Verification
Certification verification for interpreting services for assignments.
To request verification of your credentials, including test status and membership verifications, please complete and submit this form.
The Educational Equivalency Application (EEA) is a system that measures a combination of qualifications that can be collectively considered an acceptable substitute for the new educational requirements. The EEA uses a point system that awards credit for college classes, years of interpreting work, and interpreter-related training.
There are three categories in which Experience Credits can be earned. Each Experience Credit is roughly equal to one semester hour of college credit. All Experience Credits earned on the application are totaled and reviewed to determine if the candidate earned 60 Experience Credits for an associate’s degree or 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree.
Yes, each application has a $50 non-refundable processing fee. This fee is to help offset the intensive administrative work required to evaluate and process the application.
No, it is possible that a candidate may be able to meet the minimum number of Experience Credits in only one category. For example, a candidate who has over 120 hours of college credits, but has not received a formal degree, would be deemed to have the equivalent experience of a bachelor’s degree based on their college experience alone. Additionally, someone who has interpreted on a full-time basis for 4 years meets the educational equivalency of an associate’s degree for the purposes of RID’s educational requirement.
No, earning more than the required number Experience Credits will be documented the same as if you earned strictly the required number of Experience Credits. By submitting the least amount of paperwork to get you to the required Experience Credits it will be less work for you and can be processed faster by RID.
Yes, you must submit an official academic transcript for each credit that you wish to count toward the Educational Equivalency Application. Experience Credits cannot be earned for undocumented coursework.
No, send only completed applications with full documentation. You are welcome to have your official academic transcript sent to your home address and after opening the official transcript from the envelope, send us the original or a scanned copy along with your complete application.
Most college and university schedules are built on either a semester or quarter hour system. If your classes met for 15 weeks, your college was probably based on a semester hour schedule. If your classes met for only 12 weeks, your college was probably based on a quarter hour schedule. Because of the difference in contact hours between these systems, semester hour classes earn slightly more Experience Credits than quarter hour classes.
College credits will be accepted if they are received on an official academic transcript and are from an accredited institution.
For each year that you have worked as an interpreter, you must determine if you worked for a single employer or multiple employers. Additionally, you must determine if you worked on a part-time or full time basis. Once you have determined the number of years you have worked, enter those numbers in the appropriate field on the form and calculate your Experience Credits.
To apply credit towards Interpreting Experience the provided letter must state 1) that you worked as an interpreter, 2) how many years you have worked and 3) how many hours a week you have worked.
“Single Employer” is for contracted/staff employees. “Multiple Employers/Freelance Interpreting” is for individuals working for multiple agencies and or working as a self employed Freelance Interpreter. When possible please provide proof by submitting a letter from the employer. Freelance Interpreters may submit a notarized letter.
If you are unable to obtain a letter from the employer you may submit a notarized letter stating 1) that you worked as an interpreter, 2) how many years you have worked and 3) how many hours a week you have worked.
While having Deaf parents undoubtedly helps to develop some interpreting skills, the Alternative Pathway is designed to assess experience gained through formal education and professional experience. CODAs will have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities through RID’s exams, but no specific credit is given on the Alternative Pathway.
No, the $50 processing fee must be submitted with the application. If you choose to submit the application without payment it will not be reviewed until payment has been confirmed.
Incomplete applications will be held for 60 days. After that time they will be discarded and a new and complete application will need to be submitted.
Your next step will depend on where you are in the processes of certification. For more information on this please review the appropriate Candidate Handbook which you can find at www.rid.org.
You are welcome to apply for the Educational Equivalency as often as you wish. However, each application must include a $50 non-refundable application fee.