21 NCAC 25 .0202             THE APPLICATION PACKAGE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

(a)  An applicant for licensure shall submit the following materials to the Board:

(1)           A completed, signed, and dated application in the format provided by the Board;

(2)           A clear, two-inch by two-inch, passport-style photograph of the head and shoulders of the applicant, made within two years of the date of application;

(3)           A legible, fully-completed finger print card obtained from a local law enforcement agency;

(4)           The applicant's signed, written consent to a criminal record check;

(5)           One or more cashier's checks, certified checks or money orders made payable to the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board in the amounts charged by the Department of Public Safety for all necessary local, State and federal criminal record checks; and

(6)           A cashier's check, certified check or money order made payable to the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board in the amount specified by Rule .0203 of this Section.

(b)  Upon application to the Board and payment of the required fees under 21 NCAC 25 .0203(a), the Board may grant an Applicant a full license as an interpreter or transliterator if the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:

(1)           Is 18 years of age or older.

(2)           Is of good moral character presumptively established by the applicant's eligibility under 21 NCAC 25 .0302. If the Board determines there is probable cause to question an applicant's moral character, and after notice to the applicant and a hearing, the Board shall deny a license if there exists clear and convincing evidence rebutting the presumption that the applicant is of good moral character.

(3)           Meets one of the following criteria:

(A)          Is nationally certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc., (RID).

(B)          Holds a valid Testing, Evaluation and Certification Unit, Inc. (TECUnit) national certification in cued language transliteration.

(C)          Holds a current Cued Language Transliterator State Level Assessment (CLTSLA) level 3 or above classification.

(D)          Holds a Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) assessment of Advanced or above.

(E)           A Deaf Interpreter who holds a Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) intermediary certificate level IV or above.

(c)  Upon application to the Board and payment of the required fees under 21 NCAC 25 .0203(a), the Board may grant an Applicant a one-time provisional license as an interpreter or transliterator if the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:

(1)           Is 18 years of age or older.

(2)           Is of good moral character presumptively established by the applicant's eligibility under 21 NCAC 25 .0302. If the Board determines there is probable cause to question an applicant's moral character, and after notice to the applicant and a hearing, the Board shall deny a license if there exists clear and convincing evidence rebutting the presumption that the applicant is of good moral character.

(3)           Completes two continuing education units approved by the Board. These units must be completed for each renewable year.

(4)           Holds at least a two-year associate degree in interpreting from an accredited institution and satisfies one the following:

(A)          Holds a quality assurance North Carolina Interpreter Classification System (NCICS) level C classification.

(B)          Holds a valid National Association of the Deaf (NAD) level 2 or 3 certification.

(C)          Holds a current Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) level 3.5 or above classification.

(D)          Holds a Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) assessment of Basic.

(E)           A Deaf Interpreter who holds a Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) intermediary certificate level III.

(d) Upon application to the Board, payment of the required fees under 21 NCAC 25 .0203(a), and meeting the requirements for a provisional license under Subparagraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this Rule, the Board shall also issue a provisional license to any of the following categories of persons seeking a one-time provisional license:

(1)           A deaf interpreter who completes 16 hours of training in interpreting coursework or workshops, including role and function or ethics, and 20 hours in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application in the provision of interpreting services.

(2)           An oral interpreter who completes a total of 40 hours of training in interpreting coursework or workshops related to oral interpreting.

(3)           A cued language transliterator who holds a current TECUnit Cued language Transliterator State Level Assessment ( CLTSLA) level 2 or above classification.

(4)           A person providing interpreting or transliterating services who has a recognized credential from another state in the field of interpreting or transliterating.

(5)           An interpreter or transliterator who has accumulated at least 200 hours per year in the provision of interpreting or transliterating services, in this State or another state, totaling at least 400 hours for the two years immediately preceding the date of the application. An applicant must provide documentation of hours when applying for a provisional license under this category, subject to verification by the Board.

(e)  Paragraphs (b) – (d) of this Rule applies to licenses and provisional licenses issued or renewed by the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board on or after October 1, 2023.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90D-6; 90D-7; 90D-10; S.L. 2002-182, s. 7, as amended by S.L. 2003-56;

Eff. March 21, 2005;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 22, 2017;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 5, 2024.