Skill Level Standards

PURPOSE: This rule provides standards concerning the certification levels appropriate for consumers and interpreters to practice in various interpreting settings. (1) These standards are developed to protect the health, welfare, and safety of consumers. These standards are not intended to be allinclusive regarding potential interpreting assignments. The standards show both consumers and interpreters the skill levels that are appropriate for interpreting in various settings. Should questions regarding specific areas of practice arise, see the Ethical Rules of Professional Conduct established by the Missouri State Committee of Interpreters at 20 CSR 2232-3.010. (2) Interpreters must accept, refuse, or withdraw from assignments based upon their experience, capability, and certification level, and in compliance with the Ethical Rules of Conduct established by the Missouri State Committee of Interpreters at 20 CSR 22321.010. (3) Interpreters must provide their certification level and license status upon request. (4) For the purpose of this rule, certifications in the Missouri Interpreters Certification System (MICS) are referred to as follows: (A) Master Certification = Master (B) Advanced Certification = Adv (C) Basic Certification = Basic (D) Restricted Certification = RCED in Education (K-6) (K-6) (E) Restricted Certification = RCED in Education (7-12) (7-12) (F) Restricted Certification = RCED in Education (General) (Gen) (G) Provisional Certificate in Education = PCED (H) Provisional Certification (aka Learner’s Permit) = LP (I) Certified Deaf Interpreter = CDI (5) For the purpose of this rule, certifications issued or accepted by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and recognized by the Board for Certification of Interpreters (BCI) pursuant to 209.322(1), RSMo are referred to as follows: (A) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Master = Master (B) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Advanced = Master (C) National Interpreter Certification (NIC) = Adv (D) Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC) = Adv (E) Certificate of Interpreting/ Certificate of Transliterating (CI/CT) = Adv (F) Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) = CDI (6) For the purpose of this rule, certifications issued by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and recognized by the BCI pursuant to 209.322(2), RSMo are referred to as follows: (A) NAD level 5 = Master (B) NAD level 4 = Adv (C) NAD level 3 = Basic (7) The standards set forth in sections (8) through (15) are established for the use and guidance of interpreters in Missouri. Interpreters practicing interpreting in the settings specified below must hold one (1) of the certifications listed as appropriate for interpreting in those settings. (8) Legal Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in the legal process, including but not limited to, judicial or administrative proceedings, appeals, attorney consultations, investigations, examinations or audits, arraignments, bond consultations, pre-trial release hearings, settlement or pre-trial conferences, testimony (whether at deposition, at trial, or before a grand jury) and jury duty: (A) Criminal matters and proceedings (Felony) . . . . . . . . . . .Master/CDI (B) Criminal matters and proceedings (Misdemeanor) . . . .Master/Adv/CDI (C) Civil matters and proceedings . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI Administrative matters and proceedings before any federal, state, county, or local government agency, including but not limited to, educational due process and mediation proceedings. (D) Juvenile Court and Family Court, including but not limited to, child abuse/wel- fare, child adoption, child custody, termination of parental rights, and crimes by children under the age 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Master/CDI (E) Legal Consultation/ Advice . . . . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI 1. Any consultation between a consumer and an attorney, except that if another part of this rule requires a higher level of certification, it shall control over this subsection. (F) Law Enforcement Communications between a law enforcement agency, or its officers or agents, and the public in the per- formance of its official duties, including but not limited to, the following circumstances:..............Master/CDI 1. Arrest and process 2. Post bond 3. Confession 4. Interrogation 5. Investigation 6. Witness interview 7. Crisis intervention (G) Law Enforcement Public Education Programs Interpreting for any public educational program by a federal, state, county, or local law enforcement agency that promotes crime pre- vention, personal and public safety, and personal protection . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI (H) Correctional interpreting in any correctional facility, including but not limited to, the following: . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI 1. Any program for the education or rehabilitation of inmates 2. Probation/parole meeting 3. Disciplinary hearing 4. Parole hearing 5. Inmate evaluation/assessment (9) Medical Health Care Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications (A) Health Care professionals and providers . . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI Services of health care professionals and providers, including but not limited to, doctors of medicine, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, audiologists, speech pathologists, dieticians, and nutritionists. (B) Personal Care Services Services provided for health and personal care that are not covered in subsection (9)(A) that are provided in independent and assisted living settings including but not limited to: . . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI 1. Convalescent homes 2. Nursing homes 3. Home health care services 4. Hospice (C) Community Health Edu- cation . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI Any program or activity in the community for the general public-offered by hospitals/clinics and private medical organizations that promotes general health and well-being. (10) Mental Health Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in mental health settings and activities, including but not limited to: (A) Consultation, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care. Interpreting for consumers in any of the following mental health facilities and/or situations involving consultation, diagnosis, treatment crisis intervention or care, including but not limited to: . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI 1. Mental hospitals 2. Psychiatric hospitals 3. Psychiatric units within hospitals 4. Offices and clinics of mental health professionals, including but not limited to, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and counselors. (B) Mental Health Programs . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI Mental health programs for the general public occurring outside a mental health facility, including but not limited to, any 12-step program and self-help program relating to mental health and/or well-being. 1. Treatment planning meeting 2. Residential care facility 3. Group home (C) Transition Ser- vice . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI Interpreting for consumers involved with facilities, agencies, and activities whose purpose is to assist individuals transitioning to independent living. (11) Education Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in and Hard of Hearing educational settings and activities. (A) Preschool . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/ RCED (K–6)/ RCED(Gen)/ CDI/PCED (B) Academic (Kindergarten– Grade 6) . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/ RCED (K–6)/ RCED(Gen)/CDI/ PCED (C) Academic (Grade 7– Grade 12) . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/ RCED (7–12)/ RCED (Gen)/CDI/ PCED (D) Academic (Post Secondary), including but not limited to: Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, Junior Colleges, Technical Institutes, and Continuing Education . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI (E) Educational Assess- ment, including but not limited to: . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI 1. Language Testing 2. Developmental Testing 3. Intelligence Testing (F) Educational Conferences between educational staff and the student, parent and/ or guardian, including but not limited to, Individualized Education Plan conference, Parent/Teacher conference, and Parent/School Administrator conference. . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI (G) Professional Develop- ment conferences, seminars, workshops, and training . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI (H) Community Edu- cation . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI/LP Any program or activity offered to the public generally by schools, colleges, or universities in the community that promotes learning is not offered as part of a degree program, is not part of the basic K-12 curriculum, and is not otherwise listed or referenced above. (12) Employment Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in employment-related settings and activities, including but not limited to: (A) Personnel Activities . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in personnel matters, including but not limited to: 1. Interview (including the explanation or negotiation of the employment contract and employment benefits.) 2. Hiring/firing 3. Discipline 4. Performance Appraisal (B) Employment Maintenance . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI 1. Staff meetings 2. Employee/employer meetings 3. Safety workshops 4. Training/seminars/workshops 5. Union meeting (C) Vocational Train- ing . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI Any training, course, or workshop designed to assist an individual to search, apply, and or qualify for employment, including but not limited to: 1. Job training 2. Job coach 3. Vocational counseling 4. Vocational assessment (13) Financial Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications (A) Financial Settings and Activities . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI Real Estate, Insurance, Investments, and Loans. Meetings, consultations, and/or negotiations for the sale, purchase, or transfer of real estate, for the sale or purchase of insurance or investments, to obtain a loan from a financial institution, or other commercial lending business. (B) Financial Manage- ment . . . . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI 1. Credit counseling 2. Retirement 3. Tax preparation (14) Government Appropriate Settings and Activities Certifications (Federal, State, County, and Local) Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers interacting with government agencies and districts: (A) Administrative Proceedings/Hearings See section (8), above, regarding legal settings and activities . . . . . . . .Master/Adv/CDI (B) Social Services . . . .Master/Adv/CDI 1. Any Division of Youth Services activity 2. Any Division of Family Services activity (C) Public Meetings including but not limited to: . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI 1. Agency/board/commission/council meeting 2. Legislative assembly 3. Individuals meeting with a public official (D) Benefits/ Services . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI 1. Food stamps 2. Drivers’ license testing 3. Welfare 4. Social Security 5. Unemployment benefits 6. Medicare/Medicaid (E) Recreational/education programs . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/ CDI/LP 1. Federal and state parks 2. Missouri history 3. Conservation 4. Natural resources 5. Energy saver 6. Environment 7. Natural disaster awareness 8. Public awareness 9. Recreational activities 10. Any program or activity offered by a public entity to increase the public’s awareness of government, safety, health, economics, appreciation, protection, etc. (15) Entertainment Appropriate Setting Certifications Interpreters shall be certified as set forth below when interpreting for consumers involved in entertainment settings and activities, including but not limited to: (A) Performing Arts . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/CDI Any type of performance but not limited to: 1. Theaters 2. Concerts 3. Comedy shows 4. Magic shows (B) Social Activities . . . . . . .Master/Adv/Basic/ CDI/LP Any other type of activity presented primarily for social or entertainment purposes, including but not limited to: 1. Festivals 2. Fairs 3. Sight-seeing tours 4. Rodeos 5. Circuses 6. Carnivals 7. Amusement parks 8. Camps (16) The Provisional Certification (aka Learner’s Permit) (LP) has the following requirements and duties: (A) The holder of the LP certification shall follow the skill level standards set forth in this rule and be under the direct supervision and observation of a qualified supervisor when providing interpreting services; (B) Qualified supervisors must be licensed and Hard of Hearing by the State Committee of Interpreters and hold current certification at one (1) of the following levels: MICS certification (Advanced, Master, CDI), RID (CSC, CI/CT, NIC, NIC Advanced, NIC Master), or NAD (levels 3, 4 or 5); and (C) The holder of the LP certification shall maintain a log that includes the following for each event at which the LP holder interprets: date, location, description of the event, and the supervisor’s printed name and signature. This log will be submitted to MCDHH every three (3) months during the LP holder’s certification period. MCDHH has the right to request the log at any other time during the LP Certification and the LP holder shall submit the log within ten (10) days of the request. AUTHORITY: section 209.292, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Nov. 27, 1996, effective July 30, 1997. Amended: Filed April 17, 1998, effective Nov. 30, 1998. Rescinded and readopted: Filed July 26, 2001, effective March 30, 2002. Amended: Filed Nov. 14, 2003, effective June 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Feb. 7, 2005, effective Aug. 30, 2005. Emergency amendment filed Dec. 19, 2007, effective Jan. 1, 2008, expired June 28, 2008. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 2007, effective June 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Jan. 28, 2014, effective Sept. 30, 2014. Amended: Filed April 29, 2016, effective Nov. 30, 2016. Amended: Filed June 26, 2019, effective Dec. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 209.292, RSMo 1994, amended 2002.