Become a Court Interpreter

***There are no available testing dates for the remainder of 2025. Written examination and orientation sessions will resume in 2026***

The Minnesota Judicial Branch Statewide Roster of Court Interpreters lists those interpreters who have either earned the Minnesota Certified or Non-Certified Court Interpreter Credential. If you have any questions regarding the roster, please contact us.

To become part of the Statewide Roster of Court Interpreters, interpreters must pass the Court Interpreter Written Exam from the National Center of State Courts, complete a program application, attend the Court Interpreter Orientation Program, submit a criminal background check, and file a Court Interpreter Affidavit with the program. See below for more information on these requirements.

Sign Language Interpreters The State Court Administrator recognizes the Special Certificate: Legal in sign language as the highest level of certification supported by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Certificate holders are considered more qualified to interpret in legal settings than sign language interpreters holding generalist certificates only. Sign language interpreters who obtain the certificate or the Texas BEI Court Interpreter Certification and complete all requirements for inclusion on the statewide roster can apply for certification in the Minnesota state court system.

Interpreters Rostered in Other States – The Minnesota Court Interpreter Program recognizes court interpreter credentials from other states on a case-by-case basis. If you are credentialed as a court interpreter in a different state and are seeking roster status with the Minnesota Judicial Branch, please contact us with your inquiry.

The first step toward joining the Minnesota Court Interpreter Program is to achieve a passing score of 80% on part one of the multiple choice English proficiency test provided by the National Center for State Courts.

Exams are given in-person at the Minnesota Judicial Center.

There are no confirmed testing dates for the remainder of 2025.

Minnesota Court Interpreter Program: Written Exam Resource Guide

Interpreters who pass the English proficiency test must attend a multi-day orientation program to join the Minnesota Court Interpreter Roster.

This orientation program provides court interpreters with an introduction to the Minnesota Judicial Branch, reviews ethics and the Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters, describes the role of court interpreters, identifies common legal terms, and teaches interpreter skill building techniques.

A court interpreter should be one whose record of conduct justifies the trust of the courts, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, parties, and others with respect to the official duties they will have in court. To help determine good character and fitness, interpreters must submit a criminal background check report at the interpreter’s expense to the Program Manager and every 5 years thereafter to remain on the roster. A report is required from each state where the interpreter resided during the past 5 years.

To request a criminal background check report in Minnesota, a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Release Form must be completed, signed before a notary public, and mailed along with a check or money order for $15.00, to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

An interpreter will not qualify to be placed on the roster or to become certified if the BCA check includes any of the following:

Conviction of a crime which resulted in a sentence or a suspended sentence;
Misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;
Revocation or suspension of certification as an interpreter, or for any other position or license for which a character check was performed in this state or in other jurisdictions; and
Acts that indicate abuse of or disrespect for the judicial process.

Overview