Educational Interpreter Continuing Education Guidelines

Colorado Statutes set forth minimum standards for educational interpreters working in the public schools for skill and content knowledge [CRS Title 22, Article 20, Section 116; ECEA 3.04(1)(f )]. The Standard also requires that a minimum of 60 contact hours of continuing education be completed every 5 years. The following guidelines define the parameters of approved content and activities for continuing education, who may provide the continuing education, and the documentation required.

Interpreters should obtain an Educational Interpreter Recertification Packet from the Educational Interpreter Standards Coordinator. Required forms for maintaining the record of continuing education are included. No later that 3 months prior to the interpreter’s recertification date, the record must then be submitted with the required fee to the Educational Interpreter Standards Coordinator for review and approval.

	What is it?	Who can provide it?	Required Documentation
Knowledge	Continuing education that can be directly applied to work as an educational interpreter (e.g., district inservices, general knowledge workshops related to classroom content)	1.    Formal district, state, RID, CRID offerings	Certificate of Attendance or RID CMP/ACET  Official Transcript
		2.    Accredited courses	Official Transcript
		3.    Pre-approved independent study, conferences, workshops, and seminars2	Learning Plan
Skills	Continuing education that can be directly applied to interpreting skills: interpreting, theoretical models, linguistic studies (e.g., advanced ASL, advanced English, advanced sign systems)1.  Skills continuing education must be accrued in no less than 7.5 hour increments	1.    RID sponsors	Certificate of Attendance or RID CMP/ACET Official Transcript
		2.    Approved interpreter preparation programs	Official Transcript
		3.    State approved interpreter educators2	Certificate of Attendance or RID CMP/ACET Official Transcript

¹Unacceptable activities include: board or committee activities, organizational/staff meetings, lunch, dinner, or socials, professional service delivery, activities that are a part of a person’s paid or routine employment responsibilities (e.g., supervision or mentoring of a practicum student, class preparation).

²The Educational Interpreter Standards Coordinator will maintain a list of approved continuing education providers based upon the following criteria:

1.       RID certified, NAD Level IV or V, SEE Center certified, or Colorado Educational Interpreter Certificate of Verification (CEIC) with an EIPA score 4 or 5.

2.       Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) current membership or American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) membership

3.       Special events (one-time events such as Cued Speech Workshop, oral interpreting, Helen Keller Deafblind Institute)