1. (1) "Certified interpreter" means an individual who provides interpreter services and is certified as required by state or federal law. There are three levels of certification certified by the division.

   1. (a) "Novice" is an entry-level certification for an interpreter who has the skills, knowledge, and judgment to facilitate communication in a variety of situations, but excluding more complex, technical, or other specialized situations.
   2. (b) "Professional" is a master-level certification for an interpreter who has the skills, knowledge, and judgment to facilitate communication in almost any situation, including more complex, technical, or other specialized situations.

   3. (c) "Certified Deaf Interpreter" or "CDI" is a certification for an interpreter who:

      1. (i) is deaf or hard of hearing;
      2. (ii) facilitates communication between deaf or hard of hearing individuals and hearing individuals;
      3. (iii) facilitates communication between deaf or hard of hearing individuals and other deaf or hard of hearing individuals, either as part of a team or independently;
      4. (iv) has a wide range of cultural and linguistic expertise; and
      5. (v) can check the deaf or hard of hearing individual's understanding of what is being communicated, rather than solely interpreting the communication.
2. (2) "Department" means the Department of Workforce Services.
3. (3) "Director" means the director of USOR.
4. (4) "Division" means the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
5. (5) "Interpreter service" means a service that facilitates effective communication between individuals through American Sign Language (ASL) or a language system or code that is modeled after ASL, in whole or in part, or is in any way derived from ASL.
6. (6) "ICB" means the Interpreters Certification Board.
7. (7) "Manual" means the policy and procedures manual governing the certification of interpreters used by the division, which is available on the Utah Interpreter Program website.
8. (8) "NAD-RID" means the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID).
9. (9) "Qualified continuing education" means education that is relevant to the profession, enhances the skills of the interpreter, and is approved by the director in consultation with the ICB
10. (10) "Unlawful conduct" means conduct described in Section 35A-13-611.

11. (11) "Unprofessional conduct" means conduct by a certified interpreter that:

    1. (a) violates, or aids or abets another in violating generally accepted professional or ethical standards applicable to the profession of a certified interpreter;
    2. (b) physically, mentally, or sexually abuses or exploits an individual through conduct connected with a certified interpreter's practice; or
    3. (c) violates any provision of the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct which is available on National Association of the Deaf (NAD) website and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) website.
12. (12) "USOR" means the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.

KEY: certification, interpreters

Date of Last Change: October 18, 2022

Notice of Continuation: September 16, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-13-601 et seq.