Court Interpreter Program
Court Interpreter Candidate Orientation
All candidates wishing to become certified or otherwise qualified must complete a qualification and registration process consisting, in summary, of four steps: orientation seminar, written exam, criminal background check and oral exam.
The orientation seminar is the first step in the certification process. It is a full-day event and attendance requires a fee of $65 for DE residents and $120 for out-of-state residents. The orientation seminars will be offered in all three counties. Please read our qualification and registration process.
In the meantime, here are some helpful links:
Glossaries of court terms used in the Delaware courts
Resources page
Self-assessment and Study Tools
Federal Exam Information
Please check this web page often for changes and additional registration information.
You may contact the Court Interpreter Program if you have additional questions.
The orientation seminar is the first step of the qualification process.
The orientation is a one-day seminar that introduces the candidates to the court interpreter profession. Some of the topics presented during the orientation are: the Delaware judiciary, the role of the court interpreter, skills and ethical requirements of the profession, the modes of interpretation, a day in the life of a court interpreter, as well as an overview of criminal judicial procedure.
Orientations are offered throughout the year in all three Counties. Orientations are advertised on the Delaware Courts website and a registration form is available with the announcement. Please visit the Delaware Court Interpreter home page.
Print 2023 Orientation Handouts
Bundle 1
Interpreter Program
Ethics and Protocol
- Articles on the Role of the Court Interpreter
- Code of Ethics
- Protocol and Standards of Practice
- Every Day Ethics
- Framework for Thinking Ethically
- What is Ethics
Delaware Courts and Judicial Procedure
Modes of Interpretation
Skill Building Materials
- Simultaneous Exercises and Manual
- How to Research a Word
- Sight Translation Practice Sample
- Skills Enhancing Basic Exercises
- Words Without Partners - Vocab Building
Resources
- Court Forms
- Superior Court Forms
- Family Court Forms
- JP Court Forms
- Exams
- Essential Dictionaries
- Essentials of Interpreter Training
- Internet Resources
- Interpreter Basic Qualifications
- Legal Dictionaries and References for LOTS
- The Spanish Language Program
Bundle 2
Handouts
- Agenda
- Orientation Seminar for Prospective Interpreters
- Core Values
- The Delaware Court System
- Overview of the Courts: Appeals & Transfers
- Interpreting During a Zoom Hearing
- Working With an Interpreter During a Zoom Hearing
- Zoom Interpretation Function—Reference Guide for Judicial Officer/Host
- Zoom Language Interpretation Functions FAQs for Hosts/Judicial Officers and Court Staff
- Orientation Evaluation Form