Interpreter Info

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BEI Testing

In 2014, MCDHH began leasing the BEI (Board for Evaluation of Interpreters) certification exam from the State of Texas due to its proven validity and reliability. Rules were updated to reflect the changes to the new testing system which included: increasing the educational requirement to become an interpreter and the number of professional development hours required to maintain certification.

The State of Missouri is currently offering the following exams:

  • TEP
  • MO-BEI BASIC
  • MO-BEI ADVANCED
  • MO-BEI MASTER

To schedule your exam, please contact Shanda Miller; MICS Coordinator at (573) 355-5989 or Shanda.Miller@mcdhh.mo.gov

**All CDI applicants should contact the State of Texas to complete their CDI exam process.

ELIGIBILITY TO TAKE BEI

To be eligible for certification in the Missouri Interpreters Certification System (MICS), each applicant must:

  • Be eighteen (18) years of age or older;
  • Have completed a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours from an accredited college or university before taking the written test of English proficiency, and
  • Have earned an associate degree and/or a minimum of sixty (60) credit hours from an accredited college or university before taking the performance examination.

An applicant who is currently certified at the Novice, Apprentice, RCED, Basic, Advanced or Master levels by MICS and applies for a higher level of certification is not required to meet this educational requirement.

  • Testing Reminders: You MUST complete all of your paperwork and payment, PRIOR to being added to the MCDHH calendar to take your exam. All applications are to be mailed to the MCDHH office, as original, notarized forms. NO SCANNED DOCUMENTATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
  • **All out-of-state applicants, please note, your application requires “OUT-OF-STATE CHECKS” with other BEI certifying states. MCDHH is required to check with these states to ensure that you have not taken the test with them, prior to the 6 month re-test period. Out-of-state checks may take one to two weeks for processing. A testing date will be offered after all checks have been completed accordingly.

A comprehensive study guide is available to help you prepare for Written and Performance tests.

STUDY GUIDE Additional Testing Resources

WRITTEN TEST

The Test of English Proficiency (TEP) is an 80 multiple choice question exam. You will have 75 minutes in order to complete the test. This test is a requirement for all interpreters prior to taking the performance test. The written TEP must be passed before being eligible to take the performance test. The written portion of the certification process was developed to evaluate an applicant’s English skills and it is made up of five parts:

  • Part I – Reading Comprehension
  • Part II – Synonyms
  • Part III – Grammar and Usage
  • Part IV – Sentence Completion
  • Part V – Antonyms

Upon passing the TEP, an applicant is eligible to take the BEI performance test. Each level of certification has its own performance test. An interpreter earns the corresponding level of certification if the minimum requirement to pass is met.

Online Practice Test Checklist / APPLICATION FOR TAKING THE TEST Accommodations

TAKING THE MO-BEI

There are three distinct Interpreter Performance Tests – Basic, Advanced, and Master. The tests are similar in terms of the sections they contain and the tasks they ask the candidates to perform. The tests differ principally in terms of their complexity. In these tests, there are several factors that add to the complexity of the tests:

  • Complexity of the language
  • Complexity of the topics and/or settings
  • Speed of the speaker or signer

MO-BEI BASIC TEST

The content of the Basic test focuses primarily on the language found in routine educational and social service settings, as determined by the empirical job analysis of incumbent interpreters. Examples of possible topics include K-12 classroom presentations by students or teachers, special school assemblies, homework assignments, school memos, informational meetings or orientations, and so on.

Components of the Basic Level Test include:

  • Expressive interpreting (spoken English-to-ASL)
  • Expressive transliterating (spoken English-to-signed English)
  • Receptive transliterating (signed English-to-spoken English)
  • Sight translation (written English-to-ASL)
APPLICATION FOR TAKING THE TEST

MO-BEI ADVANCED TEST

The content of the Advanced Test focuses primarily on the language found in a variety of high-stakes settings, such as routine medical, social service, K-12 and higher education, routine mental health, and routine quasi-legal, as determined by the empirical job analysis of incumbent interpreters. Examples of possible topics include post-secondary student and professor classroom presentations, professional development seminars, doctor or dentist visits, application for services, employment forms, counseling sessions, and so on.

Components of the Advanced Level Test include:

  • Expressive interpreting (spoken English-to-ASL)
  • Expressive transliterating (spoken English-to-signed English)
  • Receptive interpreting (ASL-to-spoken-English)
  • Receptive transliterating (signed English-to-spoken English)
  • Sight translation (written English-to-ASL)
APPLICATION FOR TAKING THE TEST

MO-BEI MASTER TEST

The content of the Master test focuses on the language found in a variety of complex high-stakes settings, such as medical, mental health, quasi-legal, and educational settings as determined by an empirical job analysis of incumbent interpreters. Examples of possible topics include patient information forms, intake forms, contracts or contract negotiations, meetings with medical specialists, special education meetings, and so on.

Components of the Master Level Test include:

  • Expressive interpreting (spoken English-to-ASL)
  • Expressive transliterating (spoken English-to-signed English)
  • Receptive interpreting (ASL-to-spoken-English)
  • Receptive transliterating (signed English-to-spoken English)
  • Sight translation (written English-to-ASL)
APPLICATION FOR TAKING THE TEST
Certification Renewal

WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR RENEWAL

Important Deadlines And What To Include In Your Renewal Requirements Payment

November 2 – CEU Deadline
All 2.0 CEUs (with 0.3 in ethics) should be earned by this date. Pay the late fee ($20) to use CEUs earned after this deadline. Late CEUs used for this year’s renewal may not be used toward next year’s renewal.

Please submit the following if all CEUs were earned by November 2nd:

November 3 – New CEU Cycle
Starting on this date, you can start earning CEUs for next year’s certification renewal. CEUs earned before this date are not eligible to count for next year’s 2.0 CEUs. 

Please submit the following:

December 2 – Renewal Postmark Deadline
Make sure all of your renewal paperwork is accurate, complete, and postmarked by this date. In addition to incurring a late fee ($20), submitting a renewal after this deadline risks not receiving your new certification card by December 15. 

December 15 – Invalidation Date & Beginning of Reinstatement Period
If you do not have your new certification card by this date, you are not credentialed to interpret in the State of Missouri until you receive it. Your certification from the previous year is now invalid. Renewal paperwork postmarked after this date must include a reinstatement form and the accompanying reinstatement fee ($60).

Please submit the following:

RECENTLY CERTIFIED INTERPRETERS CEU REQUIREMENTS:

MCDHH First Year Interpreter CEU Requirements
Number of CEUs needed for partial years

Full year = 2.0 (20 hours)
November = 2.0 (20 hours)
December = 1.8 (18 hours)
January = 1.7 (17 hours)
February = 1.5 (15 hours)
March = 1.3 (13 hours)
April = 1.2 (12 hours)
May = 1.0 (10 hours)
June = 0.8 (8 hours)
July = 0.7 (7 hours)
August = 0.5 (5 hours)
September = .3 (3 hours)
October = .17 (2 hours)

Number of Ethics CEUs needed for partial years

Full year = .3 (3 hours)
November = .3 (3 hours)
December = .3 (3 hours)
January = .25 (3 hours)
February = .225 (2 hours)
March = .19 (2 hours)
April = .175 (2 hours)
May = .15 (2 hours)
June = .12 (1 hour)
July = .1 (1 hour)
August = .075 (1 hour)
September = .0499999 (1 hour)
October = .025 (1 hour) 

If this is your first year certified in the BEI, welcome! You are required to submit the appropriate pro-rated number of CEUs.

Contact our office if you have questions about the number you need to earn.

Questions

Phone

573-355-5989

Email

Shanda.Miller@mcdhh.mo.gov

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT

Rules And Statutes
CEU Approval Request
General Information MICS CEUS RID CEUS FAQS
  • It is a requirement to earn 2.0 CEUs, with a total of .3 focused on Ethics.
  • MCDHH offers two options for earning CEUs: MICS CEUs and RID CEUS.
  • MICS CEUS are workshop offerings that only offer CEUS that are recognized in the state of Missouri for our interpreting certification system.
  • (Workshops can be established for online or in person offerings)
  • Please complete and submit the following form, a minimum of 30 days prior to the workshop date, with necessary justification, to the Staff Interpreter for review and approval.

Please send your application to amysue.guinn@mcdhh.mo.gov

  • MCDHH is an RID approved sponsor and member.
  • RID CEUS are workshop offerings that offer CEUS that are recognized for RID and non-RID certified interpreters and members.
  • There is a $10.00 fee to host these workshops. (This fee is per workshop and to be completed annually. No workshops are submitted to the RID database on an “ongoing or indefinitely basis.” Payments can be made for multiple workshops at one time.)
Payment Online
  • Please complete and submit the following form, a minimum of 30 days prior to the workshop date, with necessary justification, copy of the presenter’s resume, to the Staff Interpreter for review and approval.
  • Please send your application to amysue.guinn@mcdhh.mo.gov
RID CEU Request Form
RID guidelines for classification of workshop type (Professional vs General Studies)

What if you are attending an event that is not currently established as a CEU workshop, but it applies to your scope of practice, and you want it to count for CEUs? :

  • Please complete an application for either MICS or RID CEUS.
  • Please provide all documentation available about the event/activity/workshop/presentation that you are attending to see if it falls into the about listed areas of study per MICS and/or RID.
  • Documentation of justification of HOW and WHY this event applies to your scope of practice, and should be counted for CEUS.

What happens after submission of a workshop proposal/CEU request? :

  • Your submission is received, and reviewed by the Staff Interpreter and Board of Certified Interpreters (BCI). If additional information is needed regarding clarification or justification, contact will be made with the contact person listed on the request form.
  • If approved for MICS or RID CEUS, you will receive a confirmation e-mail, with appropriate workshop forms needed to host your event (i.e.: attendance forms, certificate of attendance, and upload documents (for RID), etc.).
  • If your workshop is not approved for MICS or RID CEUS follow up will be made with the contact person accordingly.
Levels of Certification

MISSOURI INTERPRETERS CERTIFICATION SYSTEM (MICS)

The MCDHH’s  Missouri Interpreters Certification System (MICS) is a quality assurance screening system used to certify sign language interpreters within the State of Missouri. Certification is obtained through a written test and a performance test. Each performance test is evaluated by a team of trained evaluators on a number of factors and the candidate receives one of three certification levels (Basic, Advanced, Master) based on their skill.

 The MICS is governed by the  Board for Certification of Interpreters (see tab). MICS certifications may be used by the State Committee of Interpreters (SCI) to satisfy requirements for licensing.

CERTIFICATION TESTING CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED IN MISSOURI

  • BEI (Board for Evaluations of Interpreters)

The BEI exam, conceived in Texas, is leased annually. It replaced Missouri’s previous certification system, as it was deemed to be a more valid and reliable exam to assess an interpreter’s abilities in the profession of interpreting.

  • Levels of BEI currently being offered in Missouri:
  • Basic
  • Advanced
  • Master
  • To schedule an exam, please see BEI testing tab for more information.

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS IN MISSOURI

  • MICS (Missouri Interpreters Certification System): This was the former evaluation system for determining interpreter certification in the State of Missouri. This system was replaced in 2014 with the BEI exam, which is leased from Texas. Interpreters at the level of “Novice, and Apprentice” are no longer recognized as “levels of certification” in the state. All interpreters that held Basic, Advanced, and Master Certification were “grandfathered into the BEI certification system” in order to not “re-test.”
  • IT SHOULD BE NOTED: “The conversion of prior MICS certifications pursuant to 5 CSR 100-200.035 (10) (A) to the new certification levels does not certify that the holder passed the written test of English proficiency or the corresponding level’s performance test. It does not entitle the holder to reciprocity with another BEI certifying entity” (SCI Green book pg. 30).
  • Levels of MICS
  • Novice (no longer recognized)
  • Apprentice (no longer recognized)
  • Basic
  • Advanced
  • Master

INTERN/PRACTICUM CERTIFICATE

A student, registered in an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) approved by the BCI, and required to interpret in order to fulfill the curriculum requirements for an internship or practicum course, may apply for and be granted an Intern/Practicum Certification. This certificate is limited to the length of time you are enrolled in an ITP program.

Interpreter Registry Form (Complete if it is your first time applying for this certificate)
INTERN/PRACTICUM FORM
Program Packet

PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (PCED)

A Provisional Certificate in Education (PCED) is available for individuals who wish to interpret only in preschool, elementary, and/or secondary school settings.  This certificate is limited to one year and is not renewable.

INTERPRETER REGISTRY FORM (Complete if this is your first time applying for this certificate)
PCED form

RESTRICTED CERTIFICATIONS

Interpreters who only want to provide interpreting services in elementary and/or secondary school settings may be granted a Restricted Certification in Education (RCED). An RCED is annually renewable.

The two types of Restricted Certifications:

  • RCED (K-6) allows the holder to interpret only in kindergarten through grade 6
  • RCED (7-12) allows the holder to interpret only in grades 7 through 12

**Both of these certifications can be obtained only by conversion from the Educational Interpreters Performance Assessment (EIPA) system, with a score of 4.0 or higher. The EIPA Elementary converts to MICS RCED (K-6), and the EIPA Secondary converts to the MICS RCED (7-12).

Interpreter Registry Form (Complete if it is your first time applying for this certificate)
Conversion Form

PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION (AKA LEARNER’S PERMIT)

To obtain the Provisional Certification (aka Learner’s Permit), an applicant must pass the written Test of English Proficiency, and receive a non-passing score on the Basic Performance Test.

Interpreter Registry Form (Complete if it is your first time applying for this certificate)
Learner’s Permit Form
Skill Level Standards
Skill Level Standards
MICS Forms
Online Payment Link
Online Payment
Conversion

Conversions of certifications from outside the State of Missouri, may or may not be accepted by Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) and Board of Certified Interpreters (BCI). Each application is reviewed on a case by case basis. Some conversions can bypass MCDHH altogether. Please review the Conversion Application Packet for information regarding your certification, possibly equivalency level, and steps of the conversion process.

Conversion Application Packet
ITP Interpreting ASL Programs
ITP Interpreting ASL Programs
Renew an Interpreter Missouri License

State Committee of Interpreters: 573-526-7787  ****THIS LINK WILL REDIRECT YOU TO AN OUTSIDE SITE. IF YOU NEED A LICENSE NUMBER OR PIN, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE FOUND USING THE GIVEN LINK****

Missouri Division of Professional Registration
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