An individual who wants to become a certified, provisionally certified, or registered interpreter as defined in these rules, in a particular foreign language, must do the following to protect the integrity of the Nebraska Judicial Branch and the safety of the public, and to ensure an interpreter's record of conduct justifies the trust of the courts, probation, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, parties, and the public.
§ 6-704.Examination for foreign language interpreter certification.
Article 7: Interpreters in the Nebraska Judicial Branch · Last amended June 12, 2024 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lays out the multi-step path — application review, orientation, a background check, a written exam, and for most languages an oral exam — that an applicant must complete to become a certified, provisionally certified, or registered foreign-language interpreter for the Nebraska Judicial Branch.
Full Text of § 6-704
(A) Apply to attend the Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation. Upon application for Interpreter Orientation on a form approved by the State Court Administrator, the Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and determine if the applicant meets the initial qualification requirements of §§ 6-705, 6-706, or 6-707.
(B) Attend Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation. Orientation for interpreters will include an introduction to the courts and probation, the ethics of a court interpreter, vocabulary, the skills needed to assume the responsibilities of an interpreter, and the requirements to be certified, provisionally certified, and registered as outlined in §§ 6-705, 6-706, or 6-707. The State Court Administrator may waive this requirement for any interpreter who has previously attended a Nebraska Judicial Branch or other state or federal court interpreter orientation within the last 3 calendar years.
(C) Apply for the Interpreter Written Examination. Only after attending the Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation or the State Court Administrator waiving the requirement to attend the orientation may the applicant submit an application to take the written examination and execute a criminal history record check release on forms approved by the State Court Administrator. The Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and conduct a criminal background check to verify the absence of criminal convictions and/or pending charges. A felony conviction of an applicant shall warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. A misdemeanor conviction in the preceding 5 calendar years manifesting a significant deficiency in the honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability of an applicant may warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of any felony charges less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) shall be the basis for denial of certification. Disposition of misdemeanor charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) may be the basis for denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters.
(D) Written Examination. The written examination to qualify to take the oral examination of § 6-705(F) or to be considered for provisional certification pursuant to § 6-706(F), shall require no fee for an initial or second attempt for residents of Nebraska. If subsequent attempts are undertaken, a fee as prescribed by the Nebraska Supreme Court shall be assessed per each attempt. For out of state residents, a fee as prescribed by the Nebraska Supreme Court shall be assessed per each attempt of the written examination to qualify to take the oral examination of § 6-705(F) or to be considered for provisional certification pursuant to § 6-706(F). The written examination shall consist of three parts: general English language vocabulary, court-related terms and usage, and ethics and professional conduct. The written examination will be administered at such times and places as designated by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. The State Court Administrator shall waive this requirement for any interpreter who has previously taken the oral examination of § 6-704(F). If the applicant achieves a qualifying score of 80 percent or higher on the written examination, the applicant shall then be eligible to take the oral examination, if available for the interpreter's language, or provide documentation to support consideration for provisional certification. Results of the written examination will be electronically sent to the applicant.
(E) Applying for the Interpreter Oral Examination. Only after passing the written examination may the applicant submit an application to take the oral examination and execute a criminal history record check release on forms approved by the State Court Administrator. The Director of Language Access or designated Nebraska Judicial Branch staff will evaluate the application and conduct a criminal background check to verify the absence of criminal convictions and/or pending charges. A felony conviction of an applicant shall warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. A misdemeanor conviction in the preceding 5 calendar years manifesting a significant deficiency in the honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability of an applicant may warrant denial of participation within the certification program, or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of any felony charges less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) shall be the basis for denial of certification or removal from the statewide register of interpreters. Disposition of misdemeanor charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) may be the basis for denial of participation within the certification program or removal from the statewide register of interpreters.
(F) Oral Examination. Oral examinations in specific languages will consist of three components: sight interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation. Such examinations will be administered at such times and places as designated by the Nebraska Judicial Branch. Results of the oral certification examinations will be electronically sent to the applicant.
(G) Revocation or suspension as an interpreter in any other jurisdiction will preclude certification as a Nebraska Judicial Branch interpreter.
(H) Confidentiality. All information relating to the examination is treated as confidential by the Nebraska Judicial Branch and test administrators except that aggregate statistical information relating to the examinations and applicants may be released at the discretion of the State Court Administrator.
Amendment History
§ 6-704 adopted October 21, 2009; § 6-704(A)-(D) amended March 16, 2011; § 6-704(B)-(G) amended December 12, 2018; § 6-704(A), (B), and (D)-(G) amended April 14, 2021; § 6-704 amended June 12, 2024.
Plain-English Summary
Becoming a recognized court interpreter in Nebraska is not a matter of showing up fluent in a language. Section 6-704 spells out the sequence an applicant follows, starting with an application to attend the Nebraska Judicial Branch Interpreter Orientation, which covers courtroom and probation practice, interpreter ethics, and the specific requirements for certification, provisional certification, and registration. The State Court Administrator can waive orientation for someone who has already attended a similar orientation elsewhere within the past three years.
After orientation, an applicant seeking to take the written exam must submit to a criminal history check. The standards are exacting: a felony conviction bars participation outright, and a misdemeanor conviction within the past five years can bar participation too if it shows a real problem with honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability. The written exam itself covers general English vocabulary, court-related terminology, and ethics, and Nebraska residents get their first two attempts free of charge, with a fee for later attempts; out-of-state applicants pay a fee from the first attempt. A score of 80 percent or higher clears the way to the oral exam — or, for languages without one, to provisional certification.
The oral exam, where available, tests sight interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation, and a second background check runs before an applicant can sit for it. A revocation or suspension as an interpreter in any other jurisdiction blocks Nebraska certification outright, and everything about an applicant’s exam performance stays confidential except for aggregate statistics the State Court Administrator chooses to release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic steps to become a certified interpreter in Nebraska?
Apply for and attend orientation, pass a background check, pass the written exam with a score of 80 percent or higher, pass a second background check, and then pass the oral exam in languages where one is offered.
Does a criminal record automatically disqualify an applicant?
A felony conviction does. A misdemeanor conviction within the past five years can disqualify an applicant too, but only if it shows a real problem with honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability.
How much does the written exam cost?
Nebraska residents pay nothing for their first two attempts; a fee applies to later attempts. Out-of-state residents pay a fee for every attempt.
Is orientation always required before testing?
Usually, yes, but the State Court Administrator can waive it for an applicant who attended a similar orientation in Nebraska or another jurisdiction within the past three years.
What if I was decertified as an interpreter in another state?
A revocation or suspension of interpreter certification in any other jurisdiction precludes certification in Nebraska.
Are my exam scores kept private?
Yes. All exam-related information is treated as confidential, though the State Court Administrator may release aggregate statistics about examinations and applicants.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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