Q. Can I get background information about the grant and where do I get it?
A. Yes, the entire Request for Proposal grant submission can be sent by contacting the Center Director, Marilyn Mitchell.

Q. Can someone come to our area in New York and talk with us about what we will have to do as interpreters?
A. Yes, contact the coordinator in your region and request a visit from her or him.

Q. What happens if I fail the assessment?
A. This is only an assessment to determine your individual needs and create your Prescriptive Plan. There is no pass or fail.

Q. What happens if I fail the SED certification, what do I do??
A. Contact the Center Director, Marilyn Mitchell or the State Education Department through the web site.

Q. Can I keep a copy of my video from my assessment, so I can watch my improvement over the months of training?
A. The videotapes are owned by NYS. If an interpreter wishes to have a copy of his or her work, that request can be made during the time of the assessment.  Appropriate requests will be considered.  If an interpreter qualifies for mentoring, the EIPA assessment will be analyzed.

Q. Can we use the word credential instead of certification?
A. The term certification is being used at this time and is expected to be the term used on the certification license once the test is passed.

Q. Do I have to pay for my training offered through the grant?
A. The training will be at no cost to the interpreter during the period of the grant cycle.  The cost of any training not offered by the grant is the responsibility of the interpreter.

Q. How far must I travel to get to my training?
A. We will attempt to bring the training as close to your area as possible.  You can take training any place in NY.  If you learn of a training location near you that is cost effective and space and equipment, contact the grant director.

Q. Who is responsible for paying for the certification test when it becomes available to take?
A. It is assumed that the interpreter or school district will pay for the certification exams. At this time, the cost is unknown.

Q. If we fail the certification test the first time, how often can we take it and is there a waiting period?
A. The test will need to be taken again and can be taken as many times as is necessary unless SED regulations state limitations, or it is deemed that the interpreter cannot develop the skills to pass the test. There will be a waiting period, determined at a later date.

Q. I am currently on a leave for a year from my job as an educational interpreter. Will I be able to take advantage of the training during this upcoming year because I will be going back to educational interpreting after this leave?
A. You will need to contact your Site Coordinator at the time you will be preparing to return to work and make arrangements for assessments.

Q. I work for an agency as a sub interpreter and get called almost every day for school interpreting K-12. I'm looking for a permanent full time job as a K-12 interpreter. Will I be able to be assessed including a videotape and can I take the knowledge assessment during this year?
A. All knowledge assessments will be completed in Year Three. We have a priority listing for the performance assessment if needed: 1st, full-time interpreters hired by the district or BOCES; 2nd, full-time interpreters hired by an agency; 3rd, part-time interpreters (including Teachers of the Deaf who also interpret); 4th, substitutes. Making contact with your Site Coordinator and describing your situation may allow you to receive the performance assessment earlier even though you are a sub. Definitely, you will receive the assessments and necessary training.

Q. Does provisional certification come to us through the coordinator and will everyone get it including part-time people and subs? Do we have to apply for it? What's the process of getting it?
A.The State Department of Education may not grant Provisional Certification.  After registering with the grant, each interpreter will receive information about the next aspect of the project. You can register on-line or through your Site coordinator.  Training will move you closer to readiness for Permanent Certification.

Q. Will there be a limit to the size of training workshops? What happens if I don't make the cutoff and I really need that particular workshop which happens to be in an area close to me?
A. Every effort will be made to include everyone who needs the training when it is offered. If the number needing the training is greater than the maximum number allowed for a particular workshop, it will be repeated. It may be necessary to offer multiple workshops.  Skill-related training will probably be the most affected by "cutoff" numbers.  Most knowledge workshops are open to 24-30 participants and rarely fill.

Q. Will the State Certification be like RID certification? In other words, will we have to earn CEU's like RID to maintain it?
A. The answer will be determined as the State Department of Education makes decisions for the Permanent Certification testing. Interpreters can expect to be informed of how to maintain or renew certification upon receiving it.

Q. Does NYSED have regulations in place that will require Certification?
A. Qualified personnel from SED are writing a draft of the regulations which will be reviewed by a Panel of experts in the field of interpreting. Once approved, the regulations will be published.

Q. Will aids/assistants be required to go through this process of assessment/training?
A. If they interpret as required by their job, assessments and training are available.  No interpreter is required to participae in the grant project.

Q. Will teachers of the deaf go through this process?
A. If they interpret as well as teach, yes. If not, their ASL communication requirements will be part of a different SED process.

Q. Will salaries/status improve after an interpreter becomes certified?
A. The state cannot mandate that this happen but due to competition and certification, we hope salary/status will be commensurate.

Q. Will training be offered during school hours and will interpreters be excused from work?
A. Training will be offered in group format most of the time and will be at a centrally located site. Generally, that will mean after school hours, breaks, and/or weekends.  No one will be required or requested to be excused from work.

Q. If an interpreter refuses to take the assessments, will s/he lose her/his job?
A. It is expected that upon approval/dissemination of the SED regulations, everyone interpreting in Pre-K-12th grade setting will be recommended to go through this process.  Again, assessments and training are available, not required.  Eventually, everyone will need certification to interpret K-12 in New York State.

Q. Will the performance assessment (EIPA), be given in both ASL and English?
A. The stimulus includes videotaped samples of students and teachers at the elementary and secondary levels. The interpreter will need to demonstrate her/his best sign-to-voice and voice-to sign interpreting abilities regardless of the language.

Q. Will RID CEU's be offered for training workshops?
A. Yes, both ACET and CMP.

Q. After interpreters are certified, who will monitor hiring only NYS Certified interpreters?
A. The mandate will come from SED and school districts, BOCES, 4201 schools, agencies, etc. will be required to comply.

Page last updated 07/27/2001