Become an Interpreter

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: 

• Review the Kansas Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters.

• Sign the Interpreter's Acknowledgment and Agreement confirming you received, reviewed, and agree to adhere to the Kansas Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters.

• Submit the acknowledgment form to the court’s local language access coordinator.

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.