BEI CERTIFICATES AWARDED BY DARS
General Interpreter Certificates (New testing system implemented November, 2006)
Basic – This certificate ensures a minimum competency standard to interpret in K-12 and postsecondary
settings. The performance test emphasizes terms and scenarios found not only in general lecture and
teaching situations, but other educational contexts as well. The standard in comparison to the current
Level I certification is significantly raised.
Advanced – This certificate ensures that the interpreter has skills necessary to interpret in more
complex settings other than educational. This performance test emphasizes the terms and scenarios in
routine medical, public forums, government workforce, mental health, and social service settings. The
Advanced certificate sets a clear standard for an interpreter ready to work in the majority of settings and
performing a wide range of tasks, including K-12 and postsecondary settings. The Advanced certificate
raises the standard of the current Level III interpreter.
Master – This certificate ensures that the interpreter has the skills necessary to interpret in the most
complex settings including complex medical and complex mental health, including K-12 and
postsecondary settings. This test will serve to identify those interpreters qualified to work in the most
critical areas.
General Interpreter Certificates (These tests are no longer administered, but the certificates may be
maintained with continuing education units).
Level I – Holders of this certificate communicate more successfully on a one-to-one basis; expressive
skills are usually stronger than receptive skills; sign vocabulary is limited.
Level II – Holders of this certificate can handle some daily interpreting situations; usually exhibit good
transliterating or interpreting skills, but not both;
Level III – Holders of this certificate can successfully handle most routine interpreting assignments;
exhibit good expressive and receptive interpreting skills. Display a clear distinction between interpreting
and transliterating; possess a sign vocabulary.
Level IV – Holders of this certificate exhibit solid expressive and receptive interpreting skills;
demonstrate excellent use of ASL grammar and ASL features; transliterating skills are strong;
processing is often at the textual level; are able to successfully interpret in medical, legal and psychiatric
settings.
Level V – Holders of this certificate exhibit near flawless expressive and receptive interpreting skills;
possess an extensive vocabulary; interpret in medical, legal and psychiatric settings; demonstrate
sophisticated use of ASL grammar as well as ASL features; transliterating is conceptually accurate with
appropriate mouthing.
Specialized Certificates
Court Interpreter Certificate – Required by law to interpret all proceedings of Texas courts, including
county, municipal, and justice courts. This does not apply to federal court proceedings. A court
proceeding can be civil, criminal, or juvenile and includes, but is not limited to, arraignments,
mediations, court mandated arbitrations, depositions, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Intermediary (Level III) - Holders of this certificate are individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, who
may work alone or with a hearing interpreter while working in a variety of general settings and routine
situations. Holders demonstrate flexibility in interpreting for a wide range of communication styles,
which may include but, not limited to: non-standard signs/gestures, limited communication skills,
characteristics of Deaf Culture that may not be familiar to hearing interpreters, deaf-blind, minimal
language skills, indigenous communication, situations where intermediary interpreters are used for any
discourse needs.
Intermediary (Level V) - Holders of this certificate are individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, who
may work alone or with a hearing interpreter while working in a variety of settings and situations
requiring extensive knowledge and training in specialized fields including, but not limited to: Mental
Health/Psychiatric, Medical/Surgical, Court/Legal, Matters involving juveniles, etc. Holders demonstrate
flexibility, and with near flawless skills, in interpreting for a wide range of communication styles, which
can include-but not limited to: non-standard signs/gestures, limited communication skills, characteristics
of Deaf Culture that may not be familiar to hearing interpreters, deaf-blind, minimal language skills,
indigenous communication, situations where intermediary interpreters are used for any discourse needs.
Oral Certificate: Basic (OC:B) – Holders of this certificate are able to repeat verbatim a spoken
message using silent articulation that is clear and accurate to be completely and easily understood by
the speech reading consumer. Appropriate phrasing, facial expression and natural gestures
accompany the transliteration. These interpreters will be able to understand, and transliterate or
paraphrase accurately, the message of a deaf speaker in a manner that is easily understood by a
hearing consumer.
Oral Certificate: Comprehensive (OC:C) – Holders of this certificate are able to repeat verbatim a
spoken message using silent articulation that is clear and accurate so that it is completely and easily
understood by the speech reading consumer. Appropriate phrasing, facial expressions and natural
gestures accompany the transliteration. In addition, these interpreter are able to utilize appropriate
verbal and non-verbal support techniques, including paraphrasing, when needed; are able to oral
interpret satisfactorily in especially-demanding situations where messages may include highly technical
vocabulary and/or complex language structure such as in legal, medical, and post-secondary settings.
These interpreters are able to understand, and transliterate or paraphrase accurately in a manner easily
understood by a hearing consumer, the message of a voiceless speaker, or a deaf speaker using voice.
Oral Certificate: Visible (OC:V) – Holders of this certificate are individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing. These interpreters are able to transliterate or paraphrase accurately in a manner that is easily
understood by a hearing consumer the message of a voiceless speaker, or a deaf speaker using voice.
Trilingual (Advanced) – Holders of this certificate are able to meaningfully and accurately understand,
produce, and transform ASL to and from English and Spanish in a culturally appropriate way; are able to
maintain appropriate delivery, pacing, coherence, and composure consistently throughout the
interpretation; possesses the ability to produce spoken language, including accurate English and
Spanish phonology and the appropriate use of rhythm, stress, and intonation, without interfering with
meaning or undermining comprehensibility. May interpret in routine educational and social service
settings, such as K-12 educational and administrative interactions and information, professional
development seminars, application for services, and counseling sessions.
Trilingual (Master) – Holders of this certificate are able to able to meaningfully and accurately
understand, produce, and transform ASL to and from English and Spanish in a culturally appropriate way;
are able to maintain appropriate delivery, pacing, coherence, and composure consistently throughout the
interpretation; possesses the ability to produce spoken language, including accurate English and
Spanish phonology and the appropriate use of rhythm, stress, and intonation, without interfering with
meaning or undermining comprehensibility. May interpret in complex high-stakes settings, such as
medical, mental health, quasi-legal, and educational settings, such as patient information forms, legal
proceedings, meetings with medical specialists, and special education meetings.
Morphemic Sign System (MSS) – Holders of this certificate are able to convey a message from
Spoken English into morphemic signs both expressively and receptively. The interpreter is expected to
incorporate all features of morphemic signs. May interpret in educational settings.
Signing Exact English (SEE) – Holders of this certificate are able to convey a message from Spoken
English into SEE both expressively and receptively. The interpreter is expected to incorporate all rules
and features of SEE. May interpret in educational settings.