Wisconsin.

Licensure (Yes/No)

Yes

Registration (Yes/No)

Yes

Regulation (Yes/No)

Yes

General and Education

K-12 DPI https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/pi/34/X/086
PI 34.086  Educational interpreter, 5-year renewable license.
(1)  Authorization.A license issued under this section authorizes the license holder to work as an educational interpreter for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing.
(2) Eligibility. Except as provided in sub. (3), the state superintendent may issue an educational interpreter license under this section to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Holds an interpreter training program certificate from an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university. The program shall include the following coursework:
1. English to American Sign Language interpretation.
2. American Sign Language to English interpretation.
3. Transliterating and oral interpreting.
4. Current practices for interpreters in educational settings.
5. Ethical practices as it relates to interpreters.
(b) Completed a practicum of at least 150 hours in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with a licensed educational interpreter assigned as a mentor. Completion shall be verified by a representative from a higher education interpreter training program or the school district administrator where the practicum took place.
(c) Has a passing score on the written and performance educational interpreter performance assessment. The passing score shall be set by the state superintendent in consultation with the state superintendent’s advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing programs.
(3) Alternative eligibility. The state superintendent may issue an educational interpreter license under this section to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Holds one of the following licenses or certifications:
1. A sign language interpreter 151-150 license issued by the Wisconsin department of safety and professional services.
2. One of the following certifications from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
a. National Interpreter Certification.
b. Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf K-12.
c. Certificate of interpretation and certificate of transliteration.
d. Comprehensive skills certificate.
e. Master comprehensive skills certificate.
f. Certified deaf interpreter or deaf interpreter.
3. A basic, advanced, or master certification from the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters.
4. Certification from an organization approved by the state superintendent in consultation with the state superintendent’s advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing programs.
(b) Completed a practicum of at least 150 hours in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with a licensed educational interpreter assigned as a mentor. Completion shall be verified by a representative from a higher education interpreter training program or the school district administrator where the practicum took place.
(4) Duration. A license issued under this section is valid for 5 years.
(5) Renewal. A license issued under this section is renewable if the licensee meets all of the following requirements:
(a) The licensee completes one of the following educational components:
1. Completes 5 semester credits of continuing professional education from an accredited college or university. A licensee can satisfy 2 of the semester credits by serving as a mentor under sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b).
2. Completes 7.5 continuing education units approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters. A licensee can satisfy 3 continuing education units by serving as a mentor under sub. (2) (b) or (3) (b).
(b) The licensee does one of the following skill verification components:
1. Passes the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment with a renewal score set by the state superintendent in consultation with the superintendent’s advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing programs.
2. Obtains or maintains one of the licenses or certification listed under sub. (3) (a).
History: CR 17-093: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.
PI 34.087  Educational interpreter, 1-year renewable license.
(1)  Authorization. A license issued under this section authorizes the license holder to work as an educational interpreter for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing.
(2) Eligibility. The state superintendent may issue an educational interpreter license under this section to an applicant who does not meet all of the requirements under s. PI 34.086 for an educational interpreter if all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The district administrator of the employing school district requests a license in writing with full explanation and justification of the need.
(b) The request under par. (a) certifies that a search was conducted for a fully licensed educational interpreter licensed under s. PI 34.086 for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing and that a fully licensed educational interpreter was not available.
(c) The license holder is enrolled in an approved interpreter training program recognized by the department.
(3) Duration. A license issued under this section is valid for one year.
(4) Nonrenewable. Except as provided in sub. (5), a license issued under this section may not be renewed.
(5) Renewal. The district administrator or designed official of the employing school district may request that a license issued under this section be renewed. The license may be renewed if, between the date of issuance and the proposed renewal date, the applicant satisfactorily makes progress toward meeting the licensing requirements under s. PI 34.086. A license issued under this section may be renewed no more than 5 times.
History: CR 17-093: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.
PI 34.088  Educational interpreter, 5-year nonrenewable license.
(1)  Authorization. A license issued under this section authorizes the license holder to work as an educational interpreter.
(2) Eligibility. The state superintendent may issue a license under this section to an applicant who meets one of the following requirements:
(a) Meets the requirements under s. PI 34.086 (2) (a) but does not meet the requirements under s. PI 34.086 (2) (b) or (c).
(b) Meets the requirements under s. PI 34.086 (3) (a) but does not meet the requirements under s. PI 34.086 (3) (b).
(3) Duration. A license issued under this section is valid for 5 years.
(4) Nonrenewable. A license issued under this section may not be renewed.
History: CR 17-093: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.

General https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/related/acts/17
440.032 (3) (c) Sign language interpreter— intermediate hearing licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies any of the following:
1. The applicant satisfies all of the following:
a. The applicant has received at least an associate degree in sign language interpretation, or an equivalent degree, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
b. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has successfully completed an interpreter training program.
c. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
2. The applicant satisfies all of the following:
a. The applicant earned an associate degree in sign language interpretation before the effective date of this subd. 2. a. …. [LRB inserts date].
b. The applicant has passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
3. The applicant satisfies all of the following:
a. Before the effective date of this subd. 3. a. …. [LRB inserts date], the applicant passed the basic performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor, or before the effective date of this subd. 3. a. …. [LRB inserts date], the applicant passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
b. The department approves the applicant’s licensure after review of all of the circumstances and receiving advice from the committee.
Section 13 . 440.032 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
440.032 (3) (d) Sign language interpreter—advanced hearing licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—advanced hearing license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies any of the following:
1. The applicant satisfies all of the following:
a. The applicant has received at least an associate degree in sign language interpretation, or an equivalent degree as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
b. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has successfully completed an interpreter training program.
c. The applicant has passed the advanced or master performance examination of and is certified by the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters, or its successor; the applicant has passed the examination for and holds the national interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor; or the applicant has passed a substantially equivalent examination, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
2. The applicant was issued before the effective date of this subdivision …. [LRB inserts date], and maintains in good standing any of the following:
a. The national interpreter certification (NIC), advanced or master level national interpreter certification (NIC-Advanced or NIC-Master), certificate of interpretation (CI), certificate of transliteration (CT), comprehensive skills certificate (CSC), master comprehensive skills certificate (MCSC), interpretation certificate (IC), or transliteration certificate (TC), issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor.
b. The National Association of the Deaf III, IV, or V certification.
c. The advanced or master certification of the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters or its successor.
Section 14 . 440.032 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
440.032 (3) (e) Sign language interpreter— intermediate deaf licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—intermediate deaf license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:
1. The applicant holds a high school diploma or its equivalent, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
2. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant’s successful completion of at least 40 hours of a deaf interpreter training curriculum approved by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
3. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant’s successful completion of at least 16 hours of sign language interpretation services-related training approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters or its successor, or substantially equivalent training, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
4. The applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department of the applicant’s successful completion of American sign language linguistics I and II or substantially equivalent coursework, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
5. The applicant provides to the department letters of recommendation satisfactory to the department from at least 2 individuals who hold a sign language interpreter—advanced deaf license, a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor, or an equivalent certification, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee. Taken in the aggregate, the letters of recommendation shall verify that the applicant has successfully completed at least 25 hours of observing sign language interpretation services provided to clients.
Section 15 . 440.032 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
440.032 (3) (f) Sign language interpreter— advanced deaf licenses. The department shall grant a sign language interpreter—advanced deaf license to an applicant who submits an application on a form provided by the department, pays the fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), and satisfies all of the following:
1. The applicant holds at least an associate degree or satisfies an alternate pathway for education, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.
2. The applicant holds a certified deaf interpreter certification issued by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., or its successor or an equivalent certification, as determined by the department after receiving advice from the committee.

Expires every odd year

General DSPS: $75
Renew every odd year.
Educational DPI: $100 – renews every five (5) years.

Please visit the websites.

Number of Council Members: 8

Sign Language Interpreter Council Consists of the Secretary of Safety and Professional Services or a designee of the secretary and the following eight (8) members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for three-year terms:
• Five (5) deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are or have been clients of a sign language interpreter, at least one (1) of whom is a graduate of a residential school for the deaf or hard of hearing and at least one (1) of whom is a graduate of a private or public school that is not a residential school for the deaf or hard of hearing.
• Two (2) interpreters licensed by the state, at least one (1) of who holds a renewable license.
• One (1) individual who is not deaf or hard of hearing and who has obtained, or represents an entity that has obtained, sign language interpreter services for the benefit of another who is deaf or hard of hearing.
If possible, the governor shall nominate individuals from diverse locations within the state.

License Requirements: http://dsps.wi.gov/Default.aspx?Page=505dc4da-2c81-4af6-b86d-021dcc309b3d
Educational Interpreter Licensing: http://sped.dpi.wi.gov/sped_hi-interpreter-licensing
Grievance Process: http://dsps.wi.gov/Complaints