Qualifications
Foreign language court interpreters must be qualified. The trial court judge is responsible for determining that a court interpreter is qualified using criteria set forth in statute.
Requirements starting July 1, 2021
Beginning July 1, 2021, if you want to serve as a foreign language court interpreter or translator in a Kansas district court, you must complete a free online orientation as mandated by Kansas Supreme Court Rule 1705.
Court Interpreter Orientation
After you finish the court interpreter orientation, you will get a certificate of completion that you must submit to at least one local language access coordinator for a Kansas district court.
In addition to the mandated orientation, you must fulfill current requirements listed below.
The orientation requirement does not apply to an interpreter for the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, or to an interpreter providing interpretation services from a remote location outside of Kansas.
Requirements
To serve as a foreign language court interpreter or translator in a Kansas district court, you must:
Contact local language access coordinator
If you want to interpret for a specific Kansas district court, contact the local language access coordinator for the judicial district in which that district court is located. The local language access coordinator can answer your questions and explain next steps.
Sign language interpreters
If you want to become an interpreter for the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, contact the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Interpreter resources
The National Center for State Courts provides helpful resources for foreign language court interpreters, including legal glossaries and dictionaries.
Questions
Visit Court Interpreter FAQs to get answers to common questions.