Chapter 1, General Interpreter Certification Policies and Procedures

1.1 Introduction

The Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) was created under authority of the Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 81. This chapter outlines the general operations and procedures of the BEI general interpreter certification program and provides guidance for both current and prospective BEI-certified interpreters for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in Texas.

1.2 Qualifications and Requirements for a BEI Certificate

Section A:

To apply for or to take any examination for a BEI Certificate, an applicant must

• be at least 18 years old;
• have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent; and
• not have a criminal conviction that could qualify as grounds for denial, probation, suspension, or revocation of a BEI certificate, or other disciplinary action against any holder of a BEI certificate.

Section B:

To take the written Test of English Proficiency, an applicant must have

• met all the criteria above; and
• earned at least 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Section C:

To take a BEI performance test, an applicant must have

• met all the criteria in subsection A of this section;
• earned a passing score on the Test of English Proficiency, unless the applicant is applying for a specialty certificate; and
• earned an associate degree and/or a minimum of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, unless the applicant is applying for a specialty certificate or except as provided in subsections E and F of this section.

Section D:

To apply for and to be issued a BEI certificate, an applicant must have

• met all criteria in subsection (a) of this section; and
• earned an associate degree and/or a minimum of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, except as provided in subsections E and F of this section; and
• earned a passing score on the requisite examination for the certificate level sought.

Section E:

A BEI certificate holder who holds an active and valid BEI certificate awarded as a result of proceedings initiated before January 1, 2012, is exempt from the educational or degree requirements in subsections B, C, and D of this section, as long as the BEI certificate remains active and valid.

Section F:

A BEI certificate holder who holds an active and valid BEI certificate awarded as a result of proceedings initiated before January 1, 2012, and who applies for an additional BEI certificate level after January 1, 2012, may be exempt from the educational or degree requirements of subsections B, C, and D of this section, if, at the time the certificate holder applies for, takes, and passes any BEI examination for the additional certificate, the BEI certificate holder

• has an active and valid BEI certificate that is fully compliant with BEI's annual certificate renewal and five-year recertification rules and requirements;
• is not under any type of active or pending disciplinary action from BEI or DHHS; and
• satisfies all other rules and requirements applicable to the additional BEI certificate level sought. Section G: A certified interpreter wanting to take a higher level BEI performance test must have the following prerequisite certificate for the corresponding BEI performance test:

*Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf

**National Association of the Deaf—Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, National Interpreter Certification

Holders of RID, NIC, or certification from another state must submit a copy of their certification for verification purposes if applying for the Advanced or Master Performance test.

1.3 Essential Functions of a BEI-Certified Interpreter

A BEI-certified interpreter is a person who provides sign-language interpreter services. To work as a BEI-certified interpreter, a person must have the skills, experience, education, and other job-related requirements of the position. The person must also be able to perform the essential job functions.

1.3.1 Essential Abilities and Attributes of Nonintermediary or Nondeaf Interpreters

A BEI-certified nonintermediary interpreter must have the following physical, cognitive, cultural, linguistic, and professional abilities and attributes.

Essential Physical Abilities – The essential physical abilities of a nonintermediary interpreter are described below.

Hearing – the ability to hear, identify, and understand the speech of another person without relying on visual assistance

Speech – the ability to speak clearly so that the speech is understandable to a listener

Vision – the ability to see details of another person's hand shapes, hand movements, and facial expressions from a distance of three to six feet

Facial expression – the ability to control the muscles of the face in order to manipulate the eyebrows, cheeks, mouth, and nose

Manual dexterity – the ability to quickly make coordinated movements of one hand, a hand together with its arm, two hands, or two hands together with arms

Finger dexterity – the ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands

Wrist-finger speed – the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists

Limb movement – the ability to move the arms to place the hands slightly above the head, and to extend the arms away from the front of the body and to the sides of the body

Limb movement speed – the ability to quickly move the arms

Dual-limb coordination – the ability to coordinate movements of both arms while sitting or standing

Head – the ability to control the head in order to nod and to turn it from side to side

Physical stamina – the ability to endure moderate physical exertion without getting winded or out-of-breath for at least 30 minutes

Essential Cognitive Abilities – The essential cognitive abilities of a nonintermediary, nondeaf interpreter are described below.

Critical thinking – the ability to use logic and analysis to assess communication in order to make adjustments in approaches to interpretation

Self-monitoring – the ability to monitor and assess the interpretation during and after a task

Selective attention – the ability to concentrate and be undistracted while performing a task, and to sustain that attention over a period of time

Auditory attention – the ability to focus on a single source of auditory information in the presence of other distracting sounds

Visual attention – the ability to focus on a single source of visual information in the presence of other distracting movements in the surrounding area

Mental stamina – the ability to sustain a significant amount of mental processing without fatigue or breakdown for at least 30 minutes

Working memory – he ability to remember information such as concepts, words, and numbers for a brief time while interpreting

Information ordering – the ability to track and arrange information in a certain order

Pattern inference – the ability to quickly make sense of information even when parts of that information may appear to be missing

Time sharing – the ability to efficiently shift between two or more activities or tasks, and between two or more sources of information

Problem sensitivity – the ability to recognize when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong

Fluency of ideas – the ability to generate a number of ideas about a given topic (This concerns the number of ideas produced and not the quality, correctness, or creativity of the ideas)

Breadth of knowledge – an acquaintance or understanding, at the introductory level or higher, of a broad variety of topics and fields of interest

Essential Cultural Knowledge and Linguistic Abilities –  The essential cultural knowledge and linguistic abilities of a nonintermediary, nondeaf interpreter are described below.

English language –

• knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words
• the ability to communicate information and ideas by speaking so that others will understand

Written English comprehension –

• read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
• communicate information and ideas in writing so that others will understand

American Sign Language –

• knowledge of the structure and content of American Sign Language including the meaning of lexical and phrasal items, rules of grammar, and articulation
• the ability to watch and understand information and ideas presented through signs, gestures, classifiers, and finger spelling
• the ability to communicate information and ideas through signs, gestures, classifiers, and finger spelling so that others will understand

Culture – A BEI-certified interpreter must have an in-depth understanding of the cultural norms and mores of the American English-speaking and the American deaf communities.

Essential Professional Attributes – The essential professional attributes of a nonintermediary, nondeaf interpreter are described below.

Social perceptiveness – the ability to be aware of and sensitive to others' reactions, and the ability to understand why others react as they do

Independence – the ability to develop independent approaches to doing things and to work with little or no supervision

Interpersonal relationships – the ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and to maintain them over time

Adaptability and flexibility – the ability to adapt to considerable variety in the workplace and be flexible and accepting of positive and negative change

Emotional well-being – the ability to exercise emotional control and stability in order to fully use intellectual abilities and good judgment

Self-control –  the ability to maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior, even in difficult situations

Professional decorum – the ability to show respect and act in a professional manner during all interactions

Problem solving – the ability to make complex decisions, including the ability to identify problems, collect information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work – the ability to develop specific goals and plans, and to prioritize, organize, and accomplish goals

Conflict resolution – the ability to identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors

Time management – the ability to manage time well and to respect the time of others

Ethical standards – the ability to follow the *Code of Professional Conduct as set forth by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. The seven tenets of the code are as follows:

1. Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication.
2. Interpreters posses 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.

*For a complete explanation of the Code of Professional Conduct, see www.RID.org.

1.4 Accommodation Requests

DHHS is committed to providing equal access to interpreter certification to applicants 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.

When DHHS receives the determination, DHHS notifies the applicant of the outcome and proceeds accordingly. Requests for accommodations and any accompanying documentation must be received with the application.

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 TEP. This documentation must

• specify how the applicant's disability substantially limits his or her ability to take this examination under current testing procedures,
• provide guidance about modifications recommended to enable the applicant to test,
• be submitted on the certified diagnosing professional's letterhead, and
• include a completed C-039 Attachment-1 Health and Human Services Reasonable Modification Request, which can be obtained from DHHS.

1.5 Criminal Conviction Records Checks

DARS DHHS obtains conviction records to determine whether an applicant's criminal conviction record makes him or her ineligible for an interpreter certification, or warrants suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action to holders of a certificate previously granted.

If a conviction records-check reveals that the applicant has a criminal conviction, deferred adjudication, or pending adjudication on an arrest or criminal charge, the application process is suspended until DARS DHHS receives additional information, including a detailed description of the circumstances of the conviction and the underlying criminal acts. Failure to respond within 30 days to DARS DHHS' request for information results in forfeiture of the application fee, and issuance of the certification will be denied.

For more information, see Chapter 3: Criminal Conviction Records, especially 3.4 Use and Analysis of Criminal Conviction Records and Related Information.

1.6 Applying for the Test of English Proficiency (TEP)

The applicant must

• complete the Form 3908, Test of English Proficiency  form;
• indicate the preferred testing location on the form. For help locating a site
  • see BEI Testing Dates and Sites,
  • contact the DARS DHHS office through email at bei@dars.state.tx.us, or
  • call (512) 407-3250 (voice);
• attach the following items to the form:
  • a copy of a valid photo ID or driver’s license;
  • an official college transcript showing the completion of at least 30 credit hours; and
  • a check, money order, or cashier’s check payable to DARS DHHS for the designated fee; and
• mail the form with the attachments to DARS DHHS at least 30 calendar days before scheduling a test date.

For more information, see 1.7.3 Testing Fees Schedule.

1.6.1 Scheduling the TEP

DARS DHHS contracts with a testing service to administer the TEP (Test of English Proficiency). After the application process is completed, a DARS DHHS staff member sends a list of eligible applicants to the testing service.

The testing service mails the TEP to the testing site and informs the applicant

• where the TEP was mailed,
• what required items to bring, and
• of the deadline for taking the TEP.

Once the testing service mails the TEP to the requested testing site, the location and the application cannot be changed. After receiving notification that the TEP was mailed, the applicant must contact the testing site to schedule an appointment. Some sites have general testing hours throughout the week and do not require an appointment. Other testing sites require appointments to be made. Business hours may vary because of holiday closures, inclement weather, or other unforeseen events. If the applicant does not receive notification from the testing service that the test has been received within 10 business days of initial notification from DARS DHHS, he or she should contact the DARS DHHS office.

Applicants are advised that some testing sites charge proctoring fees. The applicant must pay any fees directly to the proctor at the testing site according to their established policy. When making individual test arrangements, the applicant is responsible for asking about any additional fees and confirming the current proctoring fee and acceptable form of payment.

For more information about test expectations, format, and sample questions, see the BEI Study Guide for General Interpreter Certification Candidates (PDF), available online, or by request from the DARS DHHS office.

1.6.2 Forfeiture of Fees

Testing fees are forfeited if the TEP 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 DARS DHHS staff and the testing site immediately. An applicant may reschedule a test appointment without an additional fee at the approval of DARS DHHS and if he or she provides proof of one of the following:

• illness of the applicant or an immediate family member,
• death of an immediate family member,
• inclement weather conditions, or
• reasons beyond the applicant's control that made attendance impossible.

If an applicant cancels a testing appointment and provides proof of one of the above, the applicant must reschedule and take the test within 30 days of cancellation.

1.6.3 Notification of TEP Results

DARS DHHS reports test results within 30 days after the test is administered. If additional delays occur, the DARS DHHS staff notifies the applicant. Applicants receiving a passing score on the TEP may apply for a performance test.

Applicants who do not receive a passing score must

• wait to retake the test six months after the test was administered,
• submit a new application and fee to retake the test, and
• comply with all eligibility requirements.

1.7 The Performance Tests

1.7.1 Performance Tests Eligibility Requirements

Applicants meet the following performance test eligibility requirements to apply for a performance test:

Holders of RID, NIC, or certification from another state must submit a copy of their certification for verification purposes if applying for the Advanced or Master Performance test.

1.7.2 Applying for a Performance Test

The applicant must

• complete Form 3909, Interpreter Performance Test Application;
• attach the following items to the form:
  • a copy of a valid photo ID or driver’s license;
  • an official college transcript for an associate degree or for 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university; and
  • a check, money order, or cashier’s check payable to DARS DHHS for the designated fee; and
• mail the form with the attachments to DARS DHHS at least 60 calendar days before a scheduled test date.

Current BEI certificate holders who are applying to upgrade their certification level are exempt from the educational requirement, but are required to pass the TEP.

An application does not guarantee a request for an appointment on a specified day, location, or time. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis, and requests for dates and locations cannot always be accommodated. The DARS DHHS staff member contacts applicants when necessary to arrange alternate testing dates.

When DARS DHHS receives and processes the application form, a DARS DHHS staff member

• sends a letter to the applicant to acknowledge receipt of the form and fees, and
• provides information about scheduling an appointment for testing.

1.7.3 Testing Fees Schedule

The nonrefundable testing fees are shown in the following table:

1.7.4 Testing Sites and Schedule

DARS DHHS has agreements, which are subject to change, with numerous sites for annual testing sessions.

The sites and dates for testing are available at the DARS DHHS office or at BEI Testing Dates and Sites.

1.7.5 Confirming an Appointment for a Performance Test

Before a scheduled testing date, a DARS DHHS staff member sends a letter to the applicant to confirm an appointment for testing. Appointments are

• given on a first-come, first-served basis; and
• offered only one time.

Fees are not refundable. The appointment is confirmed by mail or with a confirmation email. The letter or email includes directions to the testing location and instructions about the specific performance test. After the appointment is confirmed, the applicant may not reschedule the appointment except for reasons outlined in the Forfeiture of Fee section below. For more information about test expectations, formats, and samples, see the BEI Study Guide for General Interpreter Certification Candidates available online or by request from the DARS DHHS office.

Forfeiture of Fee

Testing fees are forfeited if an applicant cancels a confirmed appointment or fails to appear for a confirmed appointment without notifying DARS DHHS staff in advance. An applicant may reschedule a test appointment without an additional fee at the discretion of DARS DHHS and if he or she provides proof of one of the following:

• illness of the applicant or an immediate family member,
• death of an immediate family member,
• inclement weather conditions, or
• reasons beyond the applicant’s control that made attendance impossible.

If an applicant cancels a testing appointment and provides proof of one of the above, the applicant must reschedule the test within 30 days and take the newly rescheduled test within six months.

1.7.6 The Day of the Performance Test

Applicants must arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time and may bring only photo identification and the confirmation letter to the site. Applicants who arrive later than 15 minutes after their scheduled appointment forfeit the testing opportunity and fees.

Water is provided for applicants. Applicants must not bring electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, tablets, 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 applicant's vehicle before the appointment. This prohibition is necessary for test security. Applicants are required to sign a confidentiality statement before testing. Any action that can be viewed as cheating on an examination is grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a certification.

A DARS DHHS staff member or designee administers the performance test and records each applicant. Once the test begins, the recording may not be stopped, rewound, or replayed, but the testing materials may be paused briefly between each section. An applicant is not permitted to rewind or review his or her performance test DVD. The applicant may not leave the testing room after the test has begun, but may sit or stand.

1.7.7 Notification of Test Results

DARS DHHS reports test results within 90 days after the test is administered. If additional delays occur, DARS DHHS staff notifies the applicant. Applicants who are awarded certification are

• added to the database of certified interpreters;
• notified of the results; and
• mailed:
  • a certificate,
  • a wallet-sized card, and
  • information about applicable laws, rules, and policies that pertain to the requirements for annual certificate maintenance and five-year certificate renewal.

Unsuccessful applicants are notified of the results and must

• wait to retake the test six months after the test was administered,
• submit a new application and fee to retake the test, and
• comply with all eligibility requirements.

The notification letter contains valuable feedback about test results and provides information for getting training before retaking the performance test. The applicant should use the BEI Study Guide to help understand the rating criteria.

1.8 Annual Certificate Renewal

A certificate holder must renew the certificate annually by paying the annual certificate renewal fee to DARS DHHS before the expiration date. A DARS DHHS staff member may send certificate renewal notification letters at least 60 days before the expiration date. A certificate holder's failure to receive notice does not prevent the expiration of a certificate.

1.8.1 Process for Annual Certificate Renewal

The certificate holder must complete Form 3910, Annual Certificate Renewal, or Form 3921, Multiple-Certificate Annual Renewal, and send it with a check, money order, or cashier’s check for the fee to DARS DHHS. When DARS DHHS receives the form and fee, a DARS DHHS staff member

• updates the certificate holder's contact information; and
• mails a new certificate card, which is valid through the next year.

See 1.10 Certificate Renewal and Recertification Fee Schedule.

1.8.2 Multiple Certificates

A person possessing more than one BEI certificate must comply with all annual certificate renewal, five-year recertification, and continuing education requirements. This means that

• when a current BEI certificate holder is awarded an additional BEI certificate, the current and new certificates are assigned a single, new five-year certification cycle that begins on the award date of the newest BEI certificate(s);
• the new five-year certification cycle and the annual renewal date each become due as of the award date of the newest BEI certificate;
• continuing education units (CEUs) earned prior to the multiple certificate award date are void; and
• the certificate holder has five years from the multiple certificate award date to earn all required CEUs.

The certificate holder must complete Form 3921, Multiple-Certificate Annual Renewal, or Form 3922, Multiple-Certificate Five-Year Recertification, and mail the form with a check, money order, or cashier’s check for the fee to DARS DHHS. See 1.10 Certificate Renewal and Recertification Fee Schedule for more information.

1.8.3 Certificate Expiration

A certificate holder's certificate expires if the annual renewal fee is not paid to DARS DHHS by the expiration date. When a certificate expires for nonpayment of the annual certificate renewal fee, the expiration letter is mailed via certified mail. Continuing to interpret in any situation where an interpreter certificate is required is a violation of DARS rules when the only certification held is an expired BEI certificate.

State mail is not forwarded. If a certificate holder has moved, he or she must notify DARS DHHS of the address change.

1.8.4 Certificate Reinstatement

A person who is otherwise eligible may renew an expired certificate by completing Form 3910, Annual Certificate Renewal, or Form 3921, Multiple-Certificate Annual Renewal, and paying the applicable fee to DHHS. The following restrictions apply:

• A person whose certificate has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the certificate by paying to DHHS a renewal fee that is equal to one and a half times the normally required renewal fee.
• A person whose certificate has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year may renew the certificate by paying to DHHS a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally required renewal fee.
• A person whose certificate has been expired for one year or more may not renew the certificate. The person may obtain a new certificate by complying with the requirements and procedures, including the examination requirements, for obtaining a certificate.

1.9 Five-Year Certificate Recertification

Each certificate holder must earn continuing education units (CEUs) during the five-year certification period. See 1.9.2 Continuing Education Units. At the end of the five-year period, certificate holders must apply to recertify their certificates for an additional five years. For more information about obtaining CEUs, see the BEI Study Guide for General Interpreter Certification Candidates (PDF).

A DARS DHHS staff member may send notification letters to certificate holders of certificate renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date. A certificate holder's failure to receive notice does not prevent the expiration of a certificate. To recertify, the certificate holder must

• complete Form 3911, Five-Year Recertification, or Form 3922, Multiple-Certificate Five-Year Recertification, and attach
  • a check, money order, or cashier’s check for the renewal fee, and
  • copies of documentation for the CEUs earned during the certification period; and
• before the date of expiration, mail the items to DARS DHHS.

1.9.1 Five-Year Certificate Expiration

A certificate holder's certificate expires if the five-year recertification requirements are not satisfied by the expiration date. When a certificate expires for not satisfying the CEUs requirement and nonpayment of recertification fee, the holder is notified by certified mail. State mail is not forwarded, and if a certificate holder moves, he or she must notify DARS DHHS of the address change. When a certificate expires, the certificate holder’s name will no longer appear on the list of certified interpreters on the DARS website. Continuing to interpret in any situation where an interpreter certificate is required is a violation of DARS rules when the only certification held is an expired BEI certificate.

1.9.2 Continuing Education Units

Each certificate holder must earn a total of 10.0 CEUs (100 clock hours) during the five-year certification period in the amounts and topics as stipulated in the following to be eligible for recertification:

• 6.0 CEUs (60 clock hours) in interpreting-related topics;
• 2.0 CEUs (20 clock hours) in ethics-related topics; and
• 2.0 CEUs (20 clock hours) in general studies.

See the Procedures for the Five-Year Renewal Cycle. See also Chapter 4: Court Interpreter Certification and Chapter 6: Trilingual Certification for court and trilingual CEU requirements.

A certificate holder using college coursework towards CEUs must submit an official college transcript to verify the required credit.

Ethics Classes and Workshops Not Approved by DARS DHHS

To receive CEU credit for classes and workshops that have not been approved by DARS DHHS, a certificate holder must provide the following:

• a course description that provides sufficient information to determine material covered,
• recertification paperwork, and
• a letter from the teaching professor to verify the amount of time spent on the material by topic.

1.9.3 Insufficient CEUs for Recertification

A certificate holder's certification expires when the certificate holder does not earn the required amount of CEUs by the five-year recertification due date. A certificate holder has 364 days from the date the certification expired due to insufficient CEUs to submit CEU documentation to DARS DHHS to meet the CEU requirements as outlined in 1.9.2 Continuing Education Units.

1.9.4 Recertification by Testing

A certificate holder with an expired certification may obtain a new certificate by applying for testing and complying with established eligibility requirements.

1.10 Certificate Renewal and Recertification Fee Schedule

The annual certificate renewal and five-year recertification fees are as follows:

1.11 Change of Name or Address of Certificate Holders

A certificate holder must notify the DARS DHHS office of name or address changes within 30 days of such changes. Notification of name or address changes may be emailed to bei@dars.state.tx.us or mailed to DARS DHHS, PO Box 12904, Austin, TX 78711. For a name change, also mail a copy of a document verifying the change. For example, you may use a

• marriage certificate, or
• court decree.

Failure to promptly submit address changes to the DARS DHHS office may delay receipt of important correspondence from the DARS DHHS office about certificate renewal or five-year recertification. When this happens, the certificate holder is subject to additional late fees and/or expiration of certification. State mail is not forwarded. If a certificate holder has moved, he or she must notify DARS DHHS of the address change.

1.12 Returned Checks

Test results and certificates are withheld until payment is resolved. Annual certificate renewal or five-year recertification paid with a returned check may result in the certificate expiring and late fees being assessed.

If a person sends two or more checks that are returned because of insufficient funds in a 12-month period, DARS DHHS will require future payments to be in the form of a money order or cashier's check.