Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination
The Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination is offered for Spanish/English testing only.
Examination Phases
The Federal Court Interpreting Certification Examination, often referred to as the FCICE, is administered in two phases.
Phase One Written Examination - Opens 9/4/2020
The 2020 written examination will be administered November 12-14, 2020. Registration will open September 4, 2020 provided the COVID-19 crisis has subsided and the exam can be administered safely and effectively. In the event the health crisis were to warrant another postponement, the written exam will be administered before the phase two oral examination, which is scheduled for June 2021.
Although registration will remain open until the written exam testing window closes, the examination may only be taken once per testing period. It is a computer-administered screener examination which includes a multiple-choice test of English proficiency and a multiple-choice test of Spanish proficiency. Since you must pass the written examination to take the oral examination, you will receive your scores on the same day of testing.
Phase Two Oral Examination
The oral examination will be offered in 2021 in various locations nationwide. The oral examination tests the ability to effectively perform the three modes of court interpreting: sight translation and simultaneous and consecutive interpretation of discourse, all of which must reflect the correct form and content of authentic interpreting functions encountered in the federal courts.
Accordingly, the candidate is required to demonstrate the ability to effectively carry out these functions bi-directionally. Test items include both formal and informal/colloquial language, technical and legal terminology, and special vocabulary or other specialized language use which is part of the active vocabulary of a highly articulate speaker. The FCICE is offered only for Spanish/English, since that is the primary interpreting need in the federal Judiciary. Learn more about the oral examination.
If you have any questions, please email fcice@ao.uscourts.gov.