Welcome to DSHS Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration's Frequently Asked Questions! Below you may search by topics such as information for bidders and question about our Language Testing and Certification Program, and Background Checks.
No. If you have received a Review Required Notification instructing you to complete a Character, Competency and Suitability (CC&S) review, please follow your oversight program’s policy on conducting and retaining your completed CC&S review. BCCU does not accept or retain any CC&S review documentation.
The turnaround time of a background check depends on the volume of checks received, the amount of research required for that inquiry, and the number of staff available to process. Please refer to our Turnaround Times page to get an estimate of when you will receive your background check.
If the applicant has an out of state crime, BCCU requests a review to determine if the out of state crime is equivalent to a Washington State crime and verifies if that crime is on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions. The amount of research involved, number of equivalencies, and staff available will determine how quickly an equivalency can be completed.
Authorized entities who submit background checks to BCCU are required to complete the DSHS Background Check System (BCS) Access Request form to request access for any (new) Primary Account Administrators (PAA).
The PAA requesting access will need to complete the form and have it signed by the BCS user's manager/administrator/supervisor and return to BCCU for approval.
If you have the two page copy of your letter, reference the Source of Crimes and/or Negative Actions located on the second page. This will tell you the source of the finding and the contact information for those sources.
Per FBI regulations, BCCU cannot distribute the FBI rap sheet to all facilities; for some facilities, it is up to the applicant to share the results with the facility. The applicant will receive a copy of the complete background check result in the mail within five business days of the final result available in the Background Check System (BCS). If the applicant does not receive their copy in the mail they can request a copy of their background check* by submitting the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form and share the rap sheet with the facility. If the applicant refuses to share the results with the facility, the facility should speak to their program contact.
You can view the FBI's Privacy Act Statement at the link here - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council/privacy-act-statement
*For inquiries submitted through the BCS: the applicant will receive a copy of FBI rap sheets that have conviction data to the mailing address provided. Please note that not all programs allow BCCU to automatically send packets or provide mailing addresses, in these cases, the applicants can request a copy using the Applicant Request for a Copy of Background Check Information Form.
Yes, same day appointments are possibly available. Your personal information must be sent to IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) for validation before you can schedule an appointment. The applicant information is sent to IDEMIA after the entity selects proceed to fingerprints in the Background Check System (BCS). Applicant information takes about 20 minutes to upload on IDEMIA's scheduling website / call center after the proceed to fingerprint selection.
Appointments take about 15 minutes and must be scheduled in advance. Online appointment scheduling is available at https://www.identogo.com/. You must be on time for your appointment. If you walk in without an appointment or show up late to your appointment, you will not be printed. Some of the fingerprinting sites do not allow children to be in the printing facility. Please call IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) for more information: 1.888.771.5097.
There is a special process in place for “printing” applicants who are missing any fingers, hands, or arms. Contact the office that requested your fingerprints for more information.
A LiveScan Machine is a small photocopy machine. It scans your fingerprints and creates electronic copies without the mess of ink and paper cards.
LiveScan fingerprinting helps to reduce the number of fingerprint rejections and speeds up the process by allowing fingerprints to be sent electronically rather than through the mail.
Eighteen (18) is the minimum age for being fingerprinted for all DSHS programs and services. IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) Technicians will not print anyone under the age of 18. The Background Check Central Unit (BCCU) will conduct a Name and Date of Birth background check for a minor. Contact the office requesting your fingerprints for further information.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) may ONLY request fingerprints for underage applicants without prior approval. Student ID’s, such as ASB cards, with a photo will be an acceptable form of ID.
BCCU does not schedule fingerprint appointments, you will need to contact the state's fingerprint vendor, IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust).
To schedule an appointment through IDEMIA, please call 1-888-771-5097 or visit their website at https://www.identogo.com/. You will need the following to schedule an appointment:
- Fingerprint Appointment Form
- Applicant's Date of Birth
- Applicant Inquiry ID/OCA number found on the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification
If you are rescheduling your appointment due to the WSP or FBI rejecting your fingerprints, you can reschedule online or by phone. You must call IDEMIA at 1-888-771-5097 with the three items listed above. IDEMIA has locations throughout Washington State. Please refer to their website at, https://www.identogo.com/ for the location nearest you.
Unfortunately, some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture, this could be due to working with chemicals or wear. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must determine that the fingerprints are the best quality. If WSP determines the fingerprints are not the best quality, the applicant will need to be printed again.
Once the WSP accepts the fingerprints, they will send them to the FBI for processing. The FBI will then determine whether the fingerprints are the best quality. If the FBI rejects the prints, the applicant will need to be printed one more time. If the FBI rejects them a second time, BCCU will request a National Name Date of Birth check from the FBI and the fingerprint process will be completed.
To view WSP and FBI fingerprint process, please refer to our flowchart.
There are a few reasons that may result in an applicant not being able to schedule a fingerprint appointment:
- The applicant received an Additional Information Needed notification. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the requested additional information.
- There is a 30-minute delay from when the requesting entity has chosen to continue with fingerprinting from their Entity Account page in the Background Check System (BCS). Requesting entities must choose to continue with fingerprinting once an Interim FP result is issued for the applicant to be fingerprinted. We suggest waiting 30 minutes to an hour after selecting proceed to fingerprints in BCS before trying to schedule the fingerprint appointment.
- The background check Inquiry ID/OCA number that is being used may be a Name and Date of Birth (NDOB) background check, not a fingerprint check. Review the type of background that was submitted to confirm it was a fingerprint-based background check.
If you are still unable to schedule an appointment, please contact BCCU.
BCCU conducts Name & Date of Birth (NDOB) and Fingerprint based background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children. The type of background check conducted is determined by state and federal guidelines.
A NDOB background check includes a search of the Administrative Office of Courts, Washington State Patrol, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, and the Department's founded findings of abuse/neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, and the applicant's self-disclosure.
Fingerprint based background checks search the same databases as NDOB checks, as well as the FBI, the national sex offender registry, and state police records in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.
Entities will need to retain a copy of the signed Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice for audit purposes. Do not mail or fax the notice to BCCU. The notice must be provided to the applicant prior to being fingerprinted. Follow the instructions provided by your DSHS program that is requiring the fingerprint check.
Federal law (Title 28, C.F.R., § 50.12 (b)) requires the Department to notify individuals subject to a fingerprint-based background check of the purpose of the fingerprint check and the method to correct errors on the FBI identification record. DSHS also created the Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice (DSHS Form 27-089) to meet the Federal Requirement. The Fingerprint-Based Background Check Notice form is available in PDF or Word format.
The WSP and FBI do not provide BCCU with exact turnaround times. Their turnaround times vary due to the volume of fingerprints being processed.
The turnaround time on prints also depends on whether the fingerprint cards are the first set of prints submitted for the associated inquiry ID/OCA number or if they are resubmitted prints. The first set of prints is submitted electronically, allowing for a faster turnaround time. However, the resubmitted prints require a hard card to be printed and mailed, causing slower turnaround times.
BCCU processes background checks for DSHS authorized service providers and DSHS programs who serve vulnerable individuals across Washington State. These background checks are specifically for applicants that provide direct care/services to these vulnerable individuals.
BCCU runs the background checks through a centralized database collecting information from several sources:
- Applicant self-disclosure
- Department of Corrections
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Negative Actions from:
- Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Resident and Client Protection Program
- ALTSA/Adult Protective Services
- Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Child Protective Services
- Department of Health
- Out-of-state service provider and professional license status
- Washington and other state court systems
- Washington State Patrol (WSP)
- Western Identification Network (WIN)
BCCU determines the type of result notification based on the criteria set by the DSHS program that oversees the background check activities; each program has a different criteria. The results are provided to the authorized service providers and DSHS programs that requested the background check.
BCCU does not make hiring or contracting decisions; BCCU collects and reports the information reported to us. Hiring decisions are made by the authorized service provider or DSHS program. The rules or protocols entities are expected to follow are based on the laws and rules of the DSHS oversight program and on their own internal policies procedures.
BCCU Background Check Data Sources
| Data Source | Type of background check/condition for use |
|---|---|
| Washington State Patrol (WSP) WATCH Criminal history records | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Public Data Mart – Criminal history records | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Adult Protective Services Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Residential Client Protection Program Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Child Protective Services Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Department of Health Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| Applicant Self-Disclosures | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
Stored WSP & FBI fingerprint* record rap sheets & WIN state rap sheets
*unless prohibited by federal law | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks that include an interim FP result/ when the applicant has had a previous fingerprint-based background check and criminal history records are reported |
| WA State Administrative Office of the Courts Judicial Information System | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a crime or charge without disposition is reported by FBI, WSP or AOC needs additional research |
| WA State Department of Corrections (DOC) Felony Offender Reporting System | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a WSP rap sheet reports a DOC offender # for the subject individual |
| Washington State Patrol Fingerprint-based search | All fingerprint checks |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-based search | All fingerprint checks |
| Western Identification Network (WIN) State Search (WIN states = Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) | When the WSP fingerprint result reports a hit from one or more WIN states, BCCU initiates a search from the state reporting a hit |
Please refer to our Turnaround Times page which is updated each business day.
Research the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or municipal code listed in the RCW/ Code column of the search result or use an internet search engine to research the legal term. BCCU staff cannot give you legal advice or interpret the meaning of legal terms.
You can access RCWs on the Washington State Legislature website. To find more information about a municipal code, go to the municipality website and search for the ordinance or code listed on the background check results. RCWs and Codes can change over time, make sure you research the code that was in effect at the time the violation occurred.
BCCU runs background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children. At this time, BCCU does not conduct background checks for entities that are not licensed or contracted through DSHS.
If your entity does not currently use BCCU to run your background checks, but believe they should, please contact BCCU at bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov so that we can direct you to the appropriate program contact.
Background checks are paid for by the DSHS administrations; they are not paid for by the entities or applicants.
The call volume and staff availability affects our ability to respond to all phone and email inquiries. BCCU may be able to respond to your questions sooner than two working days.
Background check results will include the following information:
- No Record - means no record was found for the applicant;
- Review Required - means the applicant has a record for a crime that is not on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions;
- Disqualify - means applicant has a disqualifying crime or negative action listed on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions; or
- Additional Information Needed - means the applicant needs to provide additional information in order for BCCU to issue a final result notification.
BCCU processes background checks for DSHS authorized service providers and DSHS programs who serve vulnerable individuals across Washington State. These background checks are specifically for applicants that provide direct care/services to these vulnerable individuals.
BCCU runs the background checks through a centralized database collecting information from several sources:
- Applicant self-disclosure
- Department of Corrections
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Negative Actions from:
- Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), Resident and Client Protection Program
- ALTSA/Adult Protective Services
- Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Child Protective Services
- Department of Health
- Out-of-state service provider and professional license status
- Washington and other state court systems
- Washington State Patrol (WSP)
- Western Identification Network (WIN)
BCCU determines the type of result notification based on the criteria set by the DSHS program that oversees the background check activities; each program has a different criteria. The results are provided to the authorized service providers and DSHS programs that requested the background check.
BCCU does not make hiring or contracting decisions; BCCU collects and reports the information reported to us. Hiring decisions are made by the authorized service provider or DSHS program. The rules or protocols entities are expected to follow are based on the laws and rules of the DSHS oversight program and on their own internal policies procedures.
BCCU Background Check Data Sources
| Data Source | Type of background check/condition for use |
|---|---|
| Washington State Patrol (WSP) WATCH Criminal history records | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Public Data Mart – Criminal history records | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Adult Protective Services Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Residential Client Protection Program Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Child Protective Services Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| WA State Department of Health Findings | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
| Applicant Self-Disclosures | All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks |
Stored WSP & FBI fingerprint* record rap sheets & WIN state rap sheets
*unless prohibited by federal law | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks that include an interim FP result/ when the applicant has had a previous fingerprint-based background check and criminal history records are reported |
| WA State Administrative Office of the Courts Judicial Information System | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a crime or charge without disposition is reported by FBI, WSP or AOC needs additional research |
| WA State Department of Corrections (DOC) Felony Offender Reporting System | N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a WSP rap sheet reports a DOC offender # for the subject individual |
| Washington State Patrol Fingerprint-based search | All fingerprint checks |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-based search | All fingerprint checks |
| Western Identification Network (WIN) State Search (WIN states = Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) | When the WSP fingerprint result reports a hit from one or more WIN states, BCCU initiates a search from the state reporting a hit |
Please refer to our Turnaround Times page which is updated each business day.
Research the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) or municipal code listed in the RCW/ Code column of the search result or use an internet search engine to research the legal term. BCCU staff cannot give you legal advice or interpret the meaning of legal terms.
You can access RCWs on the Washington State Legislature website. To find more information about a municipal code, go to the municipality website and search for the ordinance or code listed on the background check results. RCWs and Codes can change over time, make sure you research the code that was in effect at the time the violation occurred.
BCCU runs background checks for DSHS programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children. At this time, BCCU does not conduct background checks for entities that are not licensed or contracted through DSHS.
If your entity does not currently use BCCU to run your background checks, but believe they should, please contact BCCU at bccuinquiry@dshs.wa.gov so that we can direct you to the appropriate program contact.
Background checks are paid for by the DSHS administrations; they are not paid for by the entities or applicants.
The call volume and staff availability affects our ability to respond to all phone and email inquiries. BCCU may be able to respond to your questions sooner than two working days.
Background check results will include the following information:
- No Record - means no record was found for the applicant;
- Review Required - means the applicant has a record for a crime that is not on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions;
- Disqualify - means applicant has a disqualifying crime or negative action listed on the Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions; or
- Additional Information Needed - means the applicant needs to provide additional information in order for BCCU to issue a final result notification.
DSHS will not be liable for any costs incurred by the Bidder in preparation of a proposal or in presenting a proposal for any procurement.
DSHS announces procurement opportunities on the Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) online system. The same information is posted on the Procurements page. Please follow the instructions in the announcement.
The words procurement and solicitation generally refer to the same process of inviting companies to bid on opportunities to provide goods and services to DSHS. The actual document outlining the goods and services may be called any of the following: Procurement, Solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Qualifications and Quotation (RFQQ), or Request for Information (RFI), depending on the purpose of the procurement.
The document that is sent by the bidder to DSHS in response to a solicitation is called the bid, the response or the proposal.
Check this site frequently for updated information. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder to be aware of any changes in the procurement schedule and updates to particular procurements. All of the information is posted on the DSHS web site. If you have specific questions about a particular procurement, please refer to the solicitation document for instructions.
The solicitation document and subsequent amendments contain all of the information and directions necessary to participate in the procurement process. Be sure to read the entire document. It is important to follow all of the directions and meet all deadlines.
The schedule for each procurement is located in the solicitation document. DSHS reserves the right to revise the schedule and will post notice of any such changes on WEBS and on the DSHS web site by issuing an amendment.
Upon release of any solicitation document, all communications concerning the procurement must be directed only to the coordinator identified in the solicitation document. Any communication directed to DSHS staff other than the coordinator may result in disqualification.
Any oral communications will be considered unofficial and non-binding to DSHS. Bidders should rely only on written statements issued by the coordinator.
All questions should be in writing to the coordinator and may be sent through fax, U.S. mail or email. Questions will be accepted until the date set forth in the solicitation document schedule.
Questions and Answers will be in the form of an amendment to the solicitation document.
For general instructions on proposal delivery please see Proposal Delivery Methods. The proposal is to be sent to the coordinator in accordance with the delivery instructions specified in the solicitation document.
You should allow sufficient delivery time to ensure timely receipt by the coordinator. You assume the risk for the method of delivery and for any delay in the mailing or delivery of your proposal.
Proposals must be prepared and submitted no later than the proposal submission date and time specified in the particular solicitation document. DSHS reserves the right to disqualify any proposal and withdraw it from consideration if it is received after the proposal submission deadline. All proposals and any accompanying documentation become the property of DSHS and will not be returned.
Check the particular solicitation document for instructions on submitting your proposal.
DSHS currently certifies social service interpreters, medical interpreters, translators, DSHS active/potential bilingual employees, and licensed agency personnel in Chinese-Cantonese, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. For all other languages, The Department authorizes social service interpreters and medical interpreters (screening test).
Test scores will not be released over the telephone to anyone, including the test candidate. A score report letter will be mailed to you once your scores are available. However, if you have not received your test score two (2) months after your test date, you should contact our office to check the status of your test score.
You may talk directly with the local office worker or supervisor. Alternately, you may submit your problem or complaint in writing to that office. Other options include contacting Interpreter Services and Customer Service at 1-800-562-3022. For issues regarding translated documents, contact the office/program/administration as indicated on the document.
Instead of a certificate, interpreter who pass the screening test and complete the required orientation and ethics training will be issued an authorization letter.
If your score report letter states that you have met all test requirements and are now considered provisionally certified or authorized as an interpreter, a certificate/authorization letter will be mailed to you within a month after you have completed:
- Two hours of new interpreter/translator orientation, and
- Two hours of interpreter/translator professional ethics training.
Yes, and these two terms are not interchangeable. An interpreter is a person who orally transfers a message from one spoken language to another (or manually for Sign Language). A translator is a person who transfers a message in writing from one language to another.
The Examination Manual provides detailed information on certification and testing.
No, you get the same certificate as those who have passed sight translation and consecutive interpreting (Level 1) but not simultaneous interpreting. However, your simultaneous test score will remain in our database. When simultaneous interpreting is needed for social service settings, users of simultaneous interpreting will contact LTC to obtain information on who is qualified for such assignment.
Per WAC 388-03-153, written test score is valid for two years from the date of your score report letter. If you lost your letter, please send us an email.
Certified languages are those in which interpreters go through conventional modalities of testing. The written and oral test instruments cover both English and a second language (target language). Those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued a certificate.
Due to resource restrictions, it is not feasible to develop language-specific test instruments for each and every language in such a linguistically diverse state as Washington. Therefore, a screening test was developed for all non-certified or screened languages. Interpreters in screened languages go through a totally different modality of testing. Unlike the certified languages, the written screening test is not language specific. The oral screening test utilizes the target language spoken by the interpreter to test his or her linguistic and interpreting skills. This includes any language, even any dialects within a language. Since the scope of the screening test is not as comprehensive as a conventional certified test, those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued an authorization letter in lieu of a certificate.
Currently, no translator test is available for screened languages.
Information about certified/authorized interpreters and translators can be found by clicking on the Find an Interpreter or Translator link found on the navigation bar.
One DSHS-approved continuing education activities will count toward all your certificates/authorizations.
- Example: You have a social services interpreter certificate, medical interpreter certificate, and a translator certificate. You only need to accumulate 20 credits in a 4 year period, not 60 credits.
In-Person Activities:
- There is a sign-in/out sheet that is provided to the host of the approved DSHS CE activity for use the day of the activity. This sign-in/out sheet will be used to allot credits to your files. Make sure to write down ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Online Activities:
- Send an email to LTC with the certificate that you receive upon completion of the approved DSHS online CE activities. Include the approval number, found under the List of DSHS Approved CE Activities. Make sure to include ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers in the body of the email so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Why are these certificate numbers so important?
- Each certification number represents a record in one of the six databases that we work out of. If you have multiple authorizations/certifications, we won't know, because these databases don't "talk" to each other. Without knowing your record number in each database, we don’t have any other way to verify that we are allotting the credits to the correct file. The six databases are:
- Employee Certified (ex: EC1234. Employees do not need to report CE)
- Social Service Authorized (ex: SA1234)
- Social Service Certified (ex: SC1234)
- Medical Authorized (ex: MA1234)
- Medical Certified (ex: MC1234)
- Translator Certified (ex: TC1234)
A certified/authorized interpreter is a person who has passed the required DSHS interpreter examination, or has passed the interpreter examination offered by the Washington State Office of the Administrator for the Courts or the Federal Courts, AND has completed the DSHS required orientation and professional ethics training.
You should inform Language Testing and Certification of any changes via USPS mail or email. For a name change request, a court document (photo copy) such as a marriage or divorce certificate should be attached to your request. Please include your current mailing address and phone numbers.
A certified translator is a person who has passed the required DSHS written translation examination, or has passed the American Translators Association written translation examination, AND has completed the DSHS required orientation and professional ethics training.
You may send your request to us in writing or via e-mail with the following information: your full name, last four of your social security number, language, current mailing address and phone number. Please indicate certificate (medical, social service, or translator) or authorization (medical, social) type.
For DSHS bilingual staff, please call 360-664-6038 to schedule your test. You should learn more about what kind of tests are available, what kind of questions are in the test, and other test-related information before you register for a test. Detailed test-related information and registration policies are included in the Examination Manual. Once you know what tests you need to register for, please follow the steps in the how to schedule a test online. For step-by-step guides, please refer to the following : Written Test Scheduling Guide / Oral Test Scheduling Guide / Translator Test Scheduling Guide.
All policies applying to testing and certification are included in the Examination Manual. The same policies can also be found in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 388-03). You can find the answer to your specific question in either document.
Yes. To register for a test, please follow the steps in the how to schedule a test online. For step-by-step guides, use the following: Written Test Guide/ Translator Test Guide/ Oral Test Guide.
Once you are assigned a certificate number or authorization number in your score report letter, you are considered a certified or authorized interpreter or translator. DSHS does not employ interpreters and translators directly. Instead, we contract with external agencies to provide language services to our clients. If you are looking for work as an interpreter or translator, you need to contact the DSHS contracted agencies to start the process. Find a spoken language service provider.
Please save or print the email confirmation letter for your reference. If you did not receive your confirmation email within a few minutes of registering for your language test, check your junk mail. If you cannot find it there, please email our office.
As a DSHS applicant or client, you qualify based simply on your need to communicate effectively regarding DSHS services.
Your written test score will be mailed to you in approximately four (4) weeks. Your oral test score and translator test score will be mailed to you in approximately six (6) weeks.
Usually, services will be provided to help you without any significant delay in service delivery. Please ask your local DSHS office or your medical provider for more information.
DSHS currently certifies social service interpreters, medical interpreters, translators, DSHS active/potential bilingual employees, and licensed agency personnel in Chinese-Cantonese, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. For all other languages, The Department authorizes social service interpreters and medical interpreters (screening test).
Test scores will not be released over the telephone to anyone, including the test candidate. A score report letter will be mailed to you once your scores are available. However, if you have not received your test score two (2) months after your test date, you should contact our office to check the status of your test score.
You may talk directly with the local office worker or supervisor. Alternately, you may submit your problem or complaint in writing to that office. Other options include contacting Interpreter Services and Customer Service at 1-800-562-3022. For issues regarding translated documents, contact the office/program/administration as indicated on the document.
Instead of a certificate, interpreter who pass the screening test and complete the required orientation and ethics training will be issued an authorization letter.
If your score report letter states that you have met all test requirements and are now considered provisionally certified or authorized as an interpreter, a certificate/authorization letter will be mailed to you within a month after you have completed:
- Two hours of new interpreter/translator orientation, and
- Two hours of interpreter/translator professional ethics training.
Yes, and these two terms are not interchangeable. An interpreter is a person who orally transfers a message from one spoken language to another (or manually for Sign Language). A translator is a person who transfers a message in writing from one language to another.
The Examination Manual provides detailed information on certification and testing.
No, you get the same certificate as those who have passed sight translation and consecutive interpreting (Level 1) but not simultaneous interpreting. However, your simultaneous test score will remain in our database. When simultaneous interpreting is needed for social service settings, users of simultaneous interpreting will contact LTC to obtain information on who is qualified for such assignment.
Per WAC 388-03-153, written test score is valid for two years from the date of your score report letter. If you lost your letter, please send us an email.
Certified languages are those in which interpreters go through conventional modalities of testing. The written and oral test instruments cover both English and a second language (target language). Those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued a certificate.
Due to resource restrictions, it is not feasible to develop language-specific test instruments for each and every language in such a linguistically diverse state as Washington. Therefore, a screening test was developed for all non-certified or screened languages. Interpreters in screened languages go through a totally different modality of testing. Unlike the certified languages, the written screening test is not language specific. The oral screening test utilizes the target language spoken by the interpreter to test his or her linguistic and interpreting skills. This includes any language, even any dialects within a language. Since the scope of the screening test is not as comprehensive as a conventional certified test, those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued an authorization letter in lieu of a certificate.
Currently, no translator test is available for screened languages.
Information about certified/authorized interpreters and translators can be found by clicking on the Find an Interpreter or Translator link found on the navigation bar.
One DSHS-approved continuing education activities will count toward all your certificates/authorizations.
- Example: You have a social services interpreter certificate, medical interpreter certificate, and a translator certificate. You only need to accumulate 20 credits in a 4 year period, not 60 credits.
In-Person Activities:
- There is a sign-in/out sheet that is provided to the host of the approved DSHS CE activity for use the day of the activity. This sign-in/out sheet will be used to allot credits to your files. Make sure to write down ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Online Activities:
- Send an email to LTC with the certificate that you receive upon completion of the approved DSHS online CE activities. Include the approval number, found under the List of DSHS Approved CE Activities. Make sure to include ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers in the body of the email so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Why are these certificate numbers so important?
- Each certification number represents a record in one of the six databases that we work out of. If you have multiple authorizations/certifications, we won't know, because these databases don't "talk" to each other. Without knowing your record number in each database, we don’t have any other way to verify that we are allotting the credits to the correct file. The six databases are:
- Employee Certified (ex: EC1234. Employees do not need to report CE)
- Social Service Authorized (ex: SA1234)
- Social Service Certified (ex: SC1234)
- Medical Authorized (ex: MA1234)
- Medical Certified (ex: MC1234)
- Translator Certified (ex: TC1234)