LAC 46:LXXII.503. Minimum Qualifications for Types of Registration

A. All interpreters seeking registration in the state must satisfy certain educational standards, performance standards, and knowledge standards, specific to each type of registration. B. Minimum Qualification Requirements by Type 1. Generalist Registration a. Minimum qualifications include certification through one of the following, which is inclusive of educational, performance and knowledge standards: i. valid certification from a national certifying body of sign language interpreters, such as Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), excludes RID Ed: K-12. See Provisional Generalist or PreK-12 registration; or ii. valid certification from the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) advanced level or higher issued by a state that is a licensed user of the BEI system. 2. provisional generalist a. Minimum qualifications includes proof of attainment of the following educational, performance and knowledge standards: i. educational standard (a). High school diploma or equivalent, or higher. ii. performance standard (a). valid Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Educational Certificate (Ed: K-12); (b). valid Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Basic Certification or higher issued by a state that is a licensed user of the BEI system; (c). educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) score 4.0 or higher; or (d). Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) rating of superior or higher within the last five years. iii. knowledge standard (a). verification of passing the Center for Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI) General Knowledge Exam; (b). certificate of completion or higher degree from an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) issued by an accredited institution of higher education; or (c). 100 hours of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and/or Board of Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) approved continuing education units (CEUs) and/or mentoring hours provided by an interpreting organization or institution issued within the last five years of application date. 3. Temporary Practice Permit-Supervised Support-Generalist a. Minimum qualifications includes proof of attainment of the following standards: i. one year or more of full-time professional interpreting experience; ii. Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) Rating of advanced or higher within the last two years; and iii. documentation of participation or completion of formal professional development such as: (a). enrollment in a sign language interpreter training program or a formal mentorship program; (b). a minimum of 20 approved Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) and/or Board of Evaluators of Interpreters (BEI) continuing education units (CEUs) accrued during each year of experience stated; (c). letter from a registered interpreter verifying previously completed training, and/or supervised support;or (d). one letter of recommendation from a registered interpreter and one letter of recommendation from a sign language interpreting professional representative (may include an interpreter agency director, sign language teacher, employer, professional organization representative, etc). 4. Temporary Practice Permit-Supervised-Generalist a. Minimum qualifications includes proof of attainment of the following standards: i. completion of a two year sign language interpreter education program or enrolled in a senior status of a four year sign language interpreter education program; and ii. engagement in a formal mentoring program for sign language interpreters. 5. PreK-12 Registration a. Minimum qualifications includes proof of attainment of the following educational, performance and knowledge standards: i. educational standard (a). associate's degree (or higher) issued by an accredited institution of higher education; and (b). minimum of 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more accredited institutions of higher education. ii. performance standard (a). valid certification from a national certifying body of sign language interpreters, such as Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID); (b). valid Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Advanced Certification or higher issued by a state that is a licensed user of the BEI system; or (c). Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) 4.0 or higher. iii. knowledge standard (a). Verification of passing the EIPA Written Test. 6. Provisional PreK-12 a. Minimum qualifications includes proof of attainment of the following educational, performance and knowledge standards: i. educational standard (a). certificate of completion or higher degree from an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) issued by an accredited institution of higher education; or (b). minimum of 30 semester hours of college credit from one or more accredited institutions of higher education. ii. performance standard (a). valid certification from a national certifying body of sign language interpreters, such as Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID); (b). valid Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Basic Certification or higher issued by a state that is a licensed user of the BEI system; (c). Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) score 3.0-3.9; or (d). EIPA pre-hire screening with a result of ‘OK to hire’. iii. knowledge standard (a). not required for provisional. 7. Pre-K Temporary Practice Permit-Supervised a. Minimum qualifications include proof of attainment of the following educational, performance and knowledge standards: i. pre-hire screening of the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) with a result of ‘hire with caution/supervision’; ii. completion of a two-year sign language interpreter education program or senior status of a four year interpreter education program; or iii. verifiable participation in formal mentoring, job-shadowing, or training opportunities for sign language interpreters. C. Requests for exceptions to any of the registration requirements due to extenuating circumstances, recognition of other credentials, or reciprocity from another state must be submitted in writing to the commission for review and may be eligible for approval on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions shall be determined through policies approved by the board of commissioners. D. Individuals who hold a valid Educational Interpreter Ancillary or Provisional certificate issued by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) prior to July 1st of the year following this rule publication, must adhere to the following: 1. DOE Ancillary Certificate Holders a. educational standard i. minimum of one educational standard must be met; ii. request for extension with verifiable proof of enrollment in associates degree or higher program with anticipated graduation date within four years from the date of request; iii. request for exemption with verifiable employment within five years of retirement as defined by a state public retirement system; or iv. request for exemption with verifiable proof of four years or more of full-time work in a K-12 educational setting, plus verification of one or more minimum performance requirements. b. performance standard i. minimum of one performance standard must be met; or ii. request for one year extension with verifiable progress toward achieving new standard; Renewable annually up to 3x with verifiable progress toward achieving new standard. c. knowledge standard i. standard must be met; or ii. request for exemption with verifiable proof of Proctor status for the Educational Interpreter Written Test granted prior to July 1, 2025. 2. DOE Provisional Certificate Holders a. educational standard i. minimum of one educational standard must be met; or ii. request for extension with verifiable proof of enlistment in associates degree or higher program with anticipated graduation date within four years from date of request. b. performance standard i. minimum of one performance standard must be met. c. knowledge standard i. not required for provisional certificate holders. 3. Requests for exceptions to any of the registration requirements due to extenuating circumstances, recognition of other credentials, and/or reciprocity from other states must be submitted in writing to the commission for review and may be eligible for approval on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions shall be determined through policies approved by the board of commissioners. E. Court/Legal (Reserved)