We bring you the highest standards and quality in ASL interpreting certifications.
National Interpreter Certification (NIC).
Holders of this certification are hearing and have demonstrated general knowledge in the field of interpreting, ethical decision making and interpreting skills. Candidates earn NIC Certification if they demonstrate professional knowledge and skills that meet or exceed the minimum professional standards necessary to perform in a broad range of interpretation and transliteration assignments. This credential has been available since 2005.
The NIC certification process begins with taking CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (consists two portions: Fundamental of Interpreting and Case Studies: Ethical Decision-Making Process & Cultural Responsiveness). Candidates are eligible for CASLI’s examinations if they are at least 18 years old. To successfully obtain the certification, candidates must have passed all the required examinations and meet RID’s educational requirement within five years window from the date they passed the first exam taken. Candidates who have passed the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam may then take the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC.
June 23, 2016, RID established the Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation, LLC (CASLI) to take over the administration and ongoing development and maintenance of exams. Eligibility requirements and the credentialing of any and all individuals will remain the responsibility of RID. With this shift in responsibilities candidates will need to contact both RID and CASLI during different times in the certification process. For more information view our CASLI FAQ page.
- Review all pertinent NIC webpages on the CASLI website
- Register for the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (This includes both portions: Fundamental of Interpreting AND Case Studies: Ethical Decision-Making Process & Cultural Responsiveness)
- Pass the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam
(Candidate must successfully pass the Fundamental of Interpreting portion before they are eligible to take the Performance exam) (If candidate does not pass the Case Studies portion, they can take it with the Performance Exam) - Submit proof of meeting RID’s educational requirement of Bachelor’s degree or an approved Alternative Pathway plan.
- Register for the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC (with or without the Case Studies portion)
- Successfully passes ALL CASLI’s required examination for the NIC Certification
Candidates pursuing NIC Certification must have a minimum of bachelor degree (any major) or an approved updated/2012 Alternative Pathway to Eligibility application recorded in their RID/CASLI account prior to testing for CASL Generalist Performance Exam: NIC.
If you have a college degree from an institution that is accredited by the US Department of Education and would like to submit proof to RID that you meet the educational requirement, send an original or photocopy of your official college transcript, showing
1) your full name,
2) the name of the college,
3) the degree earned, and
4) the date the degree was conferred.
Please submit this documentation by email to certification@rid.org. The Certification Department is paperless and does not accept mailed documents. Any documents mailed to HQ will not be processed and will be shredded.
Please notify the Certification Department at certification@rid.org if the name on your college transcript does not match your name in the RID database.
*To submit official transcripts, you may break the seal on the envelope to scan the document and send them. Transcripts will be processed within 7-10 business days. A confirmation email will be sent once your account has been updated.
For those with a non-U.S. degree
Candidates with Non-U.S. degrees
CASLI exam candidates wishing to submit a non-U.S. degree to satisfy RID’s educational requirement for certification are required to have their degrees evaluated through a credential evaluation service agency to assess and verify that the degree is U.S. equivalent and share the report with the RID Certification Department.
Candidates can find a list of acceptable credential evaluation service agencies that meet the standards for conducting degree evaluation services on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services’s website (NACES). Credential evaluations are not free and candidates are responsible for the selected agency’s costs and service. The cost and the time frame to perform the service will vary according to the complexity of the case and the amount of documentation provided.
Please note that degrees acquired from institutions in U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are exempt from this policy.
Certified Deaf Interpreter Certification (CDI).
Holders of this certification are deaf or hard of hearing and have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of interpreting, deafness, the Deaf community, and Deaf culture. Holders have specialized training and/or experience in the use of gesture, mime, props, drawings and other tools to enhance communication. Holders possess native or near-native fluency in American Sign Language and are recommended for a broad range of assignments where an interpreter who is deaf or hard-of-hearing would be beneficial. This credential has been available since 1998.
Please see the information on CASLI’s website regarding exam eligibility.
June 23, 2016, RID established the Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation, LLC (CASLI) to take over the administration and ongoing development and maintenance of exams. Eligibility requirements and the credentialing of any and all individuals will remain the responsibility of RID. With this shift in responsibilities candidates will need to contact both RID and CASLI during different times in the certification process. For more information view our CASLI FAQ page.
- Review all pertinent CDI webpages on the CASLI website
- Submit an audiogram or letter from audiologist to CASLI
- Register for the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (This includes both portions: Fundamental of Interpreting AND Case Studies: Ethical Decision-Making Process & Cultural Responsiveness)
- Pass the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam
(Candidate must successfully pass the Fundamental of Interpreting portion before they are eligible to take the Performance exam) (If candidate does not pass the Case Studies portion, they can take it with the Performance Exam) - Submit proof of meeting RID’s educational requirement of Bachelor’s degree or an approved Alternative Pathway plan.
- Register for the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: CDI (with or without the Case Studies portion)
- Successfully passes ALL CASLI’s required examination for the CDI Certification
Candidates pursuing CDI Certification must have a minimum of Bachelor’s degree (any major) or an approved updated/2012 Alternative Pathway to Eligibility application recorded in their RID/CASLI account prior to testing for CASL Generalist Performance Exam: CDI.
At the 2003 RID National Conference, in Chicago, IL, the membership passed motion C2003.05, establishing degree requirements for RID certification candidates. The motion stated the following related specifically to the CDI Performance Exam: Effective June 30, 2016, Deaf candidates must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
The education requirement is currently a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, effective May 17, 2021.
The CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Deaf interpreters was released November 16, 2020 therefore the date at which the Associate degree requirement became a Bachelor degree requirement was May 17, 2021.
If you have a college degree from an institution that is accredited by the US Department of Education and would like to submit proof to RID that you meet the educational requirement, send an original or photocopy of your official college transcript, showing
1) your full name,
2) the name of the college,
3) the degree earned, and
4) the date the degree was conferred.
Please submit this documentation by email to certification@rid.org. The Certification Department is paperless and does not accept mailed documents. Any documents mailed to HQ will not be processed and will be shredded.
Please notify the Certification Department at certification@rid.org if the name on your college transcript does not match your name in the RID database.
*To submit official transcripts, you may break the seal on the envelope to scan the document and send them. Transcripts will be processed within 7-10 business days. A confirmation e-mail will be sent once your account has been updated.
For those with a non-U.S. degree
Verification
Certification verification for interpreting services assignments.
To request verification of your credentials, please complete and submit this form. For membership verifications, please check your Credly account. Note that the Certification Department has gone paperless and is no longer accepting anything mailed to HQ. Anything mailed to HQ will not be not be reviewed or processed, and will be shredded.
Certification Archives
Previously Offered RID Certifications
Previously Offered RID Certifications
These certifications were previously offered by the RID and are no longer administered. RID recognizes these certifications, however the exams for these programs are no longer available.
Individuals who achieved the NIC Advanced level have passed the NIC Knowledge Exam, scored within the standard range of a professional interpreter on the interview portion of the NIC Interview and Performance Exam and scored within the high range on the performance portion of the NIC Interview and Performance Exam.
Individuals who achieved the NIC Master level have passed the NIC Knowledge Exam and scored within the high range on both portions of NIC Interview and Performance Exam.
The NIC with levels credential was offered from 2005 to November 30, 2011.
Holders of this certification are recognized as fully certified in interpretation and have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English for both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign tasks. The interpreter’s ability to transliterate is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CI are recommended for a broad range of interpretation assignments. This credential was offered from 1988 to 2008.
Holders of this certification are recognized as fully certified in transliteration and have demonstrated the ability to transliterate between English-based sign language and spoken English for both sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign tasks. The transliterator’s ability to interpret is not considered in this certification. Holders of the CT are recommended for a broad range of transliteration assignments. This credential was offered from 1988 to 2008.
Holders of this certification have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English and to transliterate between spoken English and an English-based sign language. Holders of this certification are recommended for a broad range of interpreting and transliterating assignments. This credential was offered from 1972 to 1988.
The MCSC examination was designed with the intent of testing for a higher standard of performance than the CSC. Holders of this certification were required to hold the CSC prior to taking this exam. Holders of this certification are recommended for a broad range of interpreting and transliterating assignments. This credential was offered until 1988.
Holders of this certification have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and English-based sign language or transliterate between spoken English and a signed code for English. Holders of this certification are deaf or hard-of-hearing and interpretation/transliteration is rendered in ASL, spoken English and a signed code for English or written English. Holders of the RSC are recommended for a broad range of interpreting assignments where the use of a interpreter who is deaf or hard-of-hearing would be beneficial. This credential was offered from 1972 to 1988.
Holders of this certification have demonstrated the ability to interpret between American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English. Holders received scores on the CSC exam which prevented the awarding of CSC certification or IC/TC certification. The interpreter’s ability to transliterate is not considered in this certification. Holders of the IC are recommended for a broad range of interpretation assignments. The IC was formerly known as the Expressive Interpreting Certificate (EIC). This credential was offered from 1972 to 1988.
Holders of this certification have demonstrated the ability to transliterate between spoken English and a signed code for English. Holders received scores on the CSC exam which prevented the awarding of CSC certification or IC/TC certification. The transliterator’s ability to interpret is not considered in this certification. Holders of the TC are recommended for a broad range of transliterating assignments. The TC was formerly known as the Expressive Transliterating Certificate (ETC). This credential was offered from 1972 to 1988.
Holders of this certification were required to hold the CSC prior to sitting for this examination and have demonstrated specialized knowledge in performing arts interpretation. Holders of this certification are recommended for a broad range of assignments in the performing arts setting. This credential was offered from 1971 to 1988.
Holders of this certification demonstrated both the ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and the ability to understand and repeat the message and intent of the speech and mouth movements of the person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This credential was offered from 1979 to 1985.
Holders of this certification demonstrated the ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This individual received scores on the OIC:C exam which prevented the awarding of full OIC:C certification. This credential was offered from 1979 to 1985.
Holders of this certification demonstrated the ability to understand the speech and silent movements of a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and to repeat the message for a hearing person. This individual received scores on the OIC:C exam which prevented the awarding of full OIC:C certification. This credential was offered from 1979 to 1985.
Notice: RID has announced that a moratorium will be placed on new applications for CLIP-R Certification. For more information about the moratorium, please see this FAQ.
Holders of this conditional permit had completed an RID-recognized training program designed for interpreters and transliterators who worked in legal settings, and whom were also deaf or hard-of-hearing. Holders of this conditional permit were recommended for a broad range of assignments in the legal setting. This credential was available from 1991 to 2016.
Candidates were eligible for CLIP-R Certification if they were, at that time, a current RID CDI or RSC Certified member, met the experience requirements, had the proper letters of recommendation, and met RID’s educational requirement.
CLIP-R Certification Requirement
*Please note no substitutions could have been made to the requirements
- Must have been a certified member, in good standing, holding either the RSC or CDI.
- Must have met RID’s, at that time, educational requirement of an Associate degree or had an approved Educational Equivalency Application.
- Attached recommendation letters from two RID certified interpreters in good standing. At least one letter must have been from an SC:L certified interpreter. The other could have been from a CI and CT, CDI, CSC, NIC, or NAD.
- Verified at least 150 hours of training and/or mentoring as a legal interpreter. If an individual was unable to have all 150 hours in legal training or workshops, they must have had a minimum of 120 hours of legal interpreter training and up to 30 hours of mentoring in a legal setting with an interpreter, in good standing, who holds either the SC:L or CLIP-R. Verification was required in the form of RID CEUS (preferred) or legal trainings, or workshops. A certificate of completion or letter from the trainer/presenter/mentor was required to indicate the date, location, and duration of the training/mentoring.
NAD Certifications
NAD Certifications
These certifications were developed and administered by NAD and are recognized by RID.
In 2003, RID began to recognize interpreters who hold NAD III, NAD IV and NAD V certifications. These credentials were offered by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) between the early 1990s and late 2002. In order to continue to maintain their certification, NAD credentialed interpreters must have had an active certification and registered with RID prior to June 30, 2005. These interpreters are required to comply with all aspects of RID’s Certification Maintenance Program, including the completion of professional development.
Holders of this certification possess above average voice-to-sign skills and good sign-to-voice skills. Holders have demonstrated the minimum competence needed to meet generally accepted interpreter standard. Occasional words or phrases may be deleted but the expressed concept is accurate. The individual displays good grammar control of the second language and is generally accurate and consistent, but is not qualified for all situations.
Holders of this certification possess excellent voice-to-sign skills and above average sign-to-voice skills. Holders have demonstrated above average skill in any given area. Performance is consistent and accurate and fluency is smooth, with few deletions; the viewer has no question to the candidate’s competency. Holders of this certification should be able to interpret in most situations.
Holders of this certification possess superior voice-to-sign skills and excellent sign-to-voice skills. Holders have demonstrated excellent to outstanding ability in any given area. The individual had minimum flaws in their performance and have demonstrated interpreting skills necessary in almost all situations.
RID Retired Certifications
RID Retired Certifications
The following RID certification have been retired. RID no longer supports or recognizes these credentials and individuals can no longer use them as validation of their abilities.
Holders of this provisional certification are interpreters who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, have demonstrated a minimum of one year experience working as an interpreter, have completed at least eight hours of training on the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct and have completed eight hours of training in general interpretation as it related to an interpreter who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. Holders of this certificate are recommended for a broad range of assignments where an interpreter who is deaf or hard-of-hearing would be beneficial.
Holders of this conditional permit completed an RID-recognized training program designed for interpreters and transliterators who work in legal settings. CI and CT or CSC certification was required prior to enrollment in the training program. Holders of this conditional permit are recommended for a broad range of assignments in the legal setting during the development of the SC:L certification. This conditional permit was retired on December 31, 1999.
Holders of this provisional certification hold CI and CT or CSC and have completed RID approved legal training. Holders of this certificate are recommended for assignments in the legal setting. This provisional certificate was retired in 1998.
Certifications Under Moratorium
Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:K-12)
Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:K-12)
This credential is fully recognized by RID, but the designation is no longer awarded by RID. This designation went into moratorium effective January 1, 2016.
The EIPA assessment is still available through Boys Town. More information on that can be found at http://www.classroominterpreting.org/eipa/.
Holders of this certification demonstrated the ability to interpret or transliterate classroom content and discourse between students who are deaf and hard of hearing and students, teachers and school staff who are hearing. Certificants demonstrated EIPA Level 4* skills using spoken English and at least one of the following visual languages, constructs, or symbol systems at either an elementary or secondary level:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Manually Coded English (MCE)
- Contact Signing (aka: Pidgin Signed English (PSE) or English-like Signing)
- Cued American English (CAE) (aka: Cued Speech)
This credential was offered from 2007 to 2016.
Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L)
Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L)
This credential is fully recognized by RID, but the designation is no longer awarded by RID. This designation went into moratorium effective January 1, 2016.
Description: Holders of this specialist certification demonstrated specialized knowledge of legal settings and greater familiarity with language used in the legal system. These individuals are recommended for a broad range of assignments in the legal setting. This credential was offered from 1998 to 2016.
The SC:L, and specialist testing in general, are topics of investigation as part of the 2016-2018 Certification Committee Scope Of Work.
Oral Transliteration Certificate
Oral Transliteration Certificate
This credential is fully recognized by RID, but the designation is no longer awarded by RID. This designation went into moratorium effective January 1, 2016.
Description: Holders of this certification demonstrated, using silent oral techniques and natural gestures and the ability to transliterate a spoken message from a person who hears to a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. Holders also demonstrated the ability to understand and repeat the message and intent of the speech and mouth movements of the person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing. This credential was offered from 1999 to 2016.
This credential was originally voted into sunset by the RID Board at the in-person Board Meeting at the RID NOLA National Conference, in August of 2015.
At the RID NOLA Business Meeting, a motion was made to move the credential from “sunset” status to “moratorium”. Here is the member motion:
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 2015 BUSINESS MEETING:
C2015.11
Primary submitter(s) name(s): William Gorum
Secondary submitter(s) name(s): Margaret Austin
Move that the RID Board of Director’s decision to ʺsunsetʺ the Oral Transliteration certificate be vetoed via a vote of the organization’s membership and to place the OTC testing program under moratorium along with all other RID certification examinations until further investigation can be done into options other than the cessation of administration of the OTC exam.
Rationale:
RID is the only nationally recognized organization who certifies oral transliterators. People who are deaf that prefer to use oral communication methods should have access to trained, qualified, and certified interpreters. The RID mission statement is to ʺpromote excellence in interpretation services among diverse users of signed and spoken languages through professional development, networking, advocacy, and standardsʺ.
Estimated Fiscal Impact Statement:
Vetoing the Board’s motion and placing the OTC under moratorium until further options are explored would have minimal financial impact on RID.
Organizational Remarks:
Board of Directors Comments:
Bylaws Committee Comments:
Headquarters Comments:
Professional Development Committee Comments:
Member Comments:
In response to a point, President Whitcher cited a bylaw (Article 3, Section 3d) which says that Board decisions can be overturned by a 2/3 vote.
Betty Colonomos moved to table this discussion, seconded by Wink Smith. This motion does not entertain discussion, so a vote was taken. With 91 votes in support, 146 opposed and 12 abstentions, the motion to table fails.
Artie Grassman called the question, seconded by Audrey Rosenberg. A vote was taken, and debate was closed.
A vote was taken, and, with a 2/3 majority being needed to pass, the motion received 210 votes in support, 56 opposed, and 21 abstentions, so the motion C2015.11 carries.
Newly Certified Information.
Information on becoming certified and receiving your certificate can be found here.
A certificant’s newly certified cycle start date is the date that CASLI sends the exam results letter (the Results Sent date) and extends until December 31st of the year indicated by the following:
- If the Results Sent date falls between 7/1/2022 and 6/30/2023…..New certification cycle ends 12/31/2027.
- If the Results Sent date falls between 7/1/2023 and 6/30/2024…..New certification cycle ends 12/31/2028.
- If the Results Sent date falls between 7/1/2024 and 6/30/2025…..New certification cycle ends 12/31/2029.
Each successfully-completed certification cycle is followed by a four year certification cycle, running from January 1 of the first year through December 31 of the fourth year.
You can expect to receive a Newly Certified Packet from RID approximately 6-8 weeks after you have passed all required examinations and your results letter was sent. This packet will include your certificate and a congratulations letter. You should also receive an email when your new certification is added to your RID account with information about maintaining certification.
Note: you may begin earning CEUs for your new certification cycle any time on or after your certification start date.
In the event that your certificate arrives damaged, with incorrect spelling or information, or does not arrive at all (three weeks after being mailed), the certificate will be replaced once free of charge. This replacement request should be submitted in writing to certification@rid.org.
In the event that you lose your certificate, need a replacement certificate, want the name on the certificate updated due to a legal name change, or would simply like a duplicate certificate, you may purchase one on the RID website. Replacement certificates are processed once a month.
Maintaining current RID membership is a requirement for maintaining RID certification. If you are a current Associate Member at the time you achieve certification, your membership will automatically be converted into a Certified Membership. If you are not an Associate or Certified member at the time you achieve certification, you need to pay Certified Member dues to bring your membership into good standing. For more information, contact the Member Services Department at members@rid.org. Keep in mind:
- Membership runs from July 1 through June 30 and is paid for annually.
- There is no extra charge for holding more than one RID certification or for holding specialty certification.
- Those who hold NAD certification must also keep their NAD certification dues in good standing with RID.
One of the privileges of achieving RID certification is the ability to show your credential on your business card, resume, brochures or other advertisements, etc. Your credentials (also called “post-nomial abbreviations”) should be displayed only after your full name (with or without middle initial) in the following order:
- Given names (Jr., II, etc.)
- Academic degrees from highest level to lowest level above a bachelor degree (bachelor degree credentials are not typically displayed)
- State licensure credentials
- Professional certifications (such as RID credentials)
Certificants who hold more than one RID certification should display them in the following order: IC, TC, IC/TC, CSC, MCSC, RSC, ETC, EIC, OIC:V/S, OIC:S/V, OIC:C, CI, CT, CI and CT, CDI, NIC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master, OTC, SC:PA, CLIP-R, SC:L, NAD III, NAD IV, NAD V, Ed:K-12.
Digital Credentials: RID partnered with Credly to provide you with a digital version of your credentials. Digital badges can be used in email signatures or digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. This digital image contains verified metadata that describes your qualifications and the process required to earn them.