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certificate

Legal Interpretation and Translation Spanish/English

This certificate will teach you how to be a skilled interpreter and translator for English and Spanish.

SEE COURSES IN THIS PROGRAM

This program is perfect for...

Interpreters and translators wanting to enhance their skills
Professional interpreters and translators preparing for court certification examinations
Legal professionals looking to transition to interpretation and translation
Bilingual individuals interested in interpretation and translation

What you can learn.

Interpret consecutively and simultaneously
Translate written material by sight
Legal applications used in county, state, and federal court systems
Skills needed to pass court certification examinations
How to use techniques such as time delay, dual tasking, and terminology research to improve results
Fine-tune skills using listening, shadowing, retention, and note-taking

Become a professional interpreter.

court interpreter speaking into a microphone

The demand for interpreters and translators continues to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for these roles is projected to increase 19% between 2018 and 2028.

Position yourself for success in one of today’s fastest growing fields with a rewarding career interpreting in the criminal justice system, civil service, or in business. Our comprehensive, rigorous certificate program is an intensive year of study preparing you to pass the California Court Interpreter State Certification Exam. It will also enrich your understanding of an interpreter’s role and ethics, and deliver a broad background in the U.S. legal system. Courses provide a blend of theory, practical skills, and training in sight translation, vocabulary building, and simultaneous and consecutive interpretation.

This one-year program begins in summer quarter. Applications are accepted in the spring, and a language assessment exam is required in order to be accepted into the program.

Program Dates and Deadlines

For the 2025 program, applications will be accepted from April 1, 2025 - May 30, 2025.
Students must apply and be accepted into the program before enrolling in courses.

How to Apply

During the application window, click the yellow "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be prompted to create a Student Account and Profile in order to complete the application.
Complete the application and pay the $20 application fee.
Upon successful payment of the application fee, a program representative will email you within 1-2 business days with the information needed to complete the online language assessment exam.
Upon completing the online assessment, you will receive an email from a program representative regarding the status of your assessment and your next steps in pursuit of the certificate. Those who pass the assessment and are accepted into the program will be required to pay a nonrefundable $125 certificate candidacy fee.

Interpretation and Translation Resources

Below are helpful links and resources for the interpretation and translation field. The following list does not constitute an endorsement of any of these associations but is provided for informational use only.

General Information

Judicial Council of California: Learn about the profession of a court-certified interpreter

Examination Information

Spanish-English Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam: Information on examination phases required to be taken to obtain an Interpretation Certification.
California Court Interpreter Exam: Information regarding oral and written proficiency examinations.

Professional Associations

National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT): A professional association of Interpreters and Translators to promote the advancement of the profession.
International Federation of Translators: An international professional association committed to facilitating discussion between translation associations around the world.
American Translators Association (ATA): A professional association providing career development for interpreters and translators.
California Court Interpreters Association (CCIA): A not-for-profit organization, dedicated to advancing the professional standards of the court interpreter profession.
California Federation of Interpreters, Inc. (CFI): A professional association and labor union providing professional and legal services to court interpreters.
Association of Languages Companies: A national trade organization of businesses involved with interpretation and translation services.

Courses

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Required (9)

Required Courses

Essential Language Skills for Interpreters

SPAN 702

Typically Offered: Summer

Introduction to U.S. Law for Court Interpreters

LAW X 430

Typically Offered: Summer

Legal Interpreter's Practicum

LAW X 430.01

Typically Offered: Summer

Translation: Spanish to English

SPAN X 460A

Typically Offered: Fall

Translation: English to Spanish

SPAN X 460B

Typically Offered: Fall

Consecutive Interpretation: Court Proceedings--Spanish/English

SPAN X 461A

Typically Offered: Winter

Consecutive Interpretation: Administrative Hearings and Depositions--Spanish/English

SPAN X 461B

Typically Offered: Winter

Simultaneous Interpretation: Legal Proceedings

SPAN X 462A

Typically Offered: Spring

Advanced Legal Interpretation Skills: Spanish-English

SPAN X 464

Typically Offered: Spring

Download Certificate Planner

Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

125.00

Estimated Program Tuition

5554.00

Estimated program textbook/materials

95.00

Apply Now

*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

Internships
Available

Approved for
International Visa

VA Benefit
Eligible

Federal
Financial Aid

**Federal Financial Aid Gainful Employment Disclosures

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.