Who must comply with continuing education requirements?
In order to maintain their status, all certified interpreters must renew their certification every two years from the date of their initial certification. The anniversary is the date in which the interpreter formally completed all certification requirements and was placed on the roster.

What are the renewal requirements?
Once they become certified, interpreters must:

1. Complete 16 continuing education units (CEU) within the two-year compliance period
2. Be in good standing with the program and not have been subject to any disciplinary procedures for violation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in Pennsylvania or any other jurisdiction
3. Undergo a new criminal background check
4. Pay the $25 renewal fee.

How do I obtain CEU credits?
CE credits may be obtained by:

• attending training and skill development workshops and seminars sponsored by public or private institutions and professional organizations
• participating in seminars or workshops related to legal interpreting during professional meetings and conferences
• taking academic courses in accredited colleges and universities in areas relevant to court and legal interpreting and language skills
• taking online courses with reputable and approved providers in areas related to court and legal interpreting, language, and interpreting skills
• presenting as faculty in courses, workshops or seminars on topics related to interpreting such as skill-building, ethics, language and professional issues; or
• teaching an academic course in an accredited college or university on a subject related to courts, legal interpreting or the interpreter’s language of expertise.

Training opportunities will be listed as they become available in the Training page of this Web site. However, it is the interpreter’s responsibility to research and locate potential CEU opportunities.

What constitutes a CEU credit and what subject areas qualify for credit?
A CEU credit is generally equivalent to one contact hour of participation in an approved activity or event. However, the number of credits approved for a particular event may vary depending on the nature, content and requirements of the event or activity. For web-based online training one hour shall be equivalent to .25 CEUs. The maximum number of online CEUs allowed per each two-year compliance period is 6 hours. The following subject areas are recommended for CEU credit:

• interpreting skills (simultaneous, consecutive and sight practice)
• language skills (in both English and the target language)
• ethics
• courts, law, legal system, governmental institutions
• business and professional development
• technical skills related to interpreting and translation

How do I know if an activity or event qualifies for CEU credit?
All CEU credits must be approved in advance by the Interpreter Program Administrator. Requests for approval must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled event. Interpreters must request approval by completing a CEU Approval Request Form.

What information do I need to submit for approval of CEU credits?
The following information is required for approval of an activity or event:

• event name, sponsor and contact information
• description of the event or activity, including faculty and content information
• copy of promotional materials including Web site address (if any) for the event
• copy of outline or syllabus if the event is an academic course offered by an accredited college or university
• verification of registration and proof of attendance or completion.