DSHS - Language Testing and Certification Program

Language Testing and Certification Program

Announcement

Due to the state's current budget shortfall, we have closed our test sites in all locations except Olympia and Yakima. Applicants will be scheduled for the Olympia or Yakima test sites on a first-come, first-served basis. All applicants MUST use the current version of the Examination Application form on this webpage (see link to form below) to apply for testing. Older versions of the application form will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.

Testing is now open in December and January for Olympia. However, testing remains close in December and January for Yakima. Please note that we have a NEW test site in Olympia. Please click on the link below for driving directions to the NEW Olympia test site.

Please note that beginning January 1, 2012, no provisional (temporary) certification will be issued to medical and social service interpreters in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean. The need for provisional certification for these four languages does no longer exist. Full certification will continue to be issued to interpreters who pass the written and oral tests in all certified languages.

Attention, certified or authorized interpreters and translators: If you want LTC to publish your current contact information, please email us at dshsct@dshs.wa.gov whenever you have changed your phone number(s) and/or mailing address. Please include your certificate/authorization number, or the last four digits of your SSN and your language for verification purpose.

You DO NOT need to email us if your contact information has not changed since you were certified/authorized. Your name will not be removed from our database whether or not you update your contact information with us. Thank you!

The Language Testing and Certification (LTC) program provides the following services:

Develop systems, methods, procedures and policies to certify DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for DSHS bilingual positions, contracted interpreters and translators, and licensed agency personnel.
Set and maintain qualification standards for DSHS bilingual positions, interpreters, and translators across languages.
Administer language proficiency testing to certify/authorize DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for bilingual positions, contracted interpreters, contracted translators, and licensed agency personnel.
Provide consultation to the department in establishing DSHS policies regarding the quality of language services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients.
Manage the roster of certified interpreters and translators; manage the roster of authorized interpreters.

The LTC Examination Manual (in Microsoft Word) contains detailed information about language testing and certification.

To register for a contracted interpreter or translator test, please fill out, print and mail the Examination Application form (DSHS 05-218) (in Microsoft Word) with appropriate payment to LTC.

Click here if you need Olympia New Test Site Driving Directions (in Microsoft Word).

Click here if you need Yakima Test Site Driving Directions (in Microsoft Word).

If you are a certified or authorized interpreter and plan to provide interpreter services to DSHS clients, please click on the following link for related contact information in your area:

DSHS Interpreter Services Providers for Spoken Languages

If you are a certified translator and plan to provide document translation services to DSHS programs, please click on the following link for contact information:

DSHS Contracted Document Translation Agencies

For applicants of DSHS recruitments, consult the following Word document to determine the test requirements for specific positions, then follow the test registration process in the LTC Examination Manual:

DSHS Employee Position Clusters and Test Requirements