FCICE

Spanish/English only. The examination is offered solely for that pair because, as the judiciary states, it is the primary interpreting need in the federal Judiciary. Speakers of other languages are not tested through this certification examination.

It is a computer-administered screener made up of two multiple-choice tests: one measuring English proficiency and one measuring Spanish proficiency. You must pass the written examination to qualify to take the oral examination, and it may be taken only once per testing period.

On the same day of testing. Examinees completing Phase One receive separate grades for the Spanish section and the English section, so you will know each section result rather than a single combined written score.

You must repeat the entire written examination to pass it. A grade below the minimum on either the Spanish or the English section is not carried forward or offset by a strong result on the other section.

Demonstrate three modes bi-directionally: sight translation, simultaneous interpretation, and consecutive interpretation of discourse. Items include formal and informal/colloquial language, technical and legal terminology, and specialized vocabulary that would be part of the active vocabulary of a highly articulate speaker.

Examinees completing Phase Two receive one cumulative grade on the examination, rather than separate scores for each interpreting mode. Once both the written and oral examinations are passed, the certificate is mailed, issued by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

No. The federal courts do not offer interpreter training, so prospective interpreters must research training opportunities on their own. The judiciary lists organizations such as NAJIT, the American Translators Association, the National Center for State Courts' Language Access section, and AIIC as resources.

The Federal Court Interpreter Orientation Manual and Glossary and the Standards for Performance and Professional Responsibility cover the interpreter's role and protocol, the federal court system, and legal terminology. Practice examinations for both phases, information on the examination process, Phase Two tutorials, and the examinee's handbook are available online.

Registration for both the written and oral examinations is closed at this time. Both examinations will be administered again in 2027, and registration dates will be posted in December 2026. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

The judiciary notes that the required knowledge, skills, and abilities are highly complex, because courtroom communication exceeds everyday settings: parties may use specialized and legal terminology, formal and informal registers, dialect and jargon, language varieties, and nuances of meaning - all of which the oral phase samples.