§ 6-702.Statewide register of interpreters.

Article 7: Interpreters in the Nebraska Judicial Branch · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 22, 2026

In one sentenceThis rule creates the statewide register of court interpreters maintained by the State Court Administrator and sorts every interpreter into one of six categories — certified, provisionally certified, registered, non-certified, certified Deaf or Sign Language, and non-certified Deaf or Sign Language — based on which qualifications each has met.

Full Text of § 6-702

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

The State Court Administrator will publish and maintain a statewide register of interpreters who as determined by the Administrator are available to interpret for the Nebraska Judicial Branch in accordance with Nebraska Supreme Court rules and policies, which will consist of the following:

(A) Certified Interpreters. Interpreters who have satisfied all certification requirements pursuant to § 6-705.

(B) Provisionally Certified Interpreters. Interpreters who have satisfied all requirements pursuant to § 6-706 until such time an oral examination is developed.

(D) Non-Certified Interpreters. Interpreters who have not satisfied the requirements of §§ 6-705, 6-706, or 6-707.

(E) Certified Deaf Interpreters and Certified Sign Language Interpreters. Certified Deaf Interpreters and certified Sign Language interpreters who have satisfied the requirements of § 6-708.

(F) Deaf Interpreters and Non-Certified Sign Language Interpreters. Deaf Interpreters and non-certified Sign Language interpreters who have not satisfied the requirements of § 6-708, but who are licensed, as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-150 et seq. and possess a Nebraska Specialist Intermediary License or a Quality Assessment Screening Test – Accomplished Level (QAST V) awarded by the State of Nebraska.

[Originally numbered as] Rule 1(A) - (D) amended September 17, 2003; [originally numbered as] Rule 1(D) amended January 4, 2007, effective July 1, 2007; [originally numbered as] Rule 1(B) - (D) amended June 25, 2008, effective July 1, 2008. Renumbered and codified as § 6-702, effective July 18, 2008; § 6-702 amended October 21, 2009; § 6-702(D) amended May 12, 2010; § 6-702 amended March 16, 2011; § 6-702 amended August 5, 2014; § 6-702(E) amended December 12, 2018; § 6-702(B) and (C) amended April 14, 2021; § 6-702 amended June 12, 2024.

End

Plain-English Summary

Before a court can appoint an interpreter, someone has to keep track of who is available and what each person is qualified to do. Section 6-702 creates that tracking system: a statewide register, published and maintained by the State Court Administrator, listing every interpreter the Nebraska Judicial Branch recognizes.

The register sorts interpreters into six categories, and the labels are not interchangeable. Certified interpreters have passed the full examination process in § 6-705. Provisionally certified interpreters have met the alternate standards in § 6-706, used mainly for languages that do not yet have an oral exam. Registered interpreters have cleared the requirements in § 6-707, a tier below full certification. Non-certified interpreters have not met any of those three tracks. Certified Deaf Interpreters and certified Sign Language interpreters hold the credentials described in § 6-708, while Deaf Interpreters and non-certified Sign Language interpreters instead hold a state license and a recognized skills assessment without meeting the full certification standard.

For courts making appointment decisions under § 6-703, and for anyone trying to understand why one interpreter is treated differently from another, this register and its categories are the starting point. The label attached to an interpreter’s name on the register reflects a specific, verified set of qualifications rather than a general reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statewide register of interpreters?

It is the list, published and maintained by the State Court Administrator, of interpreters the Nebraska Judicial Branch recognizes as available to interpret in courts and probation proceedings statewide.

What is the difference between a certified and a registered interpreter?

Certified interpreters have met the full examination requirements in § 6-705, including a higher passing score on the oral exam. Registered interpreters have met a lower oral-exam threshold under § 6-707, placing them a tier below certification.

Why does the register include a “non-certified” category at all?

Because some interpreters have not completed any of the certification, provisional certification, or registration tracks, and courts need a way to identify that fact when deciding who to appoint.

How does a Sign Language interpreter’s category differ from a foreign-language interpreter’s?

Sign Language and Deaf interpreters are sorted by whether they hold the certifications listed in § 6-708 plus a Nebraska license, rather than by the written and oral exam scores used for foreign-language interpreters.

Who decides which category an interpreter belongs in?

The State Court Administrator, based on which set of requirements — under §§ 6-705 through 6-708 — the interpreter has satisfied.

Can an interpreter’s category change over time?

Yes. An interpreter can move between categories as circumstances change, such as passing an oral exam that was not previously available in that language, or losing standing through the complaint and sanctions process in § 6-709.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: nebraska interpreter registercertified vs registered interpreter nebraskastatewide interpreter listinterpreter categories nebraska courtsstate court administrator interpreter registertypes of court interpreters nebraska