Rhode Island § 5-71-9 - Licensure of Interpreters for the Deaf

§ 5-71-9. Licensure and regulations of interpreters for the deaf.

(a) Licensure shall be granted when a person meets the certification requirements as defined in regulations promulgated by the department. A person only needs one license under “certified” or “screened” if he or she is qualified as defined in § 5-71-8(a) and recognized by the RID and the NAD or its successor agency approved by the department in consultation with the board as outlined in § 5-71-3.

(b) No person shall practice or hold him or herself out as being able to practice interpreting, educational interpreting, or intermediary interpreting as defined in § 5-71-3 unless he or she shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. No person shall hold himself or herself out as being an educational interpreter as defined in § 5-71-3 unless he or she is licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(c) All licensed interpreters upon commencing to practice, and upon any change in address, shall promptly notify the department of said change in home or office address and shall furnish any other information to the department that it may require. All licensed interpreters shall annually, before July 1st, pay the department a license renewal fee, as set forth in § 23-1-54, for each license. The department may suspend the authority of any licensed interpreter to practice for failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter or the regulations promulgated thereunder. The department makes available for public inspection a complete list of the names of all interpreters licensed and practicing in the state.

(d) Three (3) types of licensure may be issued to interpreters:

(1) A certified license shall be granted to interpreters who have met the certification requirements as set forth in regulations promulgated by the department. The two (2) licenses under “certified” are called “certified interpreter” and “certified deaf interpreter”;

(2) A screened license of limited duration determined by the board shall be granted to interpreters who have met the educational requirements as set forth in regulations promulgated by the department and who have successfully completed a recognized state screening or state equivalent as determined by the department in consultation with the board. The two (2) licenses under “screened” are called “screened interpreter” and “screened deaf interpreter”;

(3) An educational interpreter license may be granted to interpreters who meet the requirements of § 5-71-8(b). This license is called “educational interpreter.”

(e) All certified licensed interpreters shall be required to complete continuing education as set forth by RID or its successor agency approved by the department in consultation with the board. All licensed screened interpreters shall be required to complete continuing education as set forth in the regulations promulgated by the department.