Legal Interpreting Guidelines in Idaho

Requirements for Certified Interpreters in Idaho

Idaho does not require certified interpreters for any legal proceeding. However, all court interpreters in Idaho are strongly encouraged to participate in Idaho’s training and certification program.

Idaho state authorities periodically offer exams, both written and oral, for certification based on the guidelines of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification.

Idaho offers certification in the following 16 languages:

Classification of Interpreters in Idaho

The Idaho Judicial Department defines legal interpreters in the following ways:

• Master Level Certified Interpreter: An interpreter who has scored a minimum of 80 percent on a four-part oral exam in one testing cycle, passed a basic ethics test, passed a criminal background check, and attended a two-day basic orientation workshop.
• Certified Court Interpreter: An interpreter who has scored a minimum of 70 percent on a four-part oral exam, passed a written exam, passed a basic ethics test, passed a criminal background check, and attended a two-day basic orientation workshop.
• Conditionally Approved Court Interpreter: An interpreter who has scored a minimum of 55 percent on a four-part oral exam, passed a basic ethics test, passed a criminal background check, and attended a two-day basic orientation workshop.
• Registered Court Interpreter: An interpreter who works in a language for which no oral exam exists, but who has scored an 80 percent or higher on the written test, passed a basic ethics test, passed a criminal background check, and attended a two-day basic orientation workshop.

While no venues in Idaho require certified interpreters, they may be preferred for certain proceedings. Please consult with Legal Language Services for the rules pertaining to your specific venue and language.

Common Languages Spoken in Idaho

According to a recent American Community Survey, approximately 10.29% of the Idaho population speaks a language other than English.

What’s more, almost 89% of the non-English speaking population in Idaho speaks one of the following 10 languages:

Other languages spoken in Idaho include Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Thai, Italian, Dutch, Arabic and Romanian.

Judicial Districts in Idaho

There are seven judicial districts in Idaho that encompass 44 counties. However, the certification requirements and programs in Idaho are statewide and remain consistent across all local jurisdictions.

Call Legal Language Services at 1-800-788-0450 to find Idaho interpreters who meet state interpreting rules for courtroom trials, hearings, depositions, arbitrations and other legal proceedings.

Please Note

The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information about legal interpreting guidelines in Idaho is believed to be accurate at the time of posting; however, Legal Language Services is not responsible for any errors or omissions.