Prometric Signs Test Development and Delivery Contract for California Court Interpreter Exam

Prometric Inc., a trusted provider of market-leading test development and delivery solutions, have signed a contract for test development and computer-based delivery of court interpreter exams with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC is the staff agency for the Judicial Council, the policy-making body for the state court system. To become a Certified Court Interpreter, candidates must be fully bilingual in English and a second language; pass the state exam, which requires demonstration of interpreting skills in three modes of interpretation; and enroll in the Court Interpreters Program, which is run by the AOC.

Article I, section 14, of the California Constitution, establishes a mandate for the courts to provide an individual “unable to understand English who is charged with a crime” the “right to an interpreter throughout the proceedings.”

California has the largest court system in the U.S. During the 2010/2011 fiscal year, 2,196 written and oral court interpreter exams were administered in 11 spoken languages in California. State certified interpreters provide approximately 200,000 days of spoken language services in 147 languages annually. There are currently 1,808 certified and registered court interpreters in the state.

“It is difficult to imagine a more important asset in a court room than being able to communicate effectively,” said Michael Brannick, President and CEO of Prometric. “The test development and delivery solutions we provide the State of California are reliable, fair and cost effective. Prometric is honored to support the continued strength of the Court Interpreters Program.”

A recent of study of court interpreting in California indicated that 17 languages account for 98.5 percent of all interpreter service days, with Spanish comprising 83 percent. California presently offers certification exams in 12 spoken languages under the Court Interpreters Program: Arabic, Cantonese, Eastern Armenian, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

Media Contact:
Kevin Kane, Prometric
+1 443 455 6170
[email protected]