined by DHHS. A calendar of scheduled dates and sites can be obtained from the BEI office.
For more information about test expectations, format, and sample TSP questions, contact the DHHS office.
Testing fees are forfeited if the TSP is not taken within 90 days of application, except when there is a valid reason for the delay. If an applicant must cancel a confirmed appointment, he or she must contact the BEI staff immediately. An applicant may reschedule a test appointment without an additional fee if he or she provides proof of one of the following:
The BEI staff scores the TSP and sends a notification letter by regular mail. The process may take up to 30 days to complete.
Applicants who receive a passing score on the TSP become candidates and are eligible to apply for a trilingual performance test. Applicants who do not receive a passing score may resubmit an application and fee six months after the failed attempt.
(Revised 04/11)
Following are the requirements for applying for a trilingual performance test:
|
Certification Status |
Performance Test Eligibility |
|---|---|
|
Not certified |
Not eligible |
|
BEI Level I, Level II, Level III, Level IV, Level V, Basic, Advanced, or Master |
Trilingual Advanced |
|
*RID CI, CT ,or CI/CT, CSC, **NAD-RID NIC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master |
|
|
BEI Level III, Level IV, Level V, Advanced, or Master, Trilingual Advanced |
Trilingual Master |
|
RID CSC, CI/CT, NIC Advanced, or NIC Master |
*Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
**National Association of the Deaf-Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf National Interpreter Certification
Holders of RID or certification from another state who are applying for the Advanced or Master Trilingual Performance Tests must submit a copy of their valid certification for verification purposes.
At least 45 days before a scheduled performance testing date, the candidate must mail to DARS DHHS, PO Box 12306, Austin, Texas 78711
When DHHS receives the application, a BEI staff member
The nonrefundable testing fees are shown in the following table:
|
Certification Test |
Applicable Fee |
|---|---|
|
Test of Spanish Proficiency |
$95 |
|
Trilingual Advanced Performance Test |
$160 |
|
Trilingual Master Performance Test |
$185 |
(Revised 04/11)
DARS DHHS administers the trilingual performance tests at designated locations, which are subject to change. Testing dates are scheduled on an as needed basis, and may be available from the DHHS office or on the BEI Trilingual Performance Testing page.
(Revised 04/11)
Before a scheduled test date, a BEI staff member sends a letter to the candidate by email or regular mail to confirm an appointment for testing. Appointments are
Fees are not refundable. At least 10 days before the confirmed appointment, a BEI staff member sends directions and specific instructions to the candidate through email or regular mail. For more information about test expectations, formats, and samples, contact the DHHS office.
(Revised 04/11)
Candidates must arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time and can bring only photo identification and the confirmation letter to the site. Candidates who arrive later than 15 minutes after their scheduled appointment forfeit the testing opportunity and fees.
A BEI staff member or designee administers the performance test and records each test. Once the test begins, the recording may not be stopped, rewound, or replayed, but the testing materials can be paused briefly between each section. Candidates are not permitted to rewind or review their performance test DVD. The candidate may not leave the testing room after the test has begun, but can sit or stand.
Water will be provided for the candidates. Candidates must not bring electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, or PDAs into the testing room. Handbags, wallets, briefcases, backpacks, jackets, coats, and other personal items are not allowed in the testing room and should be secured in the candidate’s vehicle before the appointment. This prohibition is necessary for test security. Any action that can be viewed as cheating on an examination is grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a certification.
DARS DHHS must report test results within 90 days after the test is administered. Candidates who are awarded certification are
Trilingual certificate holders must satisfy the annual certificate maintenance and five-year certificate renewal requirements for all certificates. For more information, see 5.7 Annual Certificate Maintenance and 5.8 Five-Year Certificate Renewal.
Unsuccessful candidates
The notification letter contains valuable feedback about test results and provides guidance about additional training that may be helpful.
(Revised 04/11)
A person who holds a trilingual certificate must renew it annually by paying the annual maintenance fee to DHHS before the expiration date. A trilingual certificate expires if a prerequisite certification expires.
Certificate holders are subject to a conviction records check at annual renewal. A conviction records check may also be conducted at any time if DHHS receives information that indicates a certificate holder has a criminal conviction that was not previously reviewed. A conviction finding may result in denial, suspension, probation, or revocation of a certificate. See Chapter 2: Criminal Conviction Records for more information.
(Revised 04/11)
A BEI staff member sends maintenance notification letters through regular mail at least 30 days before the due date. Failure to receive a reminder from DHHS does not prevent the expiration of a certificate.
The certificate holder must complete DARS3910, Annual Maintenance or DARS3921, Annual Certificate Maintenance for Multiple-Certificate Holders, and send it with a check, cashier’s check, or money order for the fee to DARS DHHS. Individuals certified by RID or NAD-RID must enclose a copy of their valid certificate card. When DHHS receives the form and fee, a BEI staff member
(Revised 12/09)
A person who is otherwise eligible may renew an expired certificate by completing DARS3910, Annual Certificate Maintenance or DARS3921, Annual Certificate Maintenance for Multiple-Certificate Holders and paying the applicable fee to DHHS.
(Revised 04/11)
A trilingual certificate holder must maintain all underlying prerequisite certifications and satisfy the five-year renewal requirements to maintain his or her certification. Each certificate holder must earn 10.0 continuing education units (CEUs) (100 clock hours) during the five-year certification period.
Certificate holders whose five-year cycle begins on or after September 1, 2009, must satisfy the following renewal requirements:
The BEI staff notifies a certificate holder through regular mail before the renewal due date. To renew, the certificate holder must
When DHHS receives the renewal form, fee, and documentation, a BEI staff member performs a criminal conviction records check. Any criminal convictions discovered may be used to determine whether a certificate is renewed. Certificate holders are required to disclose any criminal convictions that have not previously been disclosed to DARS DHHS. When the criminal conviction records check produces no findings, the staff member