The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) uphold high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct for interpreters.  Embodied in this Code of Professional Conduct (formerly known as the Code of Ethics) are seven tenets setting forth guiding principles, followed by illustrative behaviors. 

The tenets of this Code of Professional Conduct are to be viewed holistically and as a guide to professional behavior.

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Tenets

1.      Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication.

2.      Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpreting situation.

3.      Interpreters conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the specific interpreting situation.

4.   Interpreters demonstrate respect for consumers. 

5.   Interpreters demonstrate respect for colleagues, interns, and students of the profession.

6.   Interpreters maintain ethical business practices.

7.   Interpreters engage in professional development.

SOURCE: http://www.rid.org  on July 22, 2005.

                                            INTERPRETER CREDENTIALS EXPLAINED

NAD-RID (National Association of the Deaf-Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) National Interpreter Certification (NIC)

There are three levels of certification: Certified, Certified Advanced, and Certified Expert.  All certified levels are considered professional-level certified interpreters.  Those who pass as Certified have shown basic professional-level interpreter/transliterating skills.  Those who pass Certified Advanced have scored within the standard range on the interview portion and high on the performance portion of the examination.  Those awarded the Certified Expert scored high on both the interview and performance portions of the test. In order to qualify to take the interview and performance portion of the test – which demonstrates the candidate’s knowledge of ethics, voice-to-sign, sign-to-voice, and interactive interpreting skills – the candidate needs to pass the written exam.  The national certification process is pass/fail.  For further information visit the RID web site at http://www.rid.org.

Further RID certifications:

Certificate of Interpreting/Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L)

Oral Interpreting Certificate (OIC)

Certificate Deaf Interpreting (CDI)

RID Certifications no longer offered:

Certificate of Interpretation (CI) Certificate of Transliteration (CT) Certificate of Legal Interpreting: Provisional (CLIP) Certificate Deaf Interpreting: Provisional (CDIP) Masters Comprehensive Skills Certificate (MCSC) Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC) Interpreting Certificate (IC)

Transliterating Certificate (TC) Reverse Skills Certificate (RSC) Oral Interpreter Certificate: Comprehensive (OIC:C) Oral Interpreter Certificate: Spoken to Visible (OIC:S/V) Oral Interpreter Certificate: Visible to Spoken (OIC:V/S) Specialist Certificate: Performing Arts (SC:PA)

National Association of the Deaf (NAD) certifications no longer offered:

Level 1: Novice I*

Level 2: Novice II*

                *Status of Novice I or Novice II means the interpreter has NOT received NAD certification.

Level 3: Generalist

Level 4: Advanced

Level 5: Master

                *Status of Generalist, Advanced, or Master means the interpreter HAS received NAD certification.

Wisconsin Interpreting and Transliterating Assessment (WITA)

The WITA evaluation provides the interpreter with a verification of skill level for both interpreting and transliterating.  The WITA is NOT certification.  Candidates receive two scores; one composite score for interpreting, and one composite score for transliterating.  For WITA results, the score range from 1(highest) – 5 (5 = failure).  An example of a score may be: I3/T2.  This score would mean that for the interpreting portion of the assessment, the candidate received a rating of 3, and for the transliterating portion of the assessment, the candidate received a rating of 2.  An interpreter may have verification from another state.  Each state’s interpreter verification system varies; they have different names/acronyms such as the Kansas QA or the Texas BEI.  It is important to note that skill verification from a state level assessment is not the same as national certification.

Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)

The EIPA process consists of the educational interpreter making a videotape of her/his work within the classroom with a deaf/hard of hearing student.  Both expressive (signing) and receptive (voicing) work samples are to be included in the videotape.  The goal is for the interpreter to videotape her/his work in the most challenging classes with the student.  The videotape will be reviewed by a team of trained evaluators.  The evaluation team will provide the interpreter and school administration with a score.  Additionally, the interpreter will receive feedback regarding the work and copy of the original videotape of the work. The EIPA process allows interpreters to receive assessments specific to their actual work environments. 

Department of Public Instruction (DPI) License

As of July 1, 1992, state law PE 3.305 requires that “any person employed by a school system to interpret for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing as part of that pupil’s special education program shall hold a license under this section.”  Obtaining the DPI license requires that the interpreter complete a practicum of at least 150 hours in the prekindergarden through 12^th grade setting or have RID national certification.  In addition to this requirement, the interpreter must also have proof of training in the areas of public speaking, oral interpreting, written English, note-taking, child development, and other related areas. For further information online visit: http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsis/tel/pi3sub7.html

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Ø       Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters and C-Print Captionists

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Ø       Technical Information on VRI and Video Conferencing (COMING SOON)

Ø       Tips for Using VRI Effectively (COMING SOON)

Ø       General Information about Interpreting Solutions, Inc. and our services. (COMING SOON)

Ø       Complete compilation of Interpreting Solutions, Inc.’s Frequently Asked Questions document. (COMING SOON)