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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. 

  1. Review all pertinent NIC webpages on the CASLI website
  2. Register for the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (This includes both portions: Fundamental of Interpreting AND Case Studies: Ethical Decision-Making Process & Cultural Responsiveness)
  3. 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)
  4. Submit proof of meeting RID’s educational requirement of Bachelor’s degree or an approved Alternative Pathway plan.
  5. Register for the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC (with or without the Case Studies portion)
  6. Successfully passes ALL CASLI’s required examination for the NIC Certification

Start the NIC Certification Process HERE

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.

You may submit this documentation by email to certification@rid.org or by logging into your RID account and clicking on “Upload Degree Document.”

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/upload. Transcripts will be processed within 7-10 business days. A confirmation e-mail will be sent once your account has been updated.

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.

  1. Review all pertinent CDI webpages on the CASLI website
  2. Submit an audiogram or letter from audiologist to CASLI
  3. Register for the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (This includes both portions: Fundamental of Interpreting AND Case Studies: Ethical Decision-Making Process & Cultural Responsiveness)
  4. 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)
  5. Submit proof of meeting RID’s educational requirement of Bachelor’s degree or an approved Alternative Pathway plan.
  6. Register for the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: CDI (with or without the Case Studies portion)
  7. Successfully passes ALL CASLI’s required examination for the CDI Certification

Start the CDI Certification Process HERE

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.

You may submit this documentation by email to certification@rid.org or by logging into your RID account and clicking on “Upload Degree Document.”

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/upload. Transcripts will be processed within 7-10 business days. A confirmation e-mail will be sent once your account has been updated.

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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 Verification Form

Certification Archives

Previously Offered RID Certifications

NAD Certifications

RID Retired Certifications

Certifications Under Moratorium

Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:K-12)

Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L)

Oral Transliteration Certificate

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:

  1. Given names (Jr., II, etc.)
  2. Academic degrees from highest level to lowest level above a bachelor degree (bachelor degree credentials are not typically displayed)
  3. State licensure credentials
  4. 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, OIC:V/S, OIC:S/V, OIC:C, CI, CT, CI and CT, CDI, NIC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master, OTC, SC:PA, 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.