Language Testing and Certification Program

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 

There are important changes to medical interpreter testing. To increase our certification capacity, DSHS LTC has expanded test options for medical interpreter candidates.  

Starting 8/1/2022, DSHS medical interpreter tests are only open to candidates who have taken one or more tests with LTC and are yet to be certified. These candidates will have two opportunities to pass each test (written or oral) by 12/31/2022 to get certified / authorized.

Candidates who have never tested with LTC before 7/31/2022 and wish to pursue a DSHS medical interpreter credential can test with one of the third-party testing entities.

Please visit the Test Information page for detailed information on third-party medical interpreter testing.

OTHER NOTICES:  

1) Due to limited public access of the Olympia testing location, there will be limited testing in Olympia in August and September. Please visit this page regularly for updates on testing schedules.   

2) Due to reduced testing capacity of LTC, registration for August and September 2022 testing is only open to candidates who have taken a test (or tests) with LTC before 7/31/2022. New candidates - candidates who have never tested before - are not accepted for registration. 

3) Starting 7/1/2022, Yakima testing has a new location. Please check the "Test Locations" page of this site for details.

* * * 

On MONDAY JULY 18 at 10 AM, LTC plans to open August test schedule: 

* Due to limited public access of the Olympia test location, there will be only one testing day in Olympia in 8/2022. The other test dates that were originally scheduled for this location are canceled.

* Registration for August 2022 is only open to candidates who have taken a test (or tests) with LTC before 7/31/2022. (New candidates - candidates who have never taken any LTC test before - are not accepted for registration. If you are a new candidate, please do not register.)

• ​Olympia - Oral: 8/17

• Yakima - Written: 8/3, 8/25; Oral - 8/2, 8/3, 8/23, 8/24, 8/25

Candidates can take one oral and one written test per month per person. 

Priority is given to those who fall into the following categories:         

1. Candidates with current credentials that expired between January 2020 and May 2022
2. Candidates with credentials that are due to expire on or before December 31, 2022
3. Candidates who have passed the written test between January 2018 and March 2020 may schedule an oral test
4. Candidates with a passing oral test for a yet unearned credential may schedule a written test
5. Upon request, candidates who work for other state agencies
6. Upon request, candidates who want to test for a certain rare or high demand language

All test candidates must create a profile in the LTC Gateway tracking system. 

• Access LTC Gateway
  • LTC Gateway User Manual - Standard Version (Updated 9-15-2021)
  • LTC Gateway User Manual - Accessible Version (Users with screen readers) (Updated 9-15-2021)
• Prior to scheduling a test, please read the Test Information and Test Registration Information pages. 
• All tests are scheduled through your Gateway profile only. Your profile must be complete prior to scheduling. 
• All DSHS credentials expire after 4 years, unless the renewal requirements are met. If your credential has expired, you must re-test.
• RCW 74.04.025 limits testing of languages for which fill rates in the prior year are 90% or higher. There are no testing limitations due to fill rates at this time.
• DSHS Employees please contact LTC to schedule a test. 

Questions? Email dshsct@dshs.wa.gov.