Reciprocity Information

Does Pennsylvania accept certifications from other states?

Interpreters who have successfully completed the qualification requirements and the oral proficiency exam administered in another state member of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Conference of Language Access Coordinators (CLAC) may apply for reciprocity.

Pennsylvania does not accept partial test results from other states. Candidates must complete their certification in the state where they started testing before being eligible to request reciprocity.

Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 70 percent on all three parts of the oral proficiency exam and provide a copy of the results. The candidate must have passed all three parts of the oral examination within one testing cycle. If oral exams do not exist for the language, candidates must have passed an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) for the foreign language, with a score of Superior, as well as have taken and passed a Versant test, or equivalent oral exam, for English. A letter from the state's program manager certifying the results and confirming the candidate’s good standing with their state program is also required. Candidates must also attend an orientation workshop, pass a background check, agree to uphold the interpreter rules of conduct and professional responsibility and follow program policies and regulations, be at least 18 years of age, pay a $25 reciprocity fee, and agree to comply with the continued education requirements to renew certification every two years.

Please visit the registration page and submit the applicable form along with the requested documentation for review of eligibility.

Please note that if you are actively testing in another state or have not passed all exams at the above standards yet, you are not eligible to test in Pennsylvania.