§ 6-707.Registered foreign language court interpreter requirements.

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 registered interpreter tier, letting an applicant qualify with the same age, background, orientation, and written-exam standards as certification but a lower oral-exam passing score — 50 percent instead of 70 percent — on each segment, or an equivalent competence measure where no oral exam exists.

Full Text of § 6-707

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(A) A registered foreign language interpreter must be able to interpret simultaneously and consecutively and provide sight translation from English into the target language and from the target language into English.

(B) An interpreter will be qualify as a registered interpreter upon establishing to the satisfaction of the State Court Administrtor that the individual has:

(1) Reached the age of 19;

(2) Had no past felony convictions or pending felony criminal charges. In addition, in the preceding 5 years had no misdemeanor convictions or pending charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability. Disposition of any felony other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) shall be the basis for denial of registered interpreter status. Disposition of misdemeanor charges manifesting a significant deficiency in honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, or reliability less than 5 years in the past other than by acquittal or dismissal (e.g., pretrial diversion) may be the basis for denial of registered interpreter status;

(3) Completed the Nebraska Judicial Branch or other state, federal, or member of the National Center for State Courts Language Access Services Section court interpreter orientation that satisfy the requirements of § 6-704(B);

(4) Achieved a qualifying score of 80 percent or higher on a National Center for State Courts written examination administered by the Nebraska Judicial Branch or a member of the National Center for State Courts Language Access Services Section; and

(5) Achieved a qualifying score of 50 percent or higher on each segment of the National Center for State Courts oral examination administered or approved by the Nebraska Judicial Branch as described in § 6-704(F). Registered interpreters in languages for which the oral examination is not available will be included on the statewide register of interpreters only upon providing to the Nebraska Judicial Branch some other measure of language competence (e.g., a passing score on an oral proficiency exam) acceptable by the Nebraska Judicial Branch.

(C) To maintain registered status, interpreters must comply with continuing education requirements as outlined in § 6-710. Failure to complete recognized continuing education shall be grounds for removal of the interpreter's name from the statewide register of interpreters.

[Originally numbered as] Rule 5(B) amended September 17, 2003. Renumbered and codified as § 6-706, effective July 18, 2008; § 6-706 amended October 21, 2009; § 6-706 renumbered to § 6-707 March 16, 2011; § 6-707(C) adopted May 16, 2012, effective July 1, 2012; § 6-707(B)(2) amended December 12, 2018; § 6-707(B) amended April 14, 2021; § 6-707 amended June 12, 2024.

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Plain-English Summary

The registered interpreter category sits between full certification and non-certified status. Section 6-707 requires the same threshold requirements as certification — reaching age 19, clearing the felony and recent-misdemeanor background standard, completing orientation, and scoring 80 percent or higher on the written exam — but sets the oral-exam bar lower. Where a certified interpreter needs 70 percent on each segment of the oral exam, a registered interpreter needs only 50 percent.

That gap matters in practice. A registered interpreter has demonstrated real interpreting skill and cleared the same integrity screening as a certified interpreter, but has not reached the higher proficiency level certification demands. Courts appointing under § 6-703 are expected to reach for the most qualified interpreter reasonably available, which puts registered interpreters a step behind certified ones in that ordering, even though both remain on the statewide register.

Where no oral exam exists for a language at all, the rule allows registration through some other measure of language competence the Nebraska Judicial Branch finds acceptable, such as a passing score on an oral proficiency exam. Like certified and provisionally certified interpreters, registered interpreters must keep up with the continuing education requirements in § 6-710 to stay on the register.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Both meet the same age, background, orientation, and written-exam requirements, but a certified interpreter needs a 70 percent score on each oral exam segment while a registered interpreter needs only 50 percent.

Can a registered interpreter later become certified?

The rule does not describe registration as a step toward certification, but nothing prevents an interpreter from retaking the oral exam and meeting the higher certification threshold.

What happens if my language has no oral exam available at all?

Registration can still be granted based on some other measure of language competence acceptable to the Nebraska Judicial Branch, such as a passing score on an oral proficiency exam.

Do registered interpreters need continuing education?

Yes, the same continuing education requirements in § 6-710 that apply to certified and provisionally certified interpreters.

Does a registered interpreter go through the same background check as a certified interpreter?

Yes. The felony and recent-misdemeanor screening standard is the same for both categories.

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

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