Overview and basics.

* Governing Language

EPS Reform

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)’s Board of Directors approved changes to the policies and procedures within the Ethical Practices System (EPS). These new policies and procedures will become effective during membership renewal in June 2023. RID certificants and members working toward RID certification will be expected to continuously comply with and uphold appropriate standards of professionalism while demonstrating integrity and accountability in all interpreting settings and interpreting-related activities. While the RID-NAD’s Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) outlines the baseline of professional standards for all certificants and members, the EPS is a crucial additional layer of protection that holds RID certificants and members accountable to the CPC.

The revised EPS is now expanded in scope and includes any professional-related activities related to applying for membership, testing and certification, and maintaining certification. The EPS also includes CASLI testing candidates. Also, in promotion of accountability within our profession, the policy also states that those who witness or are aware of harm being caused – not just those who experience the harm – may file a grievance. Additionally, the EPS oversees the enforcement of the CPC and provides a robust structure for investigating and resolving grievances.

Protect Consumers of Interpreting Services: ASL interpreting is a “trust” profession in which professionals work with vulnerable people thus our professionals are held to high standards of ethical and professional behaviors. The EPS aims to reduce further harm to Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and DeafDisabled consumers, as well as, hearing consumers from bad actors in advantageous positions.

Protect the Integrity of the Profession: Professional certification organizations are expected to develop and uphold high ethical and professional standards for their members and holders of their certification. The revised policy helps protect the overall profession’s reputation by holding bad actors – members who engage in inappropriate or unethical behavior – accountable for the harm they cause.

Build Trust Within our Profession: By having a robust grievance system in place that holds our members and certificants accountable for adhering to the CPC, RID is demonstrating our commitment to our certification’s integrity and protecting the public, and rebuilding trust between our members and our consumers.

Provide guidance to members and holders of RID certification: The revised EPS, combined with the CPC, can provide guidance to members who may be uncertain as to how to navigate certain situations. The EPS and CPC can help members make more informed decisions about their behavior by establishing expectations and consequences for professional misconduct.

Align RID with the industry best practices and National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards: RID’s overarching goal is to align our practices with the needs of our consumers and with industry best practices, to champion the value of certification and expected levels of ethical behaviors and professionalism for our consumers, members, and the public.

Uphold the Organization’s Mission: The EPS policy and the CPC work together to methodically support RID’s mission and values. By promoting and upholding high standards of integrity and accountability within interpreting, which is a “trust” profession, the organization can demonstrate its commitment to its mission, purpose, vision, and reinforce its values.

You may find all answers to your questions regarding the EPS Reform here: www.rid.org/faqs/#epsfaqs

English: EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures PDF

ASL: EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures

EPS Governing Language

EPS Overview

RID’s Ethical Practices System (EPS) seeks to bring accountability to the field of interpreting and is part of the tri-fold approach to establishing the standards RID maintains for its membership. It provides guidance and enforcement to professionalism and conduct while offering a complaint filing and review process to address concerns regarding the ethical decision-making of interpreters.

The EPS upholds accountability and integrity as essential components to developing and supporting trustworthy relationships between all consumers and interpreting professionals. As such, accountability and integrity are pillars for professional conduct. We acknowledge that accountability and integrity can be perceived and upheld in a myriad of ways by various cultural, linguistic, and (dis)ability communities which have historically been neglected when identifying and addressing alleged professional misconduct. It is the desire of the EPS to foster healthy relationships between consumers and professionals in the interpreting community by providing a paradigmatic shift in the understanding of how interpreting professionals should exhibit and embody integrity and accountability.

A complaint is related to violations of the EPS Policy and/or the CPC. Complainants are named.

A report is sharing information that is public (i,e. court judgments, newspaper articles.) This is to inform RID of this information, the EPS may or may not initiate action. Complainants are anonymous.

RID endeavors to assure all members of the public – Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened (DDBDDHHLD) consumers, hearing consumers, communities and organizations that engage in the provision of interpreting services, and those who rely on the services of interpreters to communicate with DDBDDHHLD individuals – that RID certificants meet professional standards of conduct. RID’s EPS requires that certificants and those seeking RID certification continuously comply with and uphold appropriate standards of professionalism, while demonstrating integrity and accountability in all interpreting settings and interpreting-related activities. RID-NAD’s Code of Professional Conduct outlines the baseline of professional standards that all certificants and members throughout multiple points in their journey to certification are expected to uphold.

It is crucial that individuals who do not meet the standards of professionalism, accountability, and integrity required of the profession do not undermine the important achievements of those who do. Failure to uphold these standards by demonstrating conduct that is out of compliance and harmful to the profession, its consumers and stakeholders, will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with this policy.

CPC in ASL

Basics and resources

You can find the EPS definitions in this PDF on page four: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a9d3fc86-516c-3d09-b35c-f1cde435eb55

RID’s Ethical Practices System (EPS) seeks to bring accountability to the field of interpreting and is part of the tri-fold approach to establishing the standards RID maintains for its membership. It provides guidance and enforcement to professionalism and conduct while offering a complaint filing and review process to address concerns regarding the ethical decision-making of interpreters.

File a complaint in English here

File a complaint in ASL here

The goal of the Ethical Practices System (EPS) is to uphold the integrity of ethical standards among interpreters. In keeping with that goal, the system includes a comprehensive process whereby complaints of ethical violations can be thoroughly reviewed and resolved through complaint review or adjudication.

Procedures can be found here: https://rid.org/programs/ethics/eps-procedures/

ASL translations of RID EPS procedures is coming soon!

RID’s Ethical Practices System (EPS) seeks to bring accountability to the field of interpreting and is part of the tri-fold approach to establishing the standards RID maintains for its membership. It provides guidance and enforcement to professionalism and conduct while offering a complaint filing and review process to address concerns regarding the ethical decision-making of interpreters.

You may find a list of members who have violated EPS standards here: https://rid.org/programs/ethics/eps-violations/

A code of professional conduct is a necessary component to any profession to maintain standards for the individuals within that profession to adhere. It brings about accountability, responsibility and trust to the individuals that the profession serves.

Originally, RID, along with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), co-authored the ethical code of conduct for interpreters. At the core of this code of conduct are the seven tenets, which are followed by guiding principles and illustrations.

The tenets are to be viewed holistically and as a guide to complete professional behavior. When in doubt, one should refer to the explicit language of the tenet.

CPC in Spanish

Taking care of your concerns and needs.

Causes for Actionable Discipline.

I. Relating to the Integrity of Membership and Credentials

Cause I in ASL

  1. Making false, knowingly misleading, or deceptive statements, or providing false, knowingly misleading or deceptive information or documents in connection with applying for RID membership or regarding the prerogatives and ramifications of that membership.
  2. Misrepresenting professional credentials (i.e., education, training, experience, level of competence, skills, exam scores, and/or certification status).
  3. Obtaining or attempting to obtain exam eligibility, certification, or recertification of any RID credentials by deceptive means.
  4. Assisting another in misrepresenting or falsifying membership or credentials not limited to submitting or assisting another person to submit any document which contains a material misstatement of fact or omits to state a material fact. 
  5. Using Fraudulent Credentials
    1. Manufacturing, modifying or duplicating documents including but not limited to submitting or assisting another person to submit any document which contains a material misstatement of fact or omits to state a material fact. 
    2. Use of RID and CASLI marks and logos including trademarked material, without the expressed permission of RID/CASLI.
    3. Impersonating a certified interpreter or providing interpreter services using another’s certification identification number.
    4. Attesting membership status as certification.

  1. Noncompliance with CMP protocols for seeking CEUs.
  2. Noncompliance with CMP sponsor responsibilities and procedures.
  3. Defrauding the CMP process (e.g., attending two or more simultaneous CEU-bearing events, impersonating another interpreter in CEU-bearing events, abuse of membership cycle to avoid CEU submission, etc.). 
  4. Failure to report known violations or intentionally assisting another in defrauding the certification maintenance process. 
  5. Misrepresentation as a CEU sponsor or as hosting a CEU-bearing event.

  1. Integrity of Testing Materials
    1. Disclosing, recording, reproducing, or distributing examination content or otherwise compromising the security of a CASLI examination.
    2. Possessing and/or using unauthorized material, including but not limited to streaming, recording, screen capture, or other unpermitted electronic devices during a CASLI examination.
    3. oHaving or seeking access to proprietary exam materials before the exam.
  2. Testing Procedures
    1. Violating the published examination procedures for the examination or the specific examination conditions authorized by CASLI.
    2. Impersonating an examinee or engaging someone else to take the exam by proxy.
  3. Test Products
    1. Cheating on a CASLI examination.
    2. Making false, knowingly misleading, or deceptive statements, or providing false, knowingly misleading, or deceptive information or documents in connection with an application for CASLI’s examinations or certification renewal.or examination appeals.

Read the EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures PDF Here

II. Relating to Upholding Trust in the Profession

Cause II in ASL

  1. Failing to maintain the confidentiality of information gained through or as a result of providing interpreting services whether such breach of confidentiality occurs prior to, during, or after an interpreting engagement.
  2. Sharing information that breaches the privacy of the consumer(s).
  3. Profiting from the use of assignment-related information for professional or personal gain.
  4. Sharing confidential, job-related, or protected information that would only be known to the parties involved on social media platforms.
  5. Not following protocol for reporting within a specific agency or entity.

  1. Digital Civility 
    1. Recording and distributing content expressly prohibited by its creator, e.g., without express permission recording an interpreted scenario unbeknownst to the parties involved, recording of consumers involved in the respective interpreted event, refusal to remove the recording as requested by the personnel or stakeholders involved in the event.

  1. Documented evidence of gross incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or unethical professional conduct. 
  2. Knowingly accepting assignments without adequate prior training or skills.
  3. Exceeding one’s scope of practice as defined by law or certification.
  4. Knowingly accepting an interpreting engagement that the interpreter is aware is beyond the interpreter’s knowledge, ability, or skills to perform in accordance with the standards of practice, or continuing with such an assignment without disclosing the interpreter’s skill limitations.
  5. Knowingly accepting assignments for which one is not culturally and linguistically apt to provide services. 
  6. Knowingly accepting or continuing an interpreting engagement for which the interpreter has an undisclosed conflict of interest.
  7. Refusing to use the language and modality(ies) as requested by consumer(s). 
  8. Falsely, misleadingly, or deceptively purporting to have professional expertise beyond scope of practice and/or training.
  9. Failing to limit professional activity to interpreting during an interpreting engagement, such as by advising consumers on the substance of the matter being interpreted, sharing or eliciting overly personal information in conversations with the consumer, or inserting personal judgments or cultural values into the interpreting engagement.
  10. Failing to meet standards of practice for rendering an interpreted communication accurately, without material omissions or additions, and conveying the content and spirit of the original message.
  11. Discriminating against anyone in the provision of interpreter services on the basis of race, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Discrimination does not include declining an interpreting engagement because it is beyond the interpreter’s knowledge, ability, or skills to perform in accordance with the standards of practice.
  12. Practicing while impaired (e.g. due to mind-altering substance use)
  13. Exhibiting gross incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or unethical conduct in connection with providing interpreting services or the individual’s professional practice as an interpreter that raises a substantial question as to that individual’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an interpreter in other respects.

  1. Failure to acknowledge that additional necessary accommodations are required to provide accurate message equivalence. This is including but is not limited to a more qualified interpreter(s) (e.g., Deaf interpreters, heritage language interpreters, interpreters with setting-specific cultural competence), notetaker(s), language facilitator(s), Captioning Access Real Time (CART), assistive technologies, etc.).
  2. Failure to acknowledge when multiple interpreting teams(e.g., Deaf, multilingual, heritage language, ProTactile, etc.) are needed given the complexity and nature of the interpreting task. 
  3. Failure to recommend to appropriate personnel the availability of resources for consumer(s). This is including but is not limited to resources that recommend:interpreters representing mutual intersectionalities of the consumer(s) or event, the most effective situational interpreting services possible (e.g., Deaf, multilingual, or heritage language interpreters), the most effective and readily available community based services.

  1. Engaging in violent, threatening, harassing, obscene, profane, or abusive communications with RID or CASLI or their agents.
  2. Failing to comply with pre-set policies or regulations at the venue where the interpreting assignment is including cultural norms and safety regulations.
  3. Failing to cooperate with or respond to inquiries from RID or CASLI related to the individual’s own or another’s compliance with RID’s or CASLI’s standards, policies, and procedures and this Disciplinary Policy, in connection with CASLI certification-related matters, RID membership-related matters, or disciplinary proceedings.

  1. Obtaining or attempting to obtain compensation or reimbursement by fraud or deceit in connection with professional practice.
  2. Engaging in negligent billing or record keeping in connection with professional practice.
  3. Promoting, implying, encouraging/overriding autonomy of consumers in the provision of communication access (including for the purpose of placing oneself in a favorable position for future assignments).
  4. Engaging in fraudulent business practices such as ‘double-dipping’. 
  5. Knowingly accept interpreting assignments alone, that should be teamed, and charge exorbitant fees for their benefit at the expense of quality and access.
  6. Pricing interpreting services in ways that become cost-prohibitive to consumers and hiring entities.

Read the EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures PDF Here

III. Relating to Adverse Actions

Cause III in ASL

  1. Engaging in fraudulent conduct. 
  2. Submitting false evidence. 
  3. Making false statements.
  4. Filing retaliatory reports. 
  5. Violating appropriate boundaries between the interpreter and any party involved in the interpreted encounter.
  6. Changing residence to avoid prosecution, loss of license, or disciplinary action by a state licensing agency.
  7. Making wrongful claims. 
  8. Making inflammatory statements.
  9. Failing to adhere to the outlined protocols and procedures as outlined in this document.

  1. Failing to report known or perceived prohibited behavior or activities by another RID member. 
  2. Failing to report a conviction of a felony related to the performance of the individual’s duties as an interpreter or fitness as an interpreter (see Criminal Convictions, below). Not in effect until FY 25 membership renewal.
  3. Failing to disclose to state boards any disciplinary actions taken against a candidate/certificant, including but not limited to revocation, suspension, voluntary surrender, probation, fines, stipulations, limitations, restrictions, conditions, censure or reprimand, or denial of licensure or certification.

Read the EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures PDF Here

IV. Criminal Convictions

Cause IV in ASL

EPS holds that interpreting is a trust and reputation-based profession. Therefore, criminally offending can potentially affect the interpreter’s suitability to practice in a number of ways and be detrimental to the trust and safety required to facilitate effective language access. This section details when an interpreter’s criminal conviction may be relevant to their eligibility for certification and periodic certification renewal.  

RID will engage in an individualized assessment for each disclosure submitted. Criminal convictions will not automatically disqualify one from credentialing eligibility, access to testing or automatically result in disciplinary sanction. This disclosure will be informative to RID as the organization can not adopt a policy of deliberately excluding knowledge of offenses that may be relevant to the trustworthiness of a member or certificant affecting the safety of consumers, fellow colleagues and RID stakeholders.

  1. Disclosure – As required by this Policy, each RID current member, professionals submitting for RID membership renewal, and CASLI testing candidates must identify and explain whether s/he/they was or is the subject of any of the following matters within 30 days of notification of the matter or at the time of membership renewal or testing application (whichever occurs sooner): 
    1. Prior criminal felony, misdemeanor, and other criminal convictions, even if the court withheld adjudication so that you would not have a record of conviction. 
    2. Current and pending criminal felony, misdemeanor, and other charges, including complaints and indictments. 
    3. Government agencies and professional organizations conduct or other complaint matters relating to the member/candidate, including disciplinary and complaint matters, within ten (10) years prior to the date of their initial certification application or certification maintenance application. 
    4. Legal matters related to the member’s/candidate’s interpreting business or professional activities, including civil complaints and lawsuits.

  1. Failing to report a conviction of a felony related to the performance of the individual’s duties as an interpreter or fitness as an interpreter (see Criminal Convictions, below). Not in effect until FY 25 membership renewal.
  2. Failing to disclose to EPS any prior criminal felony, misdemeanor, and other criminal convictions.
  3. Failing to report current and pending criminal felony, misdemeanor, or indictments.
  4. Failing to report any disciplinary actions taken against a member/candidate by state or local level organizations. This could include but is not limited to, licensing bodies, and governmental agencies.

Read the EPS Policy and Enforcement Procedures PDF Here

Six steps in an EPS enforcement procedure.

Continue to grow on your ethical journey, there’s always more to learn.

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Code of Professional Conduct

Upholding high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct of interpreters.

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Standard Practice Papers

Articulate the consensus of the membership in outlining standard practices and positions on various interpreting roles and issues.

Standard Practice Papers >

Press Releases

Browser through our Press Releases to see what RID standards for how we uphold Ethical standards.

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