Interpreting Licensure

Last Updated; May 16, 2022

HIRING INTERPRETERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

Individuals who are compensated for providing interpreting services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people must be licensed with the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Licensed interpreters are issued a wallet-sized identification card. It is good practice to document the identification number of the interpreter hired for the encounter.

Legal Interpreters are certified, licensed interpreters with additional training.

Interpreters approved to work in Maine in legal settings are listed here: Legal Interpreters

CONDITIONAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Interpreters must provide to the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation proof that they have attained:
1. 18 years of age.
2. An associate degree or higher in ASL, ASL Interpreting, or Deaf Studies; or
3. An alternative pathway approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and
4. A score of 3.5 or higher on an ASL proficiency interview; and
5. A passing score on the RID National Interpreter Certification knowledge exam; or
6. A passing score on the RID National Interpreter Certification Deaf interpreter knowledge exam or equivalent.

A current Maine Limited License is a retired, but still valid license. This license indicates the interpreter has documented both 100 clock hours of ASL and interpreting instruction.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

(Advanced level of Interpreting)

Number 1 above AND:

Documented proof of VALID certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. OR comparable certification by a comparable or successor organization recognized by the director that is current at the time of application.

DEFINITIONS

Interpreting
Interpreting, simply stated, is receiving a message in one language and delivering it in another. Interpreting is a complex process that requires a high degree of linguistic, cognitive, and technical skills.

Deaf People
Deaf people are those people whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional for the purpose of communication and whose primary means of communication is visual or tactile.

Hard-of-Hearing People
Hard of Hearing people are those people who have a functional hearing loss, who may or may not primarily use visual and tactile communication and who may or may not use assistive listening devices.

Do Not Hire Unlicensed Interpreters.

For a list of Conditional Licensed Interpreters, and/or information on licensing fees and how to apply for licensing as an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing people, contact the:

Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035

207 624-8603 (V)
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