There are two pathways available to receive a DSHS credential to provide interpreter or document translator services. DSHS language proficiency testing or recognition of third-party tests or certifications.
DSHS Proficiency Testing for Social Service Interpreters and Document Translators
This Pathway is only applicable for DSHS bilingual employees, licensed agency personnel (LAPL) and DSHS credentials to be a Social Service Interpreter or a Document Translator.
DSHS does not provide proficiency testing for Medical Interpreters.
For DSHS testing and certification, spoken and written languages are divided into two categories:
Certified Languages: Spanish, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.
Screened Languages: All non-certified languages - speakers of these languages receive authorization rather than certification, but credentials are functionally the same.
Please visit Test Information for additional information about testing.
- Social Service Interpreter
Step 1: Set-up an LTC Gateway profile.
Step 2: Schedule appropriate test(s). Certified and screened languages available.
- Written Test $30
- Oral Test $45
Step 3: Once you have passed the required test(s) complete the required orientation training(s) in the LTC Gateway.
- Social Service Interpreter Orientation
- You do not need to take the Medical Orientation
- Ethics
Step 4: Once you have completed the required training(s) passed their quizzes submit a DSHS credential request on the Credentials tab in the LTC Gateway.
- Document Translator
Step 1: Set-up an LTC Gateway profile.
Step 2: Schedule appropriate test(s). Certified languages only.
- Document Translation Test
Step 3: Once you have passed the required test(s) complete the required orientation training(s) in the LTC Gateway.
- Social Service Interpreter Orientation
- You do not need to take the Medical Orientation
- Ethics
Step 4: Once you have completed the required training(s) passed their quizzes submit a DSHS credential request on the Credentials tab in the LTC Gateway.
- DSHS Bilingual Employees
DSHS employees who wish to take a bilingual employee certification test, please follow Bilingual Employee Test Scheduling Guidelines on the LTC SharePoint (Language Testing & Certification - Home). They can contact LTC at oeabltc@dshs.wa.gov to schedule a test.
Step 1: Set-up an LTC Gateway profile.
Step 2: Work with your supervisor to determine if your position qualifies for or may be updated to qualify as a dual language position with an additional 5% assignment pay. Then partner with your Language Access Coordinator to schedule appropriate test(s). Certified and screened languages available.
- Cluster 1: Oral Test
- Cluster 2-8: Written and Oral Tests.
Step 3: Once you have passed the required test(s) submit a DSHS credential request in the LTC Gateway.
Notes on LTC tests:
- Please read the Registration Policies prior to scheduling a test.
- For Cantonese Chinese and Mandarin Chinese interpreter test candidates, only one written test is needed for social service certification, provided that the written is passed within two years of the oral test.
- For multiple screened languages, only one written test is needed for all languages in the social service category provided that the written test is passed within two years of the oral test.
Third-Party Medical Interpreter Test(s)
All medical interpreter candidates who wish to pursue a DSHS medical interpreter credential, and medical interpreters with expired credentials, should test with one of the third-party testing entities listed below. They can apply for a DSHS Medical Interpreter-Recognized credential if they meet the eligibility criteria.
In accordance with RCW 74.04.025, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Language Testing and Certification Program will require medical interpreter candidates to submit proof of their successful completion and passing of oral and written tests.
Testing must include evaluation of proficiency in a primary non-English language and interpreting performance skills.
Candidates can apply for a DSHS Medical Interpreter-Recognized credential with test score reports from one of the approved third-party entities.
Disclaimer: DSHS recognizes the tests provided by the listed entities below as approved tests that meet the DSHS medical interpreter qualification standards. None of the listed entities are affiliated with DSHS, or vice versa. DSHS does not have any financial interest in any of the listed entities.
- Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
CoreCHI written test (all languages)
CHI oral test (Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin)
Or, if an oral test is not available in the language they are certifying in
CoreCHI written test (all languages)
ALTA Consecutive Interpretation Test
Please register to test directly with CCHI. For more information, visit the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) website.
- The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
HubCMI written test (all languages)
CMI oral test (for Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
Or, if oral an test is not available in the language they are certifying in
HubCMI written test (all languages)
ALTA Consecutive Interpretation Test
Please register to test directly with NBCMI. For more information, visit The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) website.
- ALTA Language Services
Available in Screened languages, please see list below
– NOT AVAILABLE for Certified Languages: Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese)
*Note: Candidate must pass all three tests:
English Reading Test – written (Passing score: ILR 3 / ALTA 9, or above)
English Interpretation Code of Ethics-Medical Test – written (Passing score: Pass)
Consecutive Medical Interpretation Test – oral (Passing score: ALTA Level 10 – Advanced Plus, or above)
ALTA tests are available in the screened languages listed below:
- Albanian
- Amharic
- Arabic (Egypt)
- Arabic (Iraq)
- Arabic (Lebanon)
- Arabic (Morocco)
- Arabic (MSA - Modern Standard Arabic)
- Arabic (Sudan)
- Arabic (Syria)
- Arabic (Yemen)
- Bengali
- Bosnian
- Bulgarian
- Burmese
- Cambodian
- Chuukese
- Croatian
- Czech
- Dari
- Farsi
- French
- German
- Greek
- Gujarati
- Haitian Creole
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Hmong
- Hungarian
- Ilocano
- Italian
- Japanese
- Karenni
- Kinyarwanda
- Kurdish Sorani
- Lithuanian
- Malayalam
- Nepali
- Oromo
- Pashto
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Portuguese (Portugal)
- Punjabi (Eastern)
- Punjabi (Western)
- Romanian
- Serbian
- Slovak
- Somali
- Swahili
- Tagalog
- Tamil (India)
- Telugu
- Thai
- Tigrinya
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Wolof
- Yoruba
Process for taking the ALTA tests includes the following:
To apply for test registration, send Email to oeabltc@dshs.wa.gov. Be sure to include the following information: Full Name, Email address, phone number, LTC Gateway Candidate ID No., type of test and language name, along with a copy of official photo ID.
Follow instructions from LTC and ALTA testing portal to schedule and complete tests.
Disclaimer: DSHS recognizes the tests provided by the above listed entities as alternative tests that meet the DSHS medical interpreter qualification standards. None of the listed entities are affiliated with DSHS, or vice versa. DSHS does not have any financial interest in any of the listed entities.
DSHS Recognition of a Third-Party Certification
In accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 388-03-114, interpreters and translators with valid certifications from other certifying entities may gain DSHS recognition and provide their language services to DSHS without taking the department’s required examinations.
- Social Service Interpreters
- Valid certification from the accepted certifying entities:
- WA State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
- Administrative Office of the United States Courts
- WA State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
- Valid certification from the accepted certifying entities:
- Medical Interpreters
- valid certification from the accepted certifying entities:
- Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
- CHI – Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish
- National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
- CMI – Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese
- Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
- valid certification from the accepted certifying entities:
- Medical Interpreters with CCHI and NBCMI certifications based on oral and written medical interpreter test(s) in English
- Valid certification and copy of score report of an oral test in a primary non-English language that meets the requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4):
- CoreCHI – for all other languages
- CoreCHI-Performance – for all other languages
- Hub-CMI – for all other languages
- Valid certification and copy of score report of an oral test in a primary non-English language that meets the requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4):
- Document Translators
- Valid certification from the accepted certifying entity:
- American Translators Association (ATA)
- Valid certification from the accepted certifying entity:
- Certified as interpreter or translator by other state or U.S. territory or other country comparable to DSHS certification.
- LTC will evaluate and determine certification is based on tests that meet DSHS requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4).
- Certification must be based on passed interpreter written and oral tests
- LTC will evaluate and determine certification is based on tests that meet DSHS requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4).
- Certified as interpreter or translator by a nonprofit organization that uses credible certification program.
- LTC will evaluate and determine certification is based on tests that meet DSHS requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4).
- Certification must be based on passed interpreter written and oral tests
- LTC will evaluate and determine certification is based on tests that meet DSHS requirements per RCW 74.04.025(4).
Disclaimer: DSHS recognizes the tests provided by the above listed entities as alternative tests that meet the DSHS medical interpreter qualification standards. None of the listed entities are affiliated with DSHS, or vice versa. DSHS does not have any financial interest in any of the listed entities.
DSHS LTC will review the submitted certification and will process to approve or deny:
- If approved, candidate will receive an email notification with copy of the “Certification approval letter” with further instructions to complete the required orientation training(s) and submit a “Request Recognition”.
- When approved, candidate will receive the “DSHS Letter of Recognition” attesting to completion of required trainings and acceptance of their certification.
If denied, candidate will receive an email notification with copy of the “Certification denial letter”.
Information of interpreters and translators with accepted certifications will be listed in LTC Gateway’s Find an Interpreter or Translator - LTC public search site. “Active” status is contingent on the validity of their certification.