§ 6-708.Certified Deaf Interpreter and certified Sign Language interpreter requirements.
Article 7: Interpreters in the Nebraska Judicial Branch · Last amended June 12, 2024 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule sets the qualifications for Certified Deaf Interpreters and certified Sign Language interpreters — a Nebraska interpreter license plus one of several recognized national certifications, a clean criminal record, and ongoing continuing education — needed to hold that category on the statewide register.
Full Text of § 6-708
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(A)An interpreter will qualify as a Certified Deaf Interpreter or certified Sign Language interpreter upon establishing to the satisfaction of the State Court Administrator that the individual has:
(1)A license as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-150 et seq. and possesses one or more of the certifications awarded by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Certified Deaf Interpreter Certification (CDI), Conditional Legal Interpreting Permit-Relay (CLIP-R), Specialist Certificate Legal (SC:L), National Interpreter Certification – Master (NIC Master), National Interpreter Certification – Advanced (NIC Advanced), National Interpreter Certification (NIC), Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), or National Association of the Deaf – V (NAD-V); and
(2)Had no past felony convictions or pending felony criminal charges. In addition, in the preceding 5 years had no misdemeanor convictions or pending charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability. 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 certified interpreter status. 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 certified program or removal from the statewide register of interpreters;
(3)To maintain certified status, a Certified Deaf Interpreter or certified Sign Language interpreter must comply with continuing education requirements as outlined in § 6-710. Failure to complete continuing education requirements shall be grounds for removal of the interpreter’s name from the statewide register of interpreters.
Amendment History
§ 6-708 adopted June 12, 2024.
Plain-English Summary
Sign Language and Deaf interpretation runs on its own credentialing system, separate from the written-and-oral-exam path used for spoken languages, and § 6-708 reflects that. To qualify as a Certified Deaf Interpreter or certified Sign Language interpreter, an applicant needs a Nebraska interpreter license under state law, plus at least one of a specific list of national credentials — among them the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf’s Certified Deaf Interpreter Certification, Specialist Certificate Legal, National Interpreter Certification at various levels, Certificate of Interpretation, Certificate of Transliteration, Comprehensive Skills Certificate, or National Association of the Deaf Level V.
Beyond the license and credential, the same integrity screening applies here as everywhere else in Article 7: no past or pending felony conviction, and no misdemeanor conviction or pending charge within the past five years showing a real problem with honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability. As with every other certified category, continuing education under § 6-710 is what keeps the credential active — falling behind is grounds for removal from the statewide register.
This section is one of the newest additions to Article 7, adopted in 2024, and it works alongside § 6-702(E) and (F), which already distinguished certified Deaf and Sign Language interpreters from those who hold only a state license and skills assessment without the additional national certification this section requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credential does a Sign Language interpreter need to be “certified” in Nebraska?
A Nebraska interpreter license and at least one of the national certifications listed in § 6-708, such as a Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf credential or a National Interpreter Certification.
Does a Certified Deaf Interpreter need the same license as a Sign Language interpreter?
Yes, both need the license required under Nebraska law along with one of the recognized certifications listed in the rule.
What disqualifies someone from this certified category?
The same background standard used across Article 7 — a past or pending felony conviction, or a recent misdemeanor conviction or charge showing a real problem with honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability.
How is this different from a non-certified Sign Language interpreter?
A non-certified Sign Language or Deaf interpreter, described in § 6-702(F), holds a state license and a recognized skills assessment but not one of the additional certifications this section requires.
Do certified Sign Language interpreters need continuing education too?
Yes, under the same § 6-710 framework that applies to certified, provisionally certified, and registered interpreters.
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
Also known as:certified deaf interpreter nebraska requirementssign language interpreter certification nebraskaRID certification nebraska courtsnebraska interpreter license sign languagecertified sign language interpreter qualifications